My Church Tried to Erase Who I Was

I was sent to conversion therapy as a teenager because I was gay. This is the true story of what my church, my family, and the system tried to change about me—and how I survived it. In this deeply personal video, I share the full story of growing up in a strict Christian household, being forced into conversion therapy not once, but twice, and the long-lasting mental and emotional impact it had on my life. From being monitored, isolated, and shamed for my thoughts, to attending group therapy programs designed to “reorient” my sexuality, every part of my identity was put under attack. For years, I believed something was wrong with me. I was taught that being gay was a sin, a flaw that needed to be corrected. What followed was confusion, fear, dissociation, emotional suppression, and an intense internal battle that followed me well into adulthood. This video is not just about trauma. It is about survival, identity, healing, and finally choosing to live truthfully. It is also about how my relationship with my parents slowly transformed from fear and control into acceptance and love. If you or someone you love has experienced religious trauma, identity suppression, or conversion therapy, you are not alone. Your story matters. WANT TO HELP SUPPORT OUR CHANNEL?   / stepsof2foreigners   ✏️ Webpage: https://stepsof2foreigners.com   / bernardoandadam     / stepsof2foreigners   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Who are we? We are Adam (North American) and Bernardo (Brazilian) and we are husbands whose paths crossed back in 2016, when we both still lived in Brazil. Since the very beginning, we shared a common passion for travel and nature, which has only grown over the years and led us to this unexpected journey on YouTube, which has allowed us to connect with an amazing community that we’re beyond grateful for. “Go out and make memories” is our motto of living and a constant reminder for us that true happiness doesn’t come from the material wealth we accumulate, but from the memories we create and share with our loved ones throughout our existence. We invite you to join us in our crazy journey in life and hopefully we can inspire you to go out and make some memories on your own. Welcome aboard!