(Originally published 14 June at 17:00 - updated 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 June)

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Love In Action or Love In Action International mentioned on this page is nothing to do with the Love in Action charitable work for the needy by Billy Graham

In the past day, we have received three emails suggesting we look at the weblog (blog) of someone who signs himself as “Zach”.

So we looked.  And the first reaction?

Wow.

Then came the question about just how civilised are certain section of American society?  Alas, not very, is the answer.

Here, we have a “diary” of a teen – Zack is a 16 year-old from Tennessee – who didn’t want to live the lie any more, so he told his parents he was gay.

[Below are excepts from Zach’s blogs.  Follow the link for the complete blog]

“Well today [May 29], my mother, father, and I had a very long “talk” in my room where they let me know I am to apply for a fundamentalist Christian program for gays,” writes in his ‘blog’ on that fateful day.

“They tell me that there is something psychologically wrong with me, and they “raised me wrong.” I’m a big screw up to them, who isn’t on the path God wants me to be on.  So I’m sitting here in tears, joining the rest of those kids who complain about their parents on blogs – and I can’t help it.

“I wish I had never told them.  If I could take it all back, I would … It’s better than them crying and depressed cause they will have no grandchildren from me.  It’s better than them telling me that there’s something wrong with me.  It’s better than them explaining to me that they “raised me wrong.”.”

The following day’s post [May 30] … “After The World Stopped, It Gave Me A Lot Of Rules.  Current mood: worried” … Zach publishes the rules and regulations of this fundamentalist “refuge program”.

And perhaps describing his current mood as “worried” is a bit of an understatement.  “My parents lied to me. …[they said] that they didn't know what the rules were exactly. … I see now why they “didn’t know what the rules were”.  It’s horrible.. they’ posted below.. and I [am] so worried.  It’s like boot camp,  but worse.  I obviously was not supposed to see this, seeing the bottom say “Parental Rules (not to be given to client)”,” he writes.

The next posting is June 3: “It’s been a week of torture – anger, and crying.  Current mood: worried”.  Zach explains that his cell phone and PC have been taken away by his parents.

“Hi.  I’m not sure if I’m even supposed to be on.  I ran away for a short while.  I came back and they took everything from me, they don't want me to have outside influences.  I don’t know how long I’m going to be on, because if they wake up, I’m screwed. The program starts June 6.”

The latest entry is for June 4 – 10 days ago.  “Thanks, by the way.  Current mood: numb”.  He writes: “I agree, if you’re thinking that these posts might be dramatized, but the proof of the programs ideas are sitting in the rules.  I pray this blows over.  I can’t take this ... no one can ... not really, this kind of thing tears you apart emotionally.  To introduce THIS subject ... I’m not a suicidal person ... really I’m not ... I think it’s stupid – really…”

Two days later, Zach was due to start the fundamentalist “refuge program”.  When he wrote his last entry, he knew that he had 232 messages of support posted on his blog.  His last entry has drawn 509 responses – and we couldn’t find one that was not supportive of Zack.

■  Demonstrators outside the fundamentalist Christian "Love in Action" Refuge on Monday.
(photo courtesy Queer Action Coalition)