{"id":15931,"date":"2026-06-02T07:06:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T07:06:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/bowen-yang-shares-how-conversion-therapy-backfired-and-led-him-to-nyu-the-gayest-school-in-the-country\/"},"modified":"2026-06-02T07:06:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T07:06:16","slug":"bowen-yang-shares-how-conversion-therapy-backfired-and-led-him-to-nyu-the-gayest-school-in-the-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/bowen-yang-shares-how-conversion-therapy-backfired-and-led-him-to-nyu-the-gayest-school-in-the-country\/","title":{"rendered":"Bowen Yang Shares How Conversion Therapy Backfired and Led Him to NYU, the ‘Gayest School in the Country’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Comedian and former Saturday Night Live<\/em> cast member Bowen Yang has never shied away from blending sharp wit with deeply personal stories. In a recent episode of the popular podcast SmartLess<\/em>, hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, Yang revealed a surprising and darkly humorous chapter from his teenage years\u2014one that involved conversion therapy, a family ultimatum, and an ironic twist that ultimately led him to New York University, which he affectionately calls \u201cthe gayest school in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

Family Discovery and an Impossible Choice<\/h2>\n

Yang, who grew up in a conservative Chinese-American household, recalls being \u201cdiscovered\u201d as gay at the age of 17. The moment came not through a heartfelt confession, but through a simple technological oversight. He had forgotten to close a chat window on the family computer, exposing private conversations that revealed his sexuality. The fallout was immediate and emotional. \u201cMy parents were sobbing at the dinner table every day,\u201d Yang recounted on the podcast, describing the pain and confusion that followed.<\/p>\n

Faced with a crisis, his parents presented him with a stark ultimatum: either stay in Colorado and attend a state school while living at home, or move to New York City to attend NYU with his older sister\u2014but only if he agreed to undergo conversion therapy. The choice seemed clear, though not for the reasons his parents might have hoped.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was like, \u2018Oh, I\u2019ll do the therapy, but I\u2019m going to NYU,'\u201d Yang said with a laugh. At the time, he viewed the therapy as a bureaucratic hurdle, a box to check in exchange for the freedom and independence of city life. What his parents didn\u2019t realize was that NYU, especially in the late 2000s and early 2010s, was known for its vibrant LGBTQ+ community, progressive campus culture, and high concentration of queer students and faculty. In Yang\u2019s words, it was \u201cthe gayest school in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eight Weeks with a \u2018Quack\u2019 in Colorado Springs<\/h2>\n

Before heading east, Yang spent eight weeks in Colorado Springs undergoing so-called conversion therapy with a licensed counselor he now refers to as a \u201cquack.\u201d The sessions followed a predictable script: the therapist attempted to reframe Yang\u2019s same-sex attractions as symptoms of emotional distress, trauma, or unmet psychological needs. \u201cEvery time I felt attracted to a guy, he would say, \u2018Ah, you\u2019re just miserable. You\u2019re in pain. That\u2019s why you\u2019re feeling this.'\u201d<\/p>\n

Yang described the experience as both absurd and surreal, a performance he played along with to reach his goal. He didn\u2019t believe the therapy would change who he was, but he did believe it would buy him access to the life he wanted. \u201cI was just biding my time,\u201d he said. \u201cI knew who I was. This wasn\u2019t going to change that. But I also knew that if I played along, I could get to New York. And that\u2019s all I cared about.\u201d<\/p>\n

What makes the story particularly striking isn\u2019t just the irony of a gay teen using conversion therapy as a ticket to a queer haven\u2014it\u2019s the way Yang reframes a traumatic experience with humor and clarity. His storytelling turns what could have been a story of victimhood into one of quiet rebellion and self-determination.<\/p>\n

The Therapist\u2019s Accidental Confession<\/h2>\n

The most unforgettable moment of Yang\u2019s therapy came during his final session. In what he describes as a \u201cplot twist worthy of a sitcom,\u201d the therapist shared an anecdote about a former patient who, while dining at a Denny\u2019s, noticed a waiter giving him lingering glances. As the story unfolded, the therapist began describing the man\u2019s internal monologue: \u201cAnd then I was like, \u2018Am I really going to have sex with this person?\u2019 And then I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was only after finishing the sentence that the therapist realized he had accidentally shifted from third person to first person. The room fell silent. Yang, ever the observer, didn\u2019t interrupt. \u201cHe didn\u2019t catch himself,\u201d Yang recalled. \u201cAnd I just sat there, like\u2026 okay. We\u2019re not going to talk about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The moment was both hilarious and revealing. It underscored the fundamental flaw in conversion therapy: the practitioners themselves are often grappling with suppressed desires and internalized homophobia. The therapist\u2019s slip wasn\u2019t just a Freudian error\u2014it was a window into the hypocrisy and emotional toll of trying to deny one\u2019s true identity.<\/p>\n

From Trauma to Triumph<\/h3>\n

Yang\u2019s journey from that Colorado Springs office to the Saturday Night Live<\/em> stage is a testament to resilience, humor, and the power of self-acceptance. He has since become one of the most visible gay Asian-American comedians in Hollywood, using his platform to speak openly about identity, culture, and the absurdities of growing up queer in a conservative environment.<\/p>\n

His experience with conversion therapy is not unique. Thousands of LGBTQ+ youth in the U.S. have been subjected to similar practices, despite widespread condemnation from major medical and mental health organizations. According to the American Psychological Association, conversion therapy is not only ineffective but can lead to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.<\/p>\n

Yet Yang\u2019s story stands out because of the way he reclaims it. Rather than letting the experience define him as a victim, he turns it into a punchline, a cautionary tale, and a symbol of resistance\u2014all at once.<\/p>\n

Why This Story Still Matters<\/h2>\n

Yang\u2019s anecdote resonates because it highlights several ongoing issues:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • The persistence of conversion therapy:<\/strong> Despite being banned in over 20 U.S. states, conversion therapy remains legal in many areas and continues to be practiced under the guise of counseling or religious guidance.<\/li>\n
  • The pressure on immigrant families:<\/strong> Yang\u2019s story reflects the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth in immigrant households, where cultural expectations, language barriers, and religious beliefs can complicate coming out.<\/li>\n
  • The role of humor in healing:<\/strong> By telling his story with wit and timing, Yang disarms the pain and makes it accessible, helping others feel less alone.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    His journey also underscores the importance of safe spaces\u2014like NYU\u2014for LGBTQ+ youth. For Yang, the university wasn\u2019t just an escape; it was a place of belonging, creativity, and self-discovery. It\u2019s where he began performing comedy, found his voice, and eventually launched a career that would make him a household name.<\/p>\n

    Frequently Asked Questions<\/h3>\n

    What is conversion therapy?<\/strong>
    \nConversion therapy refers to dangerous and discredited practices that aim to change a person\u2019s sexual orientation or gender identity. It is widely rejected by medical and mental health professionals.<\/p>\n

    Is conversion therapy still legal?<\/strong>
    \nIt is banned for minors in over 20 U.S. states and several countries, but remains legal in many places, particularly for adults.<\/p>\n

    Did Bowen Yang actually believe the therapy would work?<\/strong>
    \nNo. Yang has said he viewed the therapy as a formality\u2014a price to pay for the freedom to attend NYU and live authentically.<\/p>\n

    How did NYU shape Bowen Yang\u2019s career?<\/strong>
    \nNYU\u2019s Tisch School of the Arts provided Yang with a creative environment where he explored comedy and performance, eventually leading to his work on Saturday Night Live<\/em> and beyond.<\/p>\n

    Bowen Yang\u2019s story is more than a punchline\u2014it\u2019s a powerful reminder of how humor can transform pain, and how sometimes, the best revenge is living your truth unapologetically. By turning a coercive experience into a narrative of triumph, he continues to inspire LGBTQ+ youth to embrace who they are, no therapy required.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Comedian and former Saturday Night Live cast member Bowen Yang has never shied away from blending sharp wit with deeply personal stories. In a recent episode of the popular podcast SmartLess , hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, Yang revealed a surprising and darkly humorous…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3492,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15931","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15931","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15931"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15931\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3492"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15931"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15931"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/influencerswiki.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15931"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}