The Jehovah's Witnesses offered this conclusion when they published the Youth Book in 1976. I was twelve and I believed every word they wrote.

I read that book cover to cover on a single weekend. Afterwards, I wanted to share it with my neighbor Keith Finkle who lived across the street from me. I only remember his name because Finkle isn't a name you easily forget. He wasn't in The Truth, so I never once set foot in his house. I wasn't allowed to play with him because he was considered "bad association," on account of his not being in The Truth and all. I told him about the Youth Book and promised to let him read it, but then my dad opened the book and scanned its contents. He said it wasn't a book you could just share with anyone. It was best to save it for other members of The Truth he said, so to the best of my knowledge, that Finkle boy never got a copy of the Youth Book. Years later, he might have succumbed to the dangers of masturbation and turned into a homosexual like me. I don't really know.

In any case, at that time, I thought my dad was wrong. I loved the Youth Book. It contained explanations to important things I'd never understood, and I wanted to share it with other boys who I imagined were just as clueless about the dangers of masturbation as I. It was printed by Jehovah's Witnesses and contained well-thought out conclusions from the Governing Body in New York, and I thought I could save Keith Finkle from the dangers of homosexuality if I could only share it. That's what you do when you have The Truth. You share it with everyone else, cause you want them to have it too. When you're twelve, you want everyone to know about the sins of masturbation.

My reasoning skills weren't fully developed at the age of twelve, but the Youth Book offered an explanation for how masturbation could lead to homosexuality. One act could lead to another. For reals. It said so, right there on page 39. Apparently, during masturbation, "the person, not satisfied with his lonely sexual activity, seeks a partner for mutual sex play. Often a person gets started when very young by playing with another's sexual parts, and then engaging in homosexual acts."

Makes sense, dontcha think? I mean, while you're busy doing the juvenile exploration thing, you might start looking around for a playmate. Like, I dunno, someone of the same sex perhaps. Cause you're really desperate for assistance and later on you discover that it has permanently warped your brain. It makes sense, doesn't it? It just seems easier I suppose, to not have to complicate things with messy relationship issues and Valentine cards and flowers. Just go look for a same sex friend to get off with.

The Witnesses must have been right, dontcha think??? When I picked up my Youth Book in 1976, I believed what they said. I thought I had finally found an antidote to my fantasies. The Truth was the truth after all, so I suddenly understood what I must do to like girls. I just had to quit the damn masturbation. It said so, right there on page 39.

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written by Lester , July 22, 2009

Thanks for your thought on this. As a straight acting teen with "gay tendencies" I DREADED the thought of masturbating b/c I thought it would make me more gay. I remember that book (or YPA book) also suggesting that playing sports and working out will help you develop into a straight man. Knowing what I know now it sounds very silly. I am assuming that the FDS has never walked around the Chelsea section of NYC.

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written by Blueeyes 54 , July 22, 2009

grin

cool

Funny! I just now got to your site. Still catching up. I was always told that it was self abuse and could never figure that out. My grandmother told me it would make me cross eyed and so I went around looking cross eyed to get her goat. There are various photos in the family vault with me looking cross eyed at the camera. I still grew up straight and short.

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written by EverSoGrateful , July 24, 2009

Talk about CONTROL! WOW! The JW's will gradually control every single thing in your life...then they will tell you NOT to think for yourself...AND that you are NOTHING in GODS eyes...ALWAYS missing the MARK! NO WONDER so many people in the religion are messed up.... when you hear that you are "NOT WORTHY" of Gods love ....CONSTANTLY..... you start to believe it. Then, you start to believe everything else that they teach.... good, bad, or indifferent! I am sooooo thankful that God helped me leave that cult.... and I hope that those who get onto this site will take to heart the experiences that people leave on here. And also, they should LEARN from what we say..... basically.... start thinking for yourself, using God's love ! And for this... I remain... "EverSoGrateful" huggs to all!

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written by Tori , August 20, 2009

As a Witness in my teens my mother approached the masturbation topic with me. It was in the late 1980's and the Youth Book had been replaced with the Young People Ask book. What really sticks out is that she told me that when someone masturbates the angels and God all turn their eyes away which makes them unable to notice or protect you from demon attacks. Therefore the demons take advantage of the opportunity and plant evil things in your mind and take sick pleasure in watching you disobey God. I can assure you that I was a frightened 16 year old girl standing in my shower imagining all the demons in there with me... no wonder I have such a distorted and negative association with sex as an adult.
I too am gay and disfellowshipped. I was disfellowshipped 16 years ago now for my relationship with my first girlfriend. I have not connected before with any other ex-witnesses. I am ready to change that.

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written by Scott , August 23, 2009

Hey y'all....thanks for the comments. And for Tori...you might want to consider a visit with gayxjw.org, also known as A Common Bond. I found it really fascinating to socialize with a group of gay folks who had shared my background with the JWs.....I'll write a future blog about that....thanks to all!!

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written by sexy ass , January 12, 2010

I love Big Ass

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