New Zealand Denies Exodus International Affiliate Non-Profit Status

Many countries allow charitable organizations some sort of non-profit status provided that they document that they offer educational and non-profit motivated benefits to society. Unfortunately, in the USA many of the far right Christianist organizations hide behind the smoke screen of such educational endeavors when in reality their stock in trade is hate and prejudice - not to mention interference with the civil rights of other citizens. Worse yet, they peddle bogus science and in reality serve as PR arms for theocrats who want to subvert the U.S. Constitution - particularly the constitutional ban on an established religion. Part of this cesspool of faux charities is Exodus International - the largest purveyor of the "ex-gay" myth - myth used repeatedly by Christianists in opposing full civil legal equality for LGBT citizens. It seems that in New Zealand some people are waking up to Exodus' foul agenda and Exodus Ministries Trust Board's application for non-profit status was not renewed. Indeed, the conclusion was that the organization was "not performing any public benefit, because being gay is not a mental disorder and does not need curing." Would that the IRS would exercise such forthright thinking. Here are some highlights from GayNZ.com:
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The Charities Commission says the Exodus Ministries Trust Board is not performing any public benefit, because being gay is not a mental disorder and does not need curing.
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The trust is affiliated with the United States-based Exodus Global Alliance, which promises "freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ". It has had charitable status for more than a decade, but that status has now been removed by the Charities Commission under a regime introduced in 2007.
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The trust claimed it had a legitimate point of view and provided support to homosexuals during "very difficult times". It said a comparison could be made with Rainbow Youth having charitable status, "clearly an education provided by Rainbow Youth Inc. would be from a preconceived point of view, ie that homosexuality and other forms of sexuality are perfectly normal for some people."
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The Charities Commission disagreed.
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The full Commission decision can be found here. Among other things the Commission noted that the American Psychological Association found reparative therapy to be unethical and that all major mental health associations held that such "ex-gay" therapies were not effective and, indeed, could be harmful. I have long advocated that regulatory boards in the states need to crack down on "ex-gay" ministries and, better yet, yank the licenses of therapists who engage in such programs. Maybe New Zealand's example will be the beginning of a trend. Of course, that would mean that Alan Chambers and other ex-gays for pay might need to find legitimate employment.