Shivangi Sinha
Lifetime’s ‘Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story’ is the story of a 15-year-old teenager whose life gets upended after she comes out to her conservative parents. Unable to accept her sexuality, the devout Mormons kick her out and later deceive her into believing she’s being sent to her grandparents’ place, only to leave her at the home of a couple who run a conversion therapy program. What follows is a brutal period of emotional and physical abuse as Alex is subjected to extreme conditions and psychological punishments. Torn between resistance and survival, she must decide whether to fight back or surrender. Directed by Jeffrey G. Hunt, the 2019 film powerfully explores themes of identity and the devastating impact of forced conformity. It also brings attention to the realities of conversion therapy and the strength it takes to hold onto one’s truth in the face of systemic and personal oppression.
Trapped is Based on the Story of a Teenager Forced into a Conversion Camp
We live in a world where injustice still thrives in quiet corners and is often disguised as tradition or belief. Among the most heartbreaking of these are conversion therapy programs, which are harmful practices that claim to “correct” a person’s sexual orientation. ‘Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story’ brings this harsh reality to light and draws from the powerful memoir ‘Saving Alex: When I Was Fifteen I Told My Mormon Parents I Was Gay, and That’s When My Nightmare Began,’ written by Alex Cooper with Joanna Brooks. With a screenplay crafted by Michelle Paradise, the film translates the events of Alex’s teenage life into a deeply affecting narrative. The biographical film not only exposes the cruelty of forced change but also honors the courage it takes to reclaim one’s identity in a world that often tries to erase it.
Alex was just 15 when her life took a drastic turn. She was raised in a devout Mormon household in California as the youngest of six siblings and often the one to challenge her family’s expectations. Her parents (Jessica and Dennis Cooper in the film) were deeply religious, attended church regularly, and upheld strict values. One day, when Alex returned home with a love bite on her neck, her parents questioned her about it. Rather than hiding the truth, she bravely admitted she is gay and had been with a girl. She later recalled the moment vividly and expressed how her parents emotionally shut down. She said that instead of trying to understand, they fell silent, and her father could not even look at her. With no money or support, Alex recounted, they told her to leave their home.
With nowhere else to turn, Alex took refuge at a neighbor’s home. Through them, her parents communicated that they wanted to take her to her grandparents’ house in St. George, Utah. Hoping this might be a step toward reconciliation, she agreed to go. But upon arriving in town, the car stopped at the home of Johnny and Tiana Siale. They were also members of the Mormon faith and ran an informal and ad-hoc conversion therapy program. Alex was forced to hand over her phone, cut all contact with the outside world, and attend church regularly. Other teens were also living in the house, including a boy whom Alex later referred to as “Jason” in her memoir. He was an ex-con who had also been sent there. Despite her hopes of escaping, Alex soon realized there was no easy way out. Her pleas for help at the church or in the community went unheard.
Alex Cooper Was Able to Escape From Her Ordeal With the Help of Her Teacher
The weeks that followed were beyond anything Alex could have imagined. According to her memoir, she allegedly endured relentless verbal humiliation and was subjected to disturbing punishments like being forced to stand for hours facing a wall, often with a heavy backpack filled with rocks strapped to her back. She mentioned that Johnny and Tiana Siale also reportedly introduced her to the concept of the “Plan of Salvation,” insisting that because of her sexuality, she would be denied entry into the Celestial Kingdom. They claimed her parents would receive a perfect, straight replica of her while the real Alex would be forgotten. Her every move was tightly monitored, and she was stripped of any autonomy.
On her 16th birthday, feeling completely trapped and hopeless, Alex reportedly tried to take her own life by swallowing a bottle of pills. Though she survived, she later shared that her parents weren’t informed for several weeks, and when they were, they did not take her away. Eventually, Alex was permitted to attend high school, where she joined a Gay–Straight Alliance led by her English teacher and a classmate. It was there that she slowly began to open up about her situation. The teacher connected her with attorney Paul Burke, who agreed to represent her pro bono. As per her memoir, after enduring eight months of confinement and abuse, Alex managed to escape from the Siales’ house around 3 am one night. She spent the next month in a youth crisis center, where she finally felt safe.
Trapped Sheds Light on Alex Cooper’s Ordeal With Empathy and Compassion
A judge ruled that Alex Cooper had the right to live openly and she could date women, participate in LGBTQ clubs, and lead her life as she chose. Eventually, she was allowed to return to her parents’ home, but this time, on her own terms. The film closely mirrors the real-life events it is based on, making only minor changes, such as character names. Its emotional depth is anchored by a powerful performance from Addison Holley, whose portrayal of Alex is both moving and authentic.
In reality, Alex has shared that she has since reconciled with her parents, who are now fully supportive of her identity. According to recent reports, she has been living in Portland, Oregon, and working with a nonprofit organization that supports queer youth in crisis. Alex has also spoken candidly about her evolving relationship with religion, stating that she has stepped away from the church for now and does not wish to be associated with it at this stage of her journey. Thus, to reiterate, while ‘Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story’ sheds light on Alex’s real ordeal, it is imperative to note that the makers may have taken creative liberties and added certain dramatized elements.
Read More: Where is Alex Cooper Now?
