“Ex-Gay” is Anti-Gay, Disguised as Compassion

Earlier this week the Washington Post gave op-ed space to Tony Perkins, the head of the virulently anti-gay Family Research Council. The same Tony Perkins who has a documented history of racism and fraternizing with racists and who is a feel documented liar. Had anyone at the Washington Post bothered to Googled Mr. Perkins, they'd have realized that no legitimate and credible publication should ever give editorial space to Tony Perkins. After being severely criticized and hit with brickbats, the Post decided to do so CYA by allowing a piece by Sirdeaner Walker who lost her son to suicide as a result of anti-gay bullying. Walker challenges Perkins' bullshit lies. An unrelated piece in Religion Dispatches likewise redirects the blame for anti-gay bullying to its real source: anti-gay Christianists who continue to peddle the "ex-gay" myth, often enriching the proponents of these bogus "ministries" in the process. First these highlights from Ms. Walker's Washington Post response to the gay-hating, Klan loving Tony Perkins:
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I came to know about an organization called GLSEN--the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network--about a year and a half ago in the midst of the most difficult time of my life. My 11-year-old son Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover had just taken his life after enduring anti-gay bullying in school. His school had not taken the bullying seriously enough. Eliza Byard, GLSEN's executive director, offered her support.
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[S]ome of my friends and family members expressed concern about the organization's work to address anti-gay bullying in school. They voiced religious opposition to GLSEN. . . . And they're all wrong.
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Mr. Perkins' tactic, and that of others like him, is to use faith and religion to divide us. They seek to thwart efforts to deal with a problem at the heart of this current crisis--anti-gay bullying and harassment.
But Perkins goes further--his "facts" are taken out of context and are, frankly, untrue.
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And we need to be clear on one thing - addressing anti-gay bullying is not a controversial issue. If you move through the smoke screen organizations like Family Research Council try to create, you realize addressing anti-gay bullying is simply the right thing to do if we care about all of our young people.
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I could not be more grateful to my friends at GLSEN for their unwavering support, and I marvel at their determination. They do not allow themselves to be discouraged by the attacks of their crucial work, God's work, by people like Perkins.
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The piece from Religion Dispatches takes Ms. Walker's argument further and slams the snake oil merchants of the "ex-gay" ministries. Here are highlights from this piece:
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Few of the commentaries about Clementi, Brown, Walsh, Lucas and others address the broader context of responsibility for their suicides. What did the family and religious lives of these teens tell them about sexuality and religion? What produced despair so profound that death seemed their only avenue of escape from bullying?
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It’s obvious to condemn the anti-gay hatemongering of Westboro Baptist church . . . More troubling is the subtle and pernicious rhetoric espoused by religious communities and organizations that advise young people to transform their sexuality from gay to straight. Exodus Youth, an entire branch of the Christian ex-gay movement targets those at the most vulnerable and precarious points in their lives, arguing that instead of being gay, they are merely experiencing what they call SSA or same-sex attraction; a temporary malady that can be fixed through ministry, counseling, and prayer.
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The most recent post on the Exodus Youth blog by Chris Stump “Tragic Losses: Enough is Enough!” exemplifies how anti-gay sentiment masquerades as love and compassion.
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I knew a man who took his life after struggling to transform his sexuality in an ex-gay ministry for years. The ideas of “hope for healing” and “freedom from homosexuality” promulgated by Exodus Youth, religious organizations, families, and social communities are deeply entrenched and powerful. Even men and women I met in the course of my research who attended ex-gay ministries and later self-identified as LGBT still struggled. No matter how many years separated them from their experiences as young people in churches, the beliefs of their upbringing and their own same-sex desires still felt irreconcilable.
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By focusing on bullying, Exodus Youth and its supporters avoid the truth that their organization endorses insidious forms of hatred cloaked in the language of compassion.

