'Ex-Gay' Camp Teen's Father Comes Forward

The father of Zach, the 16 year old blogger that wrote in his blog that he was being sent against his will to an 'ex-gay' camp, has given an interview to Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network. In the interview, Joe Stark explains that he sent his son to a camp run by the group called “Love in Action International” to cure him of his homosexuality.

“We felt very good about Zach coming here because… to let him see for himself the destructive lifestyle, what he has to face in the future, and to give him some options that society doesn't give him today,” Stark told CBN. “Knowing that your son... statistics say that by the age of 30 he could either have AIDS or be dead.”

Stark stated that he didn't have any second thoughts about sending his son to the camp against his will.

"... until he turns 18 and he's an adult in the state of Tennessee, I'm responsible for him. And I’m going to see to it that he has all options available to him.”

Even though Zach's story has been discussed in media for almost a month since the teen wrote about it in his blog, nobody knew if Zach really existed until his father came forward in the interview. In the blog, the teen only identified himself with his first name making it difficult to verify the story.

The log created fury among LGBT activists and led to an investigation by the state Department of Children's Services. A department investigator visited the camp and found there were no signs of abuse. (story) The Department did not say if "Zach" was ever found and until Stark came forward nobody knew if the teen ever existed.