Truth Wins Out - Exposing the Ex-gay Lies

My blogger friend, Vanyel, sent me a message this morning telling me to check out a post that referred to a site he thought might be of interest to me. Ironically, it turns out that the site is Truth Wins Out (http://www.truthwinsout.org/) which is headed up by my friend Wayne Besen and which is now utilizing the talents of Mike Airhart, the founder of Ex-Gay Watch (http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/), who will be posting blog entries and other news and information on the TWO web site. As some readers know, I got to know Wayne back in the summer of 2003 while working with a client who had unknowingly had sexual relations with the fraudulent "ex-gay," Michael Johnston. Ulimately, in August, 2003, Southern Voice did a story exposing Johnston and he was whisked off to Pure Life Ministries where he remains more or less in hiding. Subsequently, I was lucky enought to have the opportunity to meet and have lunch with Mike Airhart and his partner while visiting friends in Washington, DC. Between Wayne and Mike, TWO has a dedicated team working to put forth the truth about "ex-gay" programs and propaganda.

More recently, Wayne interviewed me about the efforts of some of the anti-gay Christianist organizations that are trying to rehabilitate Johnston and selling materials by Johnston even though they know he is a fraud. The video of the interview can be seen on TWO's website. WARNING: I look like frigging hell - in bad need of a haircut and looking very tired - in the harsh lighting. But I digress. One of the things that TWO is seeking is volunteer efforts to further expose the dishonesty of the ex-gay ministries and/or the fact that they do NOT utilize licensed professionals with legitimate backgrounds in medicine and/or mental health issues. Following up on TWO's request, I decided to check out a local "ministry," Sought Out, Inc., located in nearby Virginia beach which is an affiliate of Exodus International. I once knew a guy who had gone through their program with less than a good outcome: he was still gay, but as a result of all the religious guilt that had been beaten into him, he became an alcoholic. So, I visited the ministry's website and not surprisingly, it program is religion based. First, it puts forth a statement of the following beliefs among others:

The factors which produce a situation conducive to homosexual acts or a person receptive to homosexuality are often beyond that person's control, but the homosexual act is a conscious, volitional act of sin. Albeit a sin, it is equally forgivable in God's redemptive plan as any other sin.

God is able to provide grace and strength to empower a person wanting to cease an addictive, self-defeating, or homosexual lifestyle and to restore that person to a right relationship with God, with others, and with one's own self.

The applicantion for would be participants also contains a few interesting questions that indicate the program's obsession with sin and sexual matters:

Have you or anyone in your family been involved with Satanic Ritual Abuse?

What specific areas of support and/or instruction do you desire?
_______Compulsive masturbation
_______Homosexual brokenness
_______Pornography
_______Compulsive sexual behavior
At what point in your life did you consider yourself a Christian?

Not surprisingly, the organization lacks legitimate licensed mental health care professionals. Unlike many such "ministries," Sought Out at least is somewhat honest in being up front about telling would be participants everything that it is not (and that results are not assured). It also covers its ass by making applicants sign a release form which among other things contains the following:

I am aware that my participation in the SALT program is not a substitute for psychiatric treatment, psychotherapy, therapeutic counseling or any other form of professional therapy. I am also aware that my participation in the SALT program is not a substitute for my active involvement in a local Christian church body of my choice. I am voluntarily participating in the SALT program with full knowledge of these facts, and I accept complete responsibility for my own psychological, mental, emotional, and spiritual well being.

I acknowledge that my emotional vulnerability may increase along with the desire to act out new or old compulsive behaviors. In order to maintain a safe environment, we ask that you refrain from casual, social contact with other group members for the twenty-week program. Exchanging phone numbers within the small group is encouraged for accountability purposes, unless there is the possibility of a sexual pull between two group members.

Sought Out does, in fact, have referral links to parties that are actually licensed in mental health care. However, even such referral soucres all make it clear from their respective websites that "Christian" values and outlook predominate as opposed to safe, sane mental health care views. Thus, why it is importnat for the APA and other professional groups to toughen their policies to bar religion based reparative therapy efforts.