Scientists: Biblical Plagues of Egypt Result of Natural Disasters

Most myths derive from some historical events in the distant past and are an attempt to explain the happenings observed by the uneducated without an understanding of the true cause. Of course tribal needs and desires for aggrandizement can also factor into the myths as time passes by. Now, scientists have laid out a totally natural explanation for the ten plagues alleged to have been leveled against Egypt for the purposes of forcing King Ramses to release the Israelites from bondage in Egypt as described in the Book of Exodus. I do not mean to disparage the Bible, but this latest scientific studies is yet more piece of evidence as to why the Bible cannot be interpreted literally. I subscribe to the Gospel message of Christ, but the Old Testament and the Epistles truly need to be read with caution. I'm sure these new theories will be most unwelcomed by creationists and far right fundamentalist Christians. Here are highlights from Timesonline:
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Researchers believe they have found evidence of real natural disasters on which the ten plagues of Egypt, which led to Moses freeing the Israelites from slavery in the Book of Exodus in the Bible, were based. But rather than explaining them as the wrathful act of a vengeful God, the scientists claim the plagues can be attributed to a chain of natural phenomena triggered by changes in the climate and environmental disasters that happened hundreds of miles away.
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They have compiled compelling evidence that offers new explanations for the Biblical plagues, which will be outlined in a new series to be broadcast on the National Geographical Channel on Easter Sunday.
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Archaeologists now widely believe the plagues occurred at an ancient city of Pi-Rameses on the Nile Delta, which was the capital of Egypt during the reign of Pharaoh Rameses the Second, who ruled between 1279BC and 1213BC. They found that Rameses reign coincided with a warm, wet climate, but then the climate switched to a dry period.
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Professor Augusto Magini, a paleoclimatologist at Heidelberg University's institute for environmental physics, said: "Pharaoh Rameses II reigned during a very favourable climatic period. "There was plenty of rain and his country flourished. However, this wet period only lasted a few decades. After Rameses' reign, the climate curve goes sharply downwards. "There is a dry period which would certainly have had serious consequences." The scientists believe this switch in the climate was the trigger for the first of the plagues.
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Dr Stephan Pflugmacher, a biologist at the Leibniz Institute for Water Ecology and Inland Fisheries in Berlin . . . . said the bacterium, known as Burgundy Blood algae or Oscillatoria rubescens, is known to have existed 3,000 years ago and still causes similar effects today. He said: "It multiplies massively in slow-moving warm waters with high levels of nutrition. And as it dies, it stains the water red." The scientists also claim the arrival of this algae set in motion the events that led to the second, third and forth plagues – frogs, lice and flies. He said: "It multiplies massively in slow-moving warm waters with high levels of nutrition. And as it dies, it stains the water red." The scientists also claim the arrival of this algae set in motion the events that led to the second, third and forth plagues – frogs, lice and flies.
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Another major natural disaster more than 400 miles away is now also thought to be responsible for triggering the seventh, eighth and ninth plagues that bring hail, locusts and darkness to Egypt. One of the biggest volcanic eruptions in human history occurred when Thera, a volcano that was part of the Mediterranean islands of Santorini, just north of Crete, exploded around 3,500 year ago, spewing billions of tons of volcanic ash into the atmosphere.
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Nadine von Blohm, from the Institute for Atmospheric Physics in Germany, has been conducting experiments on how hailstorms form and believes that the volcanic ash could have clashed with thunderstorms above Egypt to produce dramatic hail storms.
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"The ash fall out caused weather anomalies, which translates into higher precipitations, higher humidity. And that's exactly what fosters the presence of the locusts." The volcanic ash could also have blocked out the sunlight causing the stories of a plague of darkness. Scientists have found pumice, stone made from cooled volcanic lava, during excavations of Egyptian ruins despite there not being any volcanoes in Egypt. Analysis of the rock shows that it came from the Santorini volcano, providing physical evidence that the ash fallout from the eruption at Santorini reached Egyptian shores.

The Thomas Project: A study designed for specific results

Here is yet another analysis trashing the Exodus International/Focus on the Family financed "study" that the Christian Right is advertising as supporting their "choice" myth (http://www.atlanticfreepress.com/content/view/2495/81/). Let's be real: this is all about making money off of these "cure" programs and desperately keeping alive the choice myth for political propaganda reasons. The backers of the study care nothing about the truth. Here are some highlights:

It was called the Thomas Project. When its principal investigators — Stanton Jones of Wheaton College and Mark Yarhouse of Pat Robertson University — published Ex-Gays? A Longitudinal Study of Religiously Mediated Change in Sexual Orientation (InterVarsity Press, 2007), the Christianist Right hailed the study as “scientific proof” sexual orientation can be changed:

“While we’ve known all along that long-term change is possible for people with unwanted same-sex attractions, it’s interesting to note how high the percentage of reported change was,” said Melissa Fryrear, director of Focus on the Family’s gender issues department. [italics added]

[W]hat is surprising — even for the Dobson organization skilled in spinning things to suit their theopolitical agenda — is the irrationality of “how high the percentage of reported change was.”The Thomas Project included a pool of only 98 people, all of whom had been referred to various Exodus ministries for “treatment.” Exodus International claims to be “the largest information and referral ministry in the world addressing homosexual issues.” Exodus is not a medical or science-based organization. It’s a ministry. “Freedom is possible through Jesus Christ!” is their mantra and they, like Dobson’s Focus on the Family, are well known for exaggerations.

