Would you prefer a dead child or a gay child? This is the question raised in this fictional tale of a famous actor who is traumatized by his experience in sexual reorientation camp as a teenager. He goes on in life to experience career success but suffers with his sexual identity, thus impairing his relationships. ************************************************ "Are you all right, you look exhausted. Looks like you''ve been up all night. Don't be afraid. My brother went through this program, and he swore that it changed his life," she confessed. "Wow Was he cured? Did it work?" I begged her to tell me. "Well, he was still attracted to men, but he dated women all the time. One night, out of the blue, we were eating dinner and he announced to the family that he had exhausted every option to overcome his 'problem, ' and that he had come to terms with and accepts who he is." She paused and exhaled with a smile. I was so confused. "Yeah, that day changed everything 'cause he told us that we better back off and accept him for who he is or he'd blow his brains out." She continued, "Wish you could have met him," she said. "Well, is he happy now? Did your family accept him?" I stuttered, somewhat stumped and puzzled. "Oh, yeah. They were like, we'd rather have a gay son than a dead son," she shrugged. "I wish I could meet him. Maybe he could help me," I said. "He died. He didn''t shoot himself though. He passed during the earthquake, he was on that bridge. I lost everything too. I''m still struggling to get past it," she said. I had no idea how to process that conversation, so I sat speechless. Emotions are sometimes a problem for me; at times, I don''t know what to say or how to feel. I get nervous around people and start cracking my knuckles or wringing my hands. In this novel, "Convert This," the life of a young man named Daniel Christianson is followed from his troubled teens until middle age. The story presents the objective research perspective of the daily procedures in most programs for sexual reorientation or identity therapy. It gives honest descriptions of the common experiences of those who have undergone such therapies.