(Image source: LGBTQ Nation)

BY TRACY PFEIFFER

ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO

You're watching multisource U.S. news analysis from Newsy.

It’s no secret GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann only supports marriage between a man and a woman.

But controversy is stirring behind reports from The Nation and ABC -- which say the faith-based clinic owned by Marcus Bachmann -- her husband -- is using the controversial reparative therapy method to “cure” same-sex attraction.

The Nation spoke with Andrew Ramirez, who says he was told prayer and faith in God would ‘cure’ his homosexuality after his parents forced him into the therapy.

And ABC’s Nightline aired hidden camera footage from LGBT-rights activist John Becker, who went into the clinic pretending to seek help.

THERAPIST: “Yeah, you’re in the midst of a storm. You’re in the midst of a battle. …The truth is, God has designed our eyes to be attracted to the woman, to the woman’s body. To be attracted to, you know, everything. To be attracted to her breasts.”

Becker - who went undercover for activist group Truth Wins Out -- says he attended five one-hour sessions at the Bachmann clinic.

This therapy is also called “pray the gay away” -- and NBC explains why some believe its use is an issue.

MICHAEL ISIKOFF, NBC: “Becker says he wanted to prove that the Bachmann clinic uses a controversial technique called ‘reparative therapy’ to cure gays and lesbians of homosexuality. …The ‘gay cure’ therapy has been repudiated by the American Psychological Association, and in the past, Marcus Bachmann has denied that his clinic uses such practices.”

A writer for lesbian-geared blog Lez Get Real says -- the fact that Bachmann’s clinic receives state and federal government funding makes the allegations even more infuriating - maybe even illegal.

“...Dr. Marcus Bachmann is a quack of a therapist who has violated the terms of his grants because he practices these kinds of therapies which are damaging, as well as basing his practice on religious beliefs instead of on psychological grounds. One of the grants for his practice stipulates emphatically that he is not suppose to base his therapy on religion.”

A blogger for The Baltimore Sun says -- while he’s glad the clinic is being investigated -- since his wife is a presidential candidate and all -- he isn’t too pleased with the way the story came about.

“I wouldn't publish the video here if I didn't think everyone should see it... But, as a media critic, I have to question the methods of getting the video on principle - and of ABC News using it this way. How is this different than James O'Keefe going undercover at the Baltimore Acorn clinics? And what do we know about the editing of this video. Remember the debate about how O'Keefe edited his NPR sting video?”

Finally, a columnist for conservative news outlet, Newsbusters asks, why is this news?

“A man walks into a Christian clinic saying he has ‘feelings towards men and depression and asked if he could be rid of his homosexual urges through therapy and prayer.’ And he's outraged when a therapist at this Christian clinic tells him to pray?  That's like walking into a McDonald's complaining of hunger and being disgusted when the kid behind the counter suggests a Big Mac.”

In response to the report, Bachmann’s camp released a statement saying because of privacy restrictions, they cannot comment on specific treatments used in the clinic.

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