[A]ll participants in the Thomas Project were clients of and counseled by Exodus International.Focus on the Family’s Melissa Fryrear chirped about the “high … percentage of reported change.” But look at the numbers reported in the study:

– 33 people reported change in the desired manner (from gay at time 1 in the heterosexual direction at time 3)

– 29 reported no change

– 8 reported change in the “undesired direction”

– 3 were unsure how to describe their experience

– 25 dropped out of the study.

Add up those numbers: 33 + 29 + 8 + 3 + 25 = 98 (72 men and 26 women). A study claiming such global conclusions was based on a subject pool — selected from Exodus clients — of less than 100 people. The “high percentage” Ms. Fryrear chirped about is less than the combined percentage of those reporting “no change” and those who were “gayer” than when they entered the project.

Some participants reported that they were still homosexual, but were living a “chaste life.” As noted in “What on earth is ex-gay ‘success’?” If “change” means one is constantly fighting off same-sex urges, then that sounds more like “ex-gay” means ticking time bombs (Bob Allen, Larry Craig, and the like, who truly believe they are straight but seek out sex with men) or chaste individuals suppressing their orientation than it does a true conversion. Sexual orientation is not simply about sex acts, something the ex-gay movement continually fails to acknowledge when touting “success.”

A weak methodology that included only participants likely to yield the desired results: junk science encouraging potentially harmful “therapeutic” practices. That being said, should individuals have the right to seek “ex-gay” therapy? Yes: caveat emptor. Before entering into such programs, however, those offering such “treatments” should be required — ethically and legally — to tell prospective clients the scientific, medical facts. Perhaps then those seeking change might consider legitimate psychological counseling to learn to accept themselves rather than opting for hocus-pocus religion-based “therapy” designed to teach them to reject who they are and lead fraudulent, repressed lives of denial.

Another Flawed Study That Will Be Used to Justify the "Choice Myth"

Stanton Jones and Mark Yarhouse have authored a new study on the alleged effectiveness of ex-gay programs entitled "Ex-Gays? A Longitudinal Study of Religiously Mediated Change in Sexual Orientation" that was unveiled at a press conference in Nashville. It was funded by Exodus International, which obviously has an interest in finding that a "cure" from homosexuality can occur. A very detailed review of the study, its methodology and flaws can be found here at the Box Turtle Bulletin (http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2007/09/17/785)

Suffice it to say, the study has numerous draw backs that raise questions as to its findings ranging from (a) the small size of the study group, (b) the failure to follow up with those who dropped out of ex-gay therapy, (c) the researchers' failure to stick solely with those just beginning the ex-gay program process, and so on. Had the study been properly and consistently done, the "success rate" would no doubt be even lower that the 1/3 who found some "change."

Here are a few comments on the study from Box Turtle Bulletin:

While Jones and Yarhouse's study appears to be very well designed, it quickly falls apart on execution. The sample size was disappointingly small, too small for an effective retrospective study. They told a reporter from Christianity Today that they had hoped to recruit some three hundred participants, but they found "many Exodus ministries mysteriously uncooperative." They only wound up with 98 at the beginning of the study (72 men and 26 women), a population they describe as "respectably large." Yet it is half the size of Spitzer's 2003 study.

Jones and Yarhouse wanted to limit their study's participants to those who were in their first year of ex-gay ministry. But when they found that they were having trouble getting enough people to participate (they only found 57 subject who met this criteria), they expanded their study to include 41 subjects who had been involved in ex-gay ministries for between one to three years. The participants who had been in ex-gay ministries for less than a year are referred to as "Phase 1" subpopulation, and the 41 who were added to increase the sample size were labeled the "Phase 2" subpopulation.

Remember, Jones and Yarhouse described those "experiencing difficulty with change would be likely to get frustrated or discouraged early on and drop out of the change process." And so assessing the dropouts becomes critically important, because unlike the Add Health study, the very reason for dropping out of this study may have direct bearing on both questions the study was designed to address: Do people change, and are they harmed by the process? With as much as a quarter of the initial population dropping out potentially for reasons directly related to the study's questions, this missing analysis represents a likely critical failure, one which could potentially invalidate the study's conclusions.

