Brothers on a Road Less Traveled is an American

nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

supporting men who wish to reduce or eliminate their homosexual desires. Formerly known as People Can Change (PCC), the organization was founded in 2000.

Formation and purpose

People Can Change was founded in 2000 by Rich Wyler based upon his experience with

reparative therapy Conversion therapy is the pseudoscientific practice of attempting to change an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to align with heterosexual and cisgender norms. In contrast to evidence-based medicine and cl ...

. The organization changed its name to Brothers on a Road Less Traveled ("Brothers Road" for short) in 2016. In an interview with

Warren Olney IV Warren Olney IV is an American broadcast journalist. He was the host and executive producer of the nationally syndicated Public Radio International weekday afternoon program '' To the Point'', which originated at Santa Monica, California public r ...

, Wyler explained that the organization's purpose is to help men find peace and fulfillment in their lives; while Wyler states that some men may find peace and fulfillment in a gay identity, he contends that other men with homosexual attractions have found fulfillment in celibacy or in heterosexual relationships. Olney, Warrenbr>To Be or Not to Be...Gay

To the Point ''To the Point'' was an hour-long public affairs radio program co-produced by KCRW in Santa Monica, California and Public Radio International. The program originated at KCRW at 1 pm Pacific Time each weekday. Award-winning journalist Warren Oln ...

KCRW KCRW (89.9 MHz FM) is a National Public Radio member station broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California, where the station is licensed. KCRW airs original news and music programming in addition to program ...

, March 3, 2007 Many mental health organizations have criticized conversion therapy; however, Brothers Road "does not identify as an organisation for gay conversion therapy."

Programs

The Journey Into Manhood (JiM) weekend is a program offered by Brothers on a Road Less Traveled; the JiM weekend was founded in 2002 by organization founder Rich Wyler and counselor David Matheson. The JiM weekend lasts for 48 hours and includes

psychodrama Psychodrama is an action method, often used as a psychotherapy, in which clients use spontaneous dramatization, role playing, and dramatic self-presentation to investigate and gain insight into their lives. Developed by Jacob L. Moreno and h ...

, visualizations, role-playing, and team-building exercises. Journeyers "are taught that their same-sex attractions are rooted in childhood traumas that pulled them away from male figures" and that to experience sexual orientation change, they "need to fulfill their needs for male attention through non-sexual platonic bonding." "The founders do not promise ttendeesthey will transition from being gay to straight vernight but the overall goal is to give the men a foundation so they can work on making the change over time." In 2017, Wyler stated that Journey into Manhood weekend participants must be 21 years of age and must attend the program voluntarily. JiM weekends also include an activity that PCC has described as "safe healing touch" or "'father-son-style holding'". Dr. Jack Drescher of the American Psychiatric Association has stated that "there is no scientific evidence that 'healthy touch' exercises can help diminish same-sex attractions." Wyler has defended the practice as "'touch nga core unmet need from childhood.'"

2016 Federal Trade Commission complaint

In February 2016, Brothers Road (then PCC) was "reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and accused of breaking the prohibition on unfair and deceptive acts" by engaging in

sexual orientation change efforts Conversion therapy is the pseudoscientific practice of attempting to change an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to align with heterosexual and cisgender norms. In contrast to evidence-based medicine and cli ...

. The complaint stated that PCC "defraud dconsumers into believing that being gay is tantamount to a mental illness or defect", and added that various mental health organizations had debunked that belief. In a March 2016 statement, the World Psychiatric Association asserted that "'

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is no sound scientific evidence that innate sexual orientation can be changed.'" PCC founder Rich Wyler "called the TCcomplaint an 'act of hate and vicious bullying against our community of adult men – gay, bi-sexual, ex-gay and same-sex attracted men

hat A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...

choose to not identify as gay...'"

Exit of David Matheson

In January 2019, Journey Into Manhood co-founder David Matheson announced that he had embraced a gay identity.

References

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External links