Friday, January 28, 2011

Ted Haggard Admits He's [Gay] Bisexual

Remember how a number of the leading lights in the "ex-gay" and reparative therapy world were claiming that former mega church pastor Ted Haggard was "cured" of his homosexual attractions? Well, in a new GQ Magazine interview, Haggard reveals the lie to that myth when he admits that he's "bisexual." He also employs a tortured definition of sex that is worthy of Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Mutual masturbation in Haggard's world isn't really sex. Yes, I sound snarky and I do acknowledge that there are true bisexuals in the world, but the cynic in me would argue that Haggard is merely doing what so many have done before they can admit that the "G-word" really applies to them. Since they cannot own up to the word gay, they are conveniently "bisexual" instead. Haggard also shoots down his own prior claims that he did actually use drugs during. It's sad to see that Haggard is likely still lying to himself, his family and the congregants of his small church he has opened. Here are some highlights:
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What bothers [Mike] Jones most is that Ted is again serving as a pastor and an influencer, putting the people who trust him—especially young men—in danger. Two years ago, a New Life volunteer named Grant Haas revealed that Ted had masturbated in front of him and offered him drugs on a church trip in 2006, when he was 22, and that New Life subsequently paid him $179,000 to keep quiet. New Life later confirmed having paid Haas but insisted that it wasn't meant as hush money. (Ted denies the drug offer but admits that he masturbated in the room they shared. "I thought he was asleep," he says.)
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Ted may be telling the truth, but his peculiar brand of self-victimization and protestation—in which every "I messed up" is followed by a "but... "—makes it hard for people in Colorado Springs to believe that he's actually sorry for what he did. One former New Life member expressed what seems to be the general sentiment surrounding his resurgence: "I think Ted genuinely loves God, and I think he has a sincere interest in helping people, but I don't believe a word that comes out of his mouth."
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For the first time since we've met, Ted isn't looking directly at me. "Here's where I really am on this issue," he half whispers. "I think that probably, if I were 21 in this society, I would identify myself as a bisexual." After a weekend of Ted trying to convince me of his unambiguous devotion to his wife and kids, I'm at first too surprised to say anything.
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"So why not now?" I ask finally. "Because, Kevin, I'm 54, with children, with a belief system, and I can have enforced boundaries in my life. Just like you're a heterosexual but you don't have sex with every woman that you're attracted to, so I can be who I am and exclusively have sex with my wife and be perfectly satisfied."
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I would suggest that until Haggard is truly honest with himself and everyone else, he's still living a lie and harming others - whether he wants to accept that truth or not.

1 comment:

Carole said...

I have detested this sleaze ball since day one, and still do, because he has hurt so many, both in and out of the church. He is a blight on Christianity.