Even with these significant flaws, the results broke out as follows (25 dropped out and were not interviewed or included in the results):

* 33 people reported change (moving from homosexual, bisexual or other at Time 1 to heterosexual at time 3; or homosexual at Time 1 to bisexual or other at Time 3)

* 29 reported no change

* 8 reported "negative change" (moving from heterosexual, bisexual or other at Time 1 to homosexual at Time 3; or from heterosexual at Time 1 to bisexual or other at Time 3).

* 3 reported uncertain change (moving from bisexual to other, or the reverse)

Given Exodus' constant opposition to laws giving gays equal rights, I can only view any study Exodus sponsored with suspicion, particularly since it gets much of its funding from violently anti-gay "Christian" organizations. I suspect that these groups will use the 33 individuals reporting "change" as proof that homosexuality is a choice and therefore no legal protections are needed. Anyone want to make a bet?

Beware of (Fraudulent) Ex-Gay Study to Be Released

Two different posts on Ex-Gay Watch and also a post on Truth Wins Out have focused attention of the possible efforts by Exodus International to release the results of an alleged study that will bolster Exodus's unsubstantiated "cure" claims. Odds are that this study will be non-scientific and largely stacked as have several previous studies (using that term very loosely) that purport to support the claim that gays can change their sexual orientation. Here are some highlights from the Ex-Gay Watch posts:

POST ONE: Exodus president Alan Chambers and vice president Randy Thomas have been making casual claims concerning the success rates of “change” and perhaps even vague references to an ongoing study. These have led to an increasingly common, though entirely unsubstantiated figure of 30% “real change in orientation.” A statement on the Exodus International website goes even further: On the statistical side, careful reviews of research studies on sexual orientation change suggest that real change is indeed possible. Studies suggesting change rates in the range of 30-50% are not unusual, although “success rates” vary considerably and the measurement of change is problematic. A link follows to further studies but we could find none there. We have discouraged the use of these figures in posts to avoid the “Paul Cameron Effect” whereby junk science becomes the de facto standard after repetitive use without attribution to any authoritative sources. So far, Exodus has done little to qualify the term “change” in this setting, much less substantiate any figures. That may change soon. (http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2007/08/results-of-secret-exodus-study-soon-to-be-released/)

POST TWO: More information has come to light concerning the study we reported on here. An anonymous source said they have contact with someone participating in the study, called the Thomas Project, out of Wheaton College, and the study consists of questions asked once a year by phone. This participant also noted that the questions were oversimplified, requiring basic responses where they felt detailed explanations were needed. We have good reason to trust this contact, though we will respect their request for anonymity.

There are unconfirmed reports that the study has a sample of as few as 100 to 150 participants. While we don’t know what work was done during selection or preparation, we now know that the data was collected via annual phone calls. A picture is forming of some weak methodology, but presumably more accurate assessments can be made if and/or when others in the scientific community are allowed to review the method of selection of study subjects, the content and method of questions, and the presence or lack of nonverbal measurements and control data.

We suspect Exodus’ Regional Freedom Conference (September 13-15) will be the most likely setting for the formal announcement of the results of the Thomas Project. We also suspect the results will claim rates of over 30% experiencing “change”, but this can’t be verified at this time. If so, it seems interesting that Exodus president Alan Chambers knew this before the study was barely a year out: By Chambers’ estimate, only 30 percent of those who seek to switch orientations succeed. Fifty percent abandon the program. The other 20 percent, he says, go back and forth. “I would say it’s like [Alcoholics Anonymous],” Chambers says. “It’s in the 30-percent range [that] find a great degree of healing and move into heterosexuality, single or married.” (http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2007/08/update-more-on-ex-gay-study-the-thomas-project/)

Having reviewed much of the legitimate research on this topic, no legitimate studies have supported the "Cure" claims. Even the Spitzer study which is consistently misquoted by ex-gay advocates (and which was based on a study group containing a significant percentage of "ex-gay for pay" individuals) found at best a tiny success rate, if any. I find it especially interesting that now that Democratic Presidential candidates have appeared on a "debate" on gay issues, Exodus - which is closely tied to known anti-gay Christianist groups - is talking about releasing this study just in time for the 2008 election cycle. I am sure that Exodus - and its masters - are relying on a lazy and uninformed media to run with sound bites from this bogus study to help fuel anti-gay measures at the ballot box next year.

If my suspicions are correct, it will be one more examples of the self-proclaimed "Christians" using deliberate lies and untruths to push their Christianist agenda.

