Benji's Case

“This story was provided via Human Rights and Equalities. Names and some details have been changed for anonymity.”

Benji was brought up in an orthodox Jewish community and faith.

On his rabbi and family becoming aware that he was Gay he was put through what he describes as being an exorcism consisting  of rituals to expel evil spirits from Benji’s body.

A minyan was involved, he said, in ridding him of the dybbuks, he was told were in him. These spirits he was told were in his genitals, his throat , anal canal intestines  and mouth and he was also given a substance to ingest to make him vomit and have diarrhoea to expel, as the Rabbi said unholy deposits of semen, in these bodily areas, which were deemed, the Rabbi said were manifestations of homosexual evil.

The other members in conducting the above ritual were described by Benji as them pressing on his stomach with their hands and feet until he vomited, after which the Rabbi returned.

The practices he was being subjected to, he was told relies on "powers of holiness" to counter and remove an evil spirit.

Benji was particularly frightened by the Rabbi making out that he was talking to the dybbuks.

Benji has felt unable to pull away from his place of religion and family and has been trying to embrace changing his same sex attraction but is finding it very hard to change he said.

We (Human Rights and Equalities) have available for him a package of culturally appropriate, ongoing help for him, to avail of,  for when he is wanting this and ready to avail of it.