What Does ‘Conversion Therapy’ Look Like Today? An Undercover Investigation
The “New Creation Association” has repeatedly been accused by LGBTQ+ organisations and former service users of practising “conversion” on sexual minorities. The subject of this feature, Alvin Cheung, is a survivor of “conversion therapy” who alleges that the association’s counselling caused him serious psychological distress — leading to years of depression and anxiety; last year he was diagnosed with complex PTSD. In 2016, a media outlet went undercover and exposed Rev. Lo Man-kei, the small-group leader at the time, defining homosexuality as a “sin” and repeatedly criticising LGBTQ+ people. The association’s founder, psychiatrist Hong Kwai-wah, has consistently denied the allegations.
To explore these allegations, the surrounding controversy, and the debates that have followed, this magazine’s reporter went undercover at the “New Creation Association,” meeting twice with one of its social workers — each meeting about an hour long — and interviewing two LGBTQ+ persons who had recently left the association, to reconstruct what the association’s “counselling” looks like today.
The reporter, posing as a lesbian, called the association. After being briefly asked her name, occupation, and age, she was contacted via WhatsApp by a worker named Gloria to arrange a meeting. The association’s address is mysterious — not listed on its website. When the reporter pressed for the meeting location six days later, she was told it was in Jordan; on further pressing, was told only to meet at a specific Jordan MTR exit. Thirty minutes before the first meeting, Gloria suddenly sent the actual address.
A Suspected “Ex-Gay” Social Worker
Gloria opened the door and introduced herself as the association’s social worker. As a “client,” the reporter at the end of the second meeting asked if Gloria could provide her business card; Gloria declined, saying “new cards are being printed.” Online research shows that Gloria has previously been interviewed by multiple media outlets as an “ex-gay” (a person who claims to have once been gay). According to a 2020 publication by the “After Same” alliance, *Daring to Be Different — Fifteen Rainbow-Crossers’ Stories: Hong Kong Edition*, Gloria was at one point the convenor of After Same.
The association is housed in a unit without signage in the lobby; only “Word Speaks Centre” is shown on the door. The unit is divided into several rooms; counselling takes place in one simply furnished room. A larger activity room has a banner on the wall reading “Forgetting What Lies Behind, Pressing On Ahead.”
Emphasising “Acquired” Causes of Homosexuality
At the first meeting Gloria first asked about the case, then introduced the association’s background — “Christian in faith, but counselling is relatively neutral,” “we call it semi-church,” “counselling under faith.” She said counselling is offered regardless of whether one is Christian.
Gloria said: “Homosexuality doesn’t have to become heterosexuality — actually that concept is wrong. But friends who come may have experienced some trauma, or some growing-up experiences, that led them to be with someone of the same sex.” She repeatedly cited counselling cases to support her view, claiming a female client had been “dumped” and so no longer trusted men — not actually preferring women. She insisted that same-sex orientation often had acquired causes: “I have cases where their growing-up may have something that made them fear the opposite sex, but they also need love or intimacy, so they found a same-sex partner — the process has many reasons.”
She then began questioning: when did you realise your orientation, how did your family pressure you, how did you feel, how did your family find out, do your friends know? Then about past relationships with women: “What do you like about her? What kind of girl do you like? In intimacy, what is it like? Do you really like your current girlfriend?”
Later questions intensified: “If a guy like this pursued you, would you be okay with it? Many men are like this — why don’t you consider men? Do you really feel nothing for men? Do you find men hard to handle? Have you been with your girlfriend so long because you don’t want to break up — or because you don’t quite fit but feel awkward breaking up?”
She said the questions were only meant to help the client understand herself — “I’m not asking you to distinguish male from female; I’m reflecting back to you that many of these thoughts are operating in the background.” And again she stressed: “Many experiences can lead someone to choose same-sex.” During the meetings she repeatedly suggested that the client should first understand herself, and noted: “Sometimes after understanding yourself, it becomes easier to make a [sexual orientation] decision.”
(Full undercover report at the original source.)