Randy Thomas of Exodus is Crying Wolf Over Possible APA Standards Revisions

I was somewhat amazed to receive an e-mail last night from Randy Thomas of Exodus that put me in the same address box with the likes of Pam Spaulding of Pam’s House Blend, the Gay City News and the blogger at “As Good As You.” Of course, anyone who has read much of this blog knows that I totally disagree with everything Exodus stands for and have said as much. Unlike Mr. Thomas, I very much hope that the American Psychological Association, in the process of revisiting the ethical standards for its members, will finally take a firm stance that condemns reparative therapy and make it an ethical offense for licensed psychologists to subject patients, particularly minors, to such “cure” programs.

Not surprisingly, on Mr. Thomas’ personal blog he is raising a hue and cry that Christians will be persecuted:

Criminalize and Shut Down Alternative Views of Homosexuality
Some people, who identify as gay, have been laughing at me for years for warning that activists want to use public policy and the professional sector to shut down resources and even criminalize what Exodus believes in and seeks to help others accomplish.

I understand that this isn't a reality at the moment but we need not ignore the warning bells. A client's right to self-determination should not be undermined. Exodus exists for people who want our help. Our religious liberty, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and respect for a mature person's ability to self-determine their life path/identity (among plenty of other arguments) should be civilly and professionally protected regardless of what the APA determines.

Note how Mr. Thomas talks about a “mature person’s ability to self determine,” yet the number one target audience of these “cure ministries” is teenagers and young adults – e.g., Love Won Out’s youth boot camp is now back in business.

Increasingly, the civil laws protect children and minors from dangerous non-treatment for medical conditions even though the parents’ religious beliefs prohibit treatment (e.g., blood transfusions). Applying Mr. Thomas’ “mature person” standard, then Mr. Thomas should be fine with the APA banning minors (i.e., anyone under age 18 at a minimum) from being subjected to reparative therapy in light of the emotional and psychological damage, including potential suicide, it can cause. A parent’s religious beliefs should not put a child’s or young adult’s emotional and psychological health at risk. I personally know a number of people who grew up in fundamentalist homes and were subjected to these programs that still carry the emotional and psychological scars of handiwork

Therefore, I fully agree with the view that if the APA does in fact ban reparative or conversion therapy, there will at long last be a solid legal argument for shutting down such groups as Exodus International and Homosexuals Anonymous. This will also mean that under the professional standard care and existing malpractice laws, psychologists and therapists who continue to advocate and practice such therapy would be subject to license revocation and/or fines, and probably be hard put to secure malpractice insurance. All in all, it would be a very positive development.

Of course, Mr. Thomas unvoiced concern is also that he'd have to get real employment and stop being a professional ex-gay for pay.

Ex-EX-Gay Apology

In follow to yesterday's post, set out below is the text of the apology/press release by Darlene Bogle, Exodus-founder Michael Bussee (pictured at left), and UK's Jeremy Marks:

As former leaders of ex-gay ministries, we apologize to those individuals and families who believed our message that there is something inherently wrong with being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. Some who heard our message were compelled to try to change an integral part of themselves, bringing harm to themselves and their families. Although we acted in good faith, we have since witnessed the isolation, shame, fear, and loss of faith that this message creates. We apologize for our part in the message of broken truth we spoke on behalf of Exodus and other organizations. We call on other former ex-gay leaders to join the healing and reconciliation process by adding their names to this apology.

We encourage current leaders of ex-gay programs to have the courage to evaluate the fruit of their programs. We ask them to consider the long-term effects of their ministry. "My heart breaks as I hear the many stories of abuse and suicide from men and women who couldn't change their orientation, regardless of what Exodus and other Christian ministries told them. One of our female attendees became so depressed over her inability to change that she jumped off a bridge rather than continue the struggle. I was told it wasn't my fault, but my heart knew better. ....There does need to be a change in our lives, but our sexual orientation is not what needs to be healed. I call for a time of healing within the body of faith that will celebrate Christ's life within all His children," said Darlene Bogle, founder of an Exodus off-shoot called Paraklete Ministries in Hayward, California.

Some of the fruits and effects of their ex-gay programs have been and are self-hatred, deep depression, and suicide when the falsely promised change does not occur. One can only wonder how many lives have been damaged by these fraudulent programs. While I was never in an ex-gay program per se, false religious promises certainly cause me unmeasurable anguish and self-hate for many years.

Some good new is that according to a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, a majority of Americans (56%) do not believe that sexual orientation can be changed. Now if only the GOP would wake up to reality.

