HUFFINGTON
07.14.13
STRAIGHT TALK
age Levin to slowly undress in the
mirror and make negative remarks
about himself. Downing looked
on as Levin stripped. Once Levin
was naked, Downing told Levin to
touch his bare penis and buttocks.
“Good,” remarked Downing, according to the lawsuit. That concluded the session.
Downing’s lawyer in the suit
same-sex attractions, not only
through our programs, but also
through other similar programs.”
In 2009, Mathew saw Downing,
too, but he didn’t stick around long
enough to learn whether Downing
wanted him to get naked. At their
first meeting, Mathew said Downing told him that if he didn’t turn
straight, he’d never experience
I AM A MAN THAT ENJOYS MEN
AND I AM NO LESS OF A MAN.
I AM A POWERFUL, SELF-EXPRESSED, FREE MAN.
said in an email that “Mr. Downing
denies any inappropriate conduct
with Mr. Levin or any of the other
plaintiffs at any time.” JONAH,
for its part, says that the lawsuit
is “without merit.” Arthur Goldberg, JONAH’s co-director, said in
a statement that the group remains
“steadfast” in its commitment to
helping people with “unwanted
same-sex attractions” and claims
that there are “thousands of people who have overcome or significantly diminished their unwanted
love. “I stood up and I just walked
out,” Mathew said. “He said he
would bill me, but I never paid the
100 dollars, and he never called
me,” Mathew added. “I was done.”
Downing’s lawyer said that
Downing “categorically denies
making that statement to Mr.
Shurka or anyone else.”
Over the next four years,
Mathew gradually came out. He’d
moved back to New York and was
waiting tables at Balthazar, a celebrated French restaurant, where
he became friendly with gay colleagues and customers. He’d also
reconnected with his two sisters