When he was 15 years old, Samuel Taylor came out to his mother, Connie Casey.

In an attempt to “fix” her son, Connie sent Samuel to a series of ex-gay conversion therapy ministries affiliated with Exodus International. Samuel was in therapy for three years.

Samuel, 22, came to StoryCorps with Connie to talk about his experience—and to hear about the evolution of her beliefs.

Originally aired June 28, 2013, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

This story was originally broadcast a few days after Exodus International folded and apologized for promoting reparative therapies. At the time of this broadcast, subjecting minors to conversion therapy remains legal in 45 states.