For younger gays who never experienced the decades in the closet like many in the older generation, I do not think they fully understand the Hell we experienced or how long the process takes to get over the damage, including the time involved in free one's self from a sense of guilt and/or failure.

Former Ex-Gay Leaders Apologize

Beyond Ex-Gay (http://www.beyondexgay.com/conference) is reporting that former ex-gay leaders held a press conference in Los Angeles and apologized for their past involvement with Exodus International affiliates:

Three former ex-gay leaders issued public apologies for the roles they played in ex-gay ministries affiliated with Exodus International. They also shared portions of their personal stories.
The event was covered by members of local and national news media including CNN and Azteca America . More information about the apologies, the leaders, and their statements will be released later today.

I will post more information as it becomes available. Meanwhile, I am sure the fundie talking heads like Robert Knight, Stephen Bennett, Peter LaBarbera, et al, will be denouncing these folks with foam at their mouths. Once the ex-gay myth collapses, a good share of these guys' livelihoods will dry up.

Ex-Gay Cat Fight

All Hell is breaking loose in the fraudulent world of ex-gays following Alan Chambers' following comment to the Los Angeles Times:

With years of therapy, Chambers says, he has mostly conquered his own attraction to men; he's a husband and a father, and he identifies as straight. But lately, he's come to resent the term "ex-gay": It's too neat, implying a clean break with the past, when he still struggles at times with homosexual temptation. "By no means would we ever say change can be sudden or complete," Chambers said.

Adding the the ex-gay heresy are statements by Rev. R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, that "we should not be surprised" to find a genetic basis for sexual orientation. The concession that homosexuality may not be a choice, but a matter of DNA totally undercuts professional ex-gays like Stephen Bennett, who has a profitable business pretending prayer washed away the gay, and professional anti-gay rights whacko Peter LaBarbera (a/k/a Porno Pete), who has an unnatural need to go "undercover" at gay leather events.

Here's a summary of Bennett's comments following Alan Chambers' act of blasphemy:

There is ZERO biological, scientific "evidence" for homosexuality to this date. The biblical evidence for homosexuality is very clear: it's sin.

For Bible believing Christians, homosexuality is, was and always will be a sinful lifestyle - condemned by God throughout the Old and New Testament - a sin that anyone involved in, must repent from.

Stephen Bennett, an ex-gay himself now for 15 years, happily married for 14 years to his wife Irene and the father of their two children, stated, "Frankly, I am shocked that the President of the largest information and referral ministry in the world on homosexual issues, would ever make such irresponsible and false public statements. If Mr. Chambers, a married man and father who once engaged in homosexuality himself, says he's never met 'a former ex-gay' or one who has 'changed completely', he's personally invited to our home in Connecticut to meet one. I'd also be happy to introduce him to numerous other individuals - all former homosexual men and women."

Bennett once engaged in the homosexual lifestyle for 11 years with over 100 men - losing partners and friends to HIV/AIDS, until everything changed in 1990 - when he was confronted with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He dealt with his root issues and in 1992 completely changed. Stephen no longer struggles whatsoever with homosexual temptation.

"Homosexuality is an outward expression of an inward conflict. When I completely dealt with my inward conflict, my alcoholism, cocaine addiction, bulimia AND homosexual struggle were completely gone," said Bennett.

Note how Bennett, like most of those who have become professional ex-gays has a history of alcohol and drug abuse. I suspect Bennett's root issue was the need to make money and find some form of acceptance and the ex-gay route provided both. In the case of Porno Pete, he strikes me as a bit too shrill and is probably a self-hating closet case. No one straight is that obsessed with homosexuality in my view.

Ex-gay or Just Exploited?

The Orange County Register newspaper (http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/irvine/article_1732269.php) has a story on competing conference that will take place on the merits (or lack there of) of ex-gay programs. One is the annual Exodus International "Freedom Conference" with professional ex-gay, Alan Chambers. A bike ride away, at UC Irvine, co-sponsored by the university, is scheduled "The Survivor's Conference: Beyond Ex-gay."

What is interesting is that one of the attendees at the Survivor event is one of the original founders of the Exodus movement who has changed his view on the legitimacy of "ex-gay" programs:

Michael Bussee, who co-founded Exodus at Anaheim's Melodyland Christian Center in 1976, said he quit counseling people to go straight when he realized he couldn't even "cure" himself. Bussee, who now lives in Riverside and is a licensed marriage and family therapist, said he knew he was gay since he was a boy. At age 12, he went to the public library looking for a book "about homosexuality so I could cure it, but the books said it was the result of mental illness."

