A homophobic father just got called out by a television judge after suing his gay son for conversion therapy costs.
Residing in Memphis, Tennessee, Gregory Talbert found his 18-year-old son Michael Talbert kissing his best friend in his room on a Sunday morning before church.
Shortly after this discovery, Gregory spent $6,000 to send his son to conversion therapy, which Michael ended up running away from due to the toxic and cruel conditions at the establishment. Michael only agreed to attend conversion therapy out of fear that his parents would disown him and throw him out of the house.
As a result, Gregory sued his son for the $6,000 that he spent to "cure" his son from his sexuality. Now, Judge Eboni K. Williams is going viral on social media for putting the father in his place.
At first, Gregory tried to gaslight the situation into making the son responsible for not "fulfilling his promise" of attending conversion therapy, which Judge Williams quickly denounced in the viral clip.
"You’ve gaslit this young man for far too long. He’s still a youth and he’s still your son, but you’re not going to gaslight me, sir," Williams said. "That is fear. He’s terrified of you and the consequences of not being a part of this family. That’s why he says he will go."
After calling out Gregory on his choice of words, Judge Williams asked Michael to explain what happened to him at the conversion therapy.
"[They] said that I was cursed, said that I was going to hell, and called all of us there monsters, that we were unworthy, and that we needed the program to fix ourselves," Michael said.
Michael only lasted a month in the program before running away to stay with his best friend, where he said finally felt free for the first time in his life.
Once Michael told his side of the story, Judge Williams left the bench to hold Michael's hands and share a powerful message that's resonated with people all over the world.
"Young man, you are not cursed," she said, while Michael visibly tears up. "You are as loved and as worthy, Michael, as your father, your mother, and everyone else who gets the privilege to reside on this earth, young man. I don’t care what your daddy says. I don’t care what some stupid conversion therapy says, which is nothing but a bunch of hoopla and a scam and a money grab for young, vulnerable men like yourself. I see you. You are valuable, and Michael, you are perfect. You are perfect in the eyes of God."
Gregory tried to weasel his way out of the condemnation of his actions by saying he thought the abuse was "tough love," but Williams immediately shut him down. "It’s unacceptable, it’s manipulative, and it’s downright cruel," she said.
Judge Williams then swiftly brought the case to an end by dismissing Gregory's lawsuit and scolding him by saying he has no right to call himself a father until he can love his son unconditionally.
"This one is very simple," Williams said. "This young man deserves a father and a mother who love him completely... not that tolerates him, sir. Not that begrudgingly accepts who he is, but that loves him unconditionally and completely. He deserves a home, sir, where he is safe and loved. It’s clear to this court that you nor your wife, according to your testimony today, can provide that. Therefore, it is with great joy and comfort that I dismiss your case in its entirety."
Watch the full episode of Equal Justice with Judge Eboni K. Williams below.
