James Dobson's Poisonous Road Show to Hit Charlotte

I have been an constant opponent of the bogus "ex-gay ministries" such as Focus on the Family's "Love Won Out" for many years, but particularly since 2003 when I helped Wayne Besen expose ex-gay fraud, Michael Johnston (pictured at left). The story that largely ended Johnston's ex-gay career - even though there are some Christianist groups like AFA that are once again peddling materials including Johnston - appeared in the Southern Voice and its sister papers on August 1, 2003. One of the things that was most obscene about the whole situation was that Johnston's activities were known among some of the leading anti-gay "professional Christians," yet they continued to market videos and books featuring Johnston. In fact, Coral Ridge Ministries literally sold Johnston's materials right up to the day the Southern Voice story broke. Here are some highlights from that story:

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Five years after starring in a national advertising campaign claiming gays can change their sexual orientation, Michael Johnston experienced a “moral fall” and left behind his ministries, two conservative Christian groups that worked with Johnston confirmed this week. “I received a call from [Johnston] asking forgiveness as a Christian brother and asking for our prayers, indicating that he was working with his pastor and his church to try to find some restoration in his relationship with God,” said Buddy Smith, American Family Association administrator.

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The Mississippi-based AFA partnered with Johnston to promote ex-gay programs, including Johnston’s National Coming Out of Homosexuality Day.The annual event is unlikely to continue following Johnston’s “moral fall,” but Smith said the AFA won’t abandon its claims that gays can change.

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“He obviously had a moral failing, that’s true,” said Peter LaBarbera, president of Americans for Truth, which had been affiliated with Kerusso before a “professional parting of ways” prior to Johnston’s fall. “Many people are still behind him, and we think he did the responsible thing by closing the ministry down,” LaBarbera added.

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In 1998, a coalition of conservative religious groups — including Kerusso, Americans for Truth and AFA — launched a high-profile national print and television ad campaign preaching that gays can change.

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Now, "Love Won Out," which promotes the same old lie as Johnston did that sexual orientation can be changed - in deed is a choice - is on the road to Charlotte, North Carolina, where it will prey upon parents and self-hating LGBT youth. Never mind that ever legitimate mental health and medical association in the country disagrees with the claims of Love Won Out's propaganda. What then is the real purpose of Love Won Out? Certainly not to really change anyone. The only "ex-gays" one ever sees are the ones on church and "ministry" pay rolls. They are in fact, "ex-gay" for pay.

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No, the real reason for Love Won Out is to keep alive the choice myth which was cited just this week in Utah as justification for voting down LGBT legal protections. With a new effort to pass a "Marriage Amendment " in North Carolina on the horizon, maintaining the choice myth is crucial to our enemies. Here are some highlights from the Charlotte Observer on Daddy's coming road show (NOTE: like so much of the media, the Observer never says a word about what legitimate experts say about changing sexual orientation and thus, in effect helps promote the lies):

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The conference is Focus on the Family's Love Won Out. It's Saturday at the Central Church of God. The one-day conference caters to people who want to overcome their sexuality as well as to family members of GLBT people. About 1,000 people are expected.

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Workshops include examining homosexuality, GLBT clergy, pro-gay theology and gay marriage. This is the 11th year of the conference, which Charlotte hosted in 2002 at First Baptist Church.
For people who are dissatisfied with homosexuality, the conference offers an alternative, said Melissa Fryrear [an "ex-gay" for pay] , of Love Won Out, who said she used to be gay. “It's a message of hope and encouragement,” Fryrear said.

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Gay activists disagree. They planned counter events and a rally to offer an alternative view of homosexuality and faith. Activists say ministries, such as Love Won Out, prey on young people and give false hope. They reinforce stereotypes regarding homosexuality, said Q-Notes editor Matt Comer. Comer is part of Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE), a new grass-roots gay rights organization. CRANE, gay-friendly churches, the Lesbian & Gay Community Center and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) won't sit quietly while Love Won Out preaches its message.

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Tonight, Wayne Besen, director of TruthWinsOut.org and author of “Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-gay Myth,” will speak at 7 p.m. at the Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 820 Hamilton St. in the N.C. Music Factory.

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The LGBT community needs to do a far better job in educating media talking heads and news reporters - most of whom are sadly lazy and just care about sensational stories - what the true experts say about witch doctor equivalent programs such as Love Won Out. Until that happens, the choice myth will continue to be used against LGBT Americans.