Bussee became a born-again Christian, got married, studied anthropology and psychology at Cal State Fullerton, and hoped while involved with Melodyland that he could live as a straight man. "I loved my wife and we both thought over time God would create heterosexual feelings in me," Bussee said. "Instead, I fell in love with my wife's best friend's husband." By 1979, Bussee began to believe he was hurting the people he was trying to counsel in his ex-gay group. "There were suicide attempts," Bussee said. "I had a guy in my group who took a razor blade to his genitals because he felt so guilty."

Sadly, Alan Chambers, pictured with his wife, still has yet to recant. I am sure if it is because he cannot let go of the religious brainwashing that he received growing up and/or in the Exodus program, or if because the money he makes playing "ex-gay" is too attractive. Which ever the reason, I feel sorry for his wife in that she was suckered into marrying a guy who will never truly be the straight husband she deserved. Meanwhile, here's what the legitimate experts have to say on ex-gay therapy:

"Reparative therapy" is "based on an understanding of homosexuality that has been rejected by all the major health and mental health professions," according to the American Psychological Association.

The American Academy of Pediatrics reported in 2004 that "current literature and most scholars in the field state that one's sexual orientation is not a choice; that is, individuals do not choose to be homosexual or heterosexual."

"Therapy directed specifically at changing sexual orientation is contraindicated, since it can provoke guilt and anxiety while having little or no potential for achieving changes in orientation," a position paper of the American Academy of Pediatrics states.

The American Psychiatric Association reported that the "potential risks of 'reparative therapy' are great, including depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior, since therapist alignment with societal prejudices against homosexuality may reinforce self-hatred already experienced by the patient."

Bush Nominee Plays the Victim Card to Cover for Lying

Oh my, what a surprise. Chimperator Bush's nominee for Surgeon General and his Christianist allies are playing the victim card, acting as if the good doctor is being persecuted for his religious beliefs as opposed to his deliberate falsification of research to support his religious views against gays. A Liar is a liar, regardless of their theology. Here is a report from Ex-Gay Watch (remember PFOX was established by and is funded by Daddy Dobson and folks like him) on this disgusting attempt to play the victim:

PFOX is back, this time speaking in defense of Surgeon General nominee Dr. James Holsinger. According to the group’s press release, “Gay rights groups are attacking Dr. James Hoslinger’s [sic] nomination because his church is inclusive of ex-gays and he supports the right to self-determination regarding one’s sexual attraction.”

Alan Chambers has joined PFOX on the bandwagon as well. Although Chambers declared himself neutral on the subject of Holsinger’s nomination (PFOX also stopped short of endorsing him), he, too, resorted to playing the “victim card,” declaring, “As a society, we should not disqualify an individual simply because of his belief that those conflicted by their same-sex attraction can and should be helped.”

In this case, however, the victim card isn’t even well played.

Opposition to Dr. Holsinger’s nomination has nothing to do with a desire on the part of any group to “deny the right of any individual to seek support in resolving unwanted same-sex attractions,” as PFOX spokesperson Regina Griggs claims in their press release. Of far greater concern is the question of whether Dr. Holsinger would respect the right of LGBT individuals to self-determination in spite of his personal beliefs. Given his selective and misleading use of scientific data to influence the policies of the United Methodist Church against inclusion of gays and lesbians, that is a very legitimate concern.

Although PFOX and Exodus both play the victim card as a standard tactic in their political lobbying, they have yet to provide any evidence that the rights of ex-gays to pursue reorientation and a heterosexual lifestyle are in any danger of being infringed upon – at least in any way that the general public would define the right to self-determination.

As Kevin Naff indicates:

"The use of the deliberately misleading term “ex-gay,” along with the scandalous and extremely un”christian” claim of unsubstantiated numbers of people “helped” should be evidence enough to send these roaches back under their rocks. But no, instead they still peddle their insincerely-held “beliefs” in the cynical attempt to fleece the public by preying on the most basic insecurities they can identify in the human spirit - and then seek profit from the venture."

Would that the mainstream media would have the balls and integrity to expose these frauds.

Exodus Releases Anti-Bullying Statement - Is This For Real?

