The former director of the "ex-gay" conservative Christian ministry Love in Action spoke to CNN today ahead of a feature-length documentary film that exposes many of the practices involved in so-called "reparative" therapy.

John Smid -- who came forward last fall saying not only that he is gay, but that it is impossible to change one's sexual orientation -- spoke at length about his previous work on CNN this morning.

"We wanted to teach the wrongs of homosexuality -- why it was a sin, why it was wrong, how it could harm their lives -- not realizing that stuff was going on in their hearts that we wouldn't allow them to share," Smid recalled.

Smid appeared alongside filmmaker Morgan John Fox, who produced "This is What Love in Action Looks Like," a new documentary focusing on the work of Love In Action.

"Now, as I look back, there really is no change in orientation," Smid added. "And yet at the time, we really believed we were somehow going to rescue these kids from a life of homosexuality...so we set them up, really, for a facade, we set them up for a false image of what life would be like."

Smid now runs Grace Rivers, a monthly Christian fellowship group for "those who call themselves gay and want to seek a relationship with God in a place where they're free to do that."

Take a look at the "This is What Love in Action Looks Like" trailer as well as other "ex-gay" cases below:

PHOTO GALLERY A Look At Ex-Gay Therapy