Should Virginia Colleges and Universities Ban "Ex-Gay" Propaganda?

Despite all of the condemnation of fraudulent "ex-gay" therapy by legitimate medical and mental health associations, the Christofascists  continue to strive to market the lie that sexual orientation can "change" and that being gay is a "choice."  Now, as the Washington Post reports, "ex-gay" frauds are trying to target Virginia colleges and universities with their lies and bogus claims that one can "pray away the gay," something I found after 37 years of trying simply doesn't work.  All it does is breed self-hate, self-loathing, and in some instances suicide.  Here are story highlights on the efforts to peddle this poison in Virginia (previous posts have looked at the failed efforts of these charlatans to market "Ex-Gay Awareness Month” - only 15 of the claimed "hundreds of thousands of ex-gays" showed up):

There continue to be people in this world who think that homosexuality is a disease or condition and that a gay person can be “cured.” One such group is called Voice of the Voiceless, and in celebration of “Ex-Gay Awareness Month,” Voiceless president Christopher Doyle conducted an undercover investigation in September to see if Virginia’s public universities were providing information on ways to become un-gay.

At George Mason University in Fairfax, Doyle visited the school’s LGBTQ (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transsexual Questioning) counseling center, where students can go to discuss questions about their sexuality. . . . . He claimed that he “nearly begged the counselor to give me an ex-gay pamphlet, which was buried in the bottom drawer of his filing cabinet.” Such a pamphlet would suggest “reparative” or “conversion” therapy, so that a homosexual might be “repaired” (as in currently broken) or “converted” (to the proper setting of heterosexual). A publication for school officials by the American Psychological Association says that “the most important fact about these ‘therapies’ is that they are based on a view of homosexuality that has been rejected by all the major mental health professions.”

There isn’t much dispute in the scientific community that sexual orientation cannot be “treated” by psychotherapy or prayer (or drugs or snake-handling or anything else), and Germanos notes that the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Counseling Association and the American Psychiatric Association all advise against reparative therapy. (I would add to that list the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, the National Association of Social Workers and the World Health Organization.)

The vice president of university life at GMU, Rose Pascarell, also told Germanos that such therapy, being rejected by mainstream medical thought, “is not a healthy response to the individuals and their questions and concerns about their sexual orientation.” Pascarell and Chollar also told Germanos that Doyle’s press release was misleading, that he did not immediately ask for “undoing homosexuality literature,” and that Chollar asked Doyle if he were from an ex-gay group.

So the question becomes, When is it appropriate for a public university to offer information about a thoroughly discredited belief? California and New Jersey have both banned “reparative therapy” to undo homosexuality, calling it dangerous. In June, the largest group devoted to changing sexual orientation, Exