The nephew of a Missouri congresswoman claimed his parents hired an ‘exorcist’ to drive out ‘all the demons’ from his bedroom who they thought were ‘turning him gay’.
Andrew Hartzler, who grew up in Kansas City, came out to his family, who were members of the conservative evangelical sect called the International House of Prayer, at age 14.
The now 25-year-old, who was also sent to a conversion camp, recently took to TikTok to share a clip of the ‘exorcism’ his parents ordered to rid his bedroom of the devil as a result.
Other social media users were stunned and quickly flooded the comments with words of support for Andrew.
Andrew Hartzler, who grew up in Kansas City, spoke to his family, who were members of the conservative evangelical sect called the International House of Prayer, at age 14.
The now 25-year-old recently took to TikTok to share a clip of the ‘exorcism’ his parents ordered to rid his bedroom of the devil after he made the revelation.
Andrew lets the video of the encounter play as the exorcist wanders through the bedroom and closets with a Bible in hand.
In the clip, which has now been viewed more than 853,000 times, Andrew speaks directly into the camera, revealing: “This is when my parents hired an exorcist to get all the demons out of my room that they thought were making me gay. “. ‘
Andrew then lets the video of the encounter play as the exorcist wanders through the bedroom and closets with a Bible in hand.
He says, ‘Devil, leave in the name of Jesus.’ Filthy spirit, leave in the name of Jesus. Every evil spirit go now in the name of Jesus. And I beg the Lord’s conviction on this room…
‘Devil, you have no more room, you can never enter this room again. I pray the blood of Christ on this closet, on every piece of clothing here.’
The exorcist, who is joined by two other adults, anoints various items in the room with holy water while proclaiming, “We anoint this bed in the name of Jesus so that everyone who touches this bed will be saved.”
And the video left other social media users stunned and running to Andrew’s side, as one wrote: “It’s so painful and at the same time funny in a sad way.” My God, honey, I’m so sorry.
Another added: ‘OMG I can’t believe this is real life! Very sorry.’
And a third simply said: ‘I have no words.’
Other social media users were stunned and quickly flooded the comments with words of support for Andrew.
Andrew has since told Insider that he was sent to conversation camp after talking to his parents at age 14.
He said: ‘It was like some of the darkest moments of my entire life. Basically, it just teaches you to learn to hate yourself, like learning to suppress half of your mind. It is exhausting.’
Andrew was sent to a conversion therapy counselor in addition to being enrolled at the conservative Christian Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
She came out to her parents one more time during her sophomore year, telling the publication that she suspected her parents might drop by her room as a result.
So he decided to install a series of cameras every time he left, which is why the exorcism was recorded.
“My father thought my identity issues were a ‘demonic stronghold,'” she said. “He always used that kind of language around my sexuality.
“It was very important for people to see that there are right-wing Christian fanatics who are subjecting their children to this type of practice and who believe that being gay is something deeply evil that must be ritually removed.”
Andrew, who no longer speaks to his parents, caused quite a stir last year after he convicted his aunt, Republican Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, of bigotry.
Andrew, who no longer speaks to his parents, caused quite a stir last year after he convicted his aunt, Republican Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, of bigotry.
In December 2022, Vicky cried on Capitol Hill while speaking out against the gay marriage bill that finally passed the House.
The 62-year-old was sobbing and her voice trembled as she told the House: “I hope and pray that my colleagues find the courage to join me in opposing this misguided and dangerous bill.”
And Andrew was quick to speak on the matter, as he said that she was wrong and that she would have to learn to tolerate and accept.
He spoke to her in February of last year, despite her long history of rejecting LGBTQ rights, including her decision in 2019 to sponsor an event hosted by conversion therapy advocates.
He said: “So even though I told my aunt last February, I guess she’s still so homophobic.”
Andrew told BuzzFeed News at the time that he wasn’t surprised by his performance, adding, “I don’t want my last name to be associated with hate.” I want it to be associated with love.
He also sued evangelical Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a college he didn’t choose but the only one his father said would pay his tuition.
Andrew also sued evangelical Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a college he didn’t choose but the only one his father said would pay his tuition.
Like all students, Andrew had signed a pledge upon arrival stating, ‘I will not engage in or attempt to engage in any unbiblical and illicit sexual acts, including any homosexual activity and sexual intercourse with anyone other than my spouse.
‘I will not be united in marriage other than marriage between a man and a woman.’
The university’s chancellor, William Wilson, preached during one of the mandatory twice-weekly sermons that “if a man has intercourse with a man as one has intercourse with a woman, both have done what is detestable, they are exposed to dead.’
Wilson asked the assembled students to close their eyes, bow their heads, and raise their hands if they needed “healing in this area of sexuality.”
Andrew is now part of a federal class action lawsuit in which the plaintiffs are suing the Department of Education to block religious schools from receiving federal funding if they discriminate against LGBTQ students.
Under current law, such schools receive religious exemptions from compliance with Title IX anti-discrimination laws.
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Source: tit.edu.vn