I am not quite sure what to think. In the past, Exodus International has been a tool of the anti-gay Christianist who would gladly have gays placed in concentration camps. Judge for yourself what you think if the statement and whether or not it is Exodus' true position or like me, you wonder if Alan Chambers feel and hit his head or something:

Exodus Position Statement on Bullying and Violence

“Exodus International affirms that gay-identified individuals and those who struggle with same-sex attraction are persons for whom Jesus Christ died and loves equally. Therefore, we strongly oppose bullying, name calling and acts of aggression against any individual or group of individuals for any reason. These actions have no place in our society and we must, instead, affirm behavior that validates the personal worth and dignity God bestows upon every human being.

“In addition, every individual deserves equal protection and every offender should receive equal punishment. We call upon other organizations concerned with preserving the essential equality of all individuals to exhibit impartiality in their policies, rather than singling out some for special treatment.”

Somehow, like the folks at Ex-Gay Watch, I do not think Daddy Dobson, Peter LaBarbera, Stephen Bennett, Linda Harvey, et al, are going to be very happy. After all, the make a living either trying to marginalize or claiming to be "cured." I wonder if Dobson will cut off funding or have Chambers fired? It sure is not consistent with Exodus' past message.

More Lies From Exodus About Gay "Cures"

I have little use for ex-gay organizations, which in my opinion peddle snake oil and should be shut down for intentionally fraudulent operations." Unfortunately, since most operate as religious related "ministries," they avoid the licensing requirements imposed on legitimate therapists and real mental health clinics. Ex-Gay Watch, on which I have had columns published, has a new story on how Exodus is now, with no documented evidence, claim that sudden and immediate change is possible (see: http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2007/06/exodus-fails-to-document-sudden-radical-complete-change/). Here's a portion of the posting:

Exodus International, the largest ex-gay organization and increasingly active anti-gay rights lobby, is now making a rather bold claim. Without any explanation, support or fanfare, they have released two radio spots as part of a media campaign to promote their upcoming Freedom Conference in Irvine, California.

"Revolution - a sudden, radical, complete change - through Christ - freedom is possible for those who struggle with same-gender attraction…”

Both audio clips use the same script with different background music to fit the various radio programming formats. The page contains no information or support concerning the claim, and as far as one can tell it would only be heard by someone listening to the radio or happening across that particular page. A web search would not find it.

In the past, Exodus president Alan Chambers has denied this kind of immediate transformation, and certainly no proof exists to support it. When confronted by Anderson Cooper about Ted Haggard’s claim to have become heterosexual after three weeks of therapy, Chambers said: "Well, the truth is that’s not my story, and it’s not the story of anyone I’ve ever met. I don’t know Ted Haggard’s journey over the last three weeks, but like Mark, I would say that it’s something that — it doesn’t seem like something that is really the case."

I truly feel sorry for gays and their families who are duped by Exodus' bogus propaganda. The only ones who benefit are the professional ex-gays who make money off the unwary and desperate. In my view, these "ex-gays for pay" are parasites.

Exodus International's Randy Thomas' Fear of Real Diologue

In a post on his blog, Randy Thomas (pictured at left), the Vice President of Exodus International - the mother ship for the "ex-gay" cure "ministries" - complained about the so-called bias of a newspaper reporter who interviewed him recently for a story in a Florida newspaper. See: http://www.randythomas.org/blog/2007/05/i_dont_live_an_.html. However, Mr. Thomas does not practice what he would appear to preach. Comments on his blog are regularly blocked, deleted or edited to avoid any inconvenient views or facts. Here's what I posted on his blog last night:

Randy, I can understand your WANTING your sexual orientation to have changed. However, I know full well the power of denial, especially when it comes to not wanting to be gay. You see, I was in the closet for 37 years, got married, had children and tried all kinds of self-delusion to avoid admitting the truth. I feel sorry that you cannot accept that maybe, just maybe GOD made you gay. On my blog http://michael-in-norfolk.blogspot.com/ I am recounting my story so that others do not make the same mistakes, particularly the (in retrospect) selfish mistake of getting married in order to be “straight,” “normal, or whatever you may label it.

I pity the straight spouses in relationships with those you have helped to delude themselves into thinking they have changed their sexual orientation. Also, I am curious whether or not you draw a salary from Exodus. I am very familiar with those who are “ex-gay” for pay. Ask Michael Johnston, for example: http://www.washingtonblade.com/2003/8-8/news/national/exgay.cfm

Lo and behold, by this morning the entire second paragraph of my comment had been deleted. I guess the Michael Johnston fraud - who was a professional ex-gay for pay until his "moral fall" - hit a little too close to home fro Mr. Thomas, who I suspect draws a salary from Exodus. God forbid his readers discover the cure doesn't really work.