Lou Reed received "electroconvulsive therapy", wtf

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1088

I am a HUUUUGE fan of Lou Reed. He goes in my top favorites list, along with Nine Inch Nails, David Bowie, Brian Eno, the Talking Heads, King Crimson, and The Cure. And I was reading through a book about him that was just KILLER. It was a collection of excerpts, interviews, ads, etc, in relation to him. Called "Between The Lines."

Anyway, I wanted to see what Wikipedia had to say about him. I think they did a good job actually. But something I didn't realize is that he received electroconvulsive therapy, unwillingly as a teenager, to try and get rid of homosexual tendencies!!!!! I didn't know this! Apparently this is something they used to commonly practice in the 60s for people who demonstrated "homosexual thoughts or behaviors." YIKES!

Thoughts?

Kizzume · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:17 pm Post subject:

Electro-shock, exorcisms, you name it--people have tried so many things to try to "cure" gay people. Quite sad, and quite fortunate that it happens very rarely now in this country.

Kizzume · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:29 pm Post subject:

Treehugger just posted a message on OTL talking about a school that's being allowed to give electro-shock therapy! WTF?!

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-12-23-shock-treatments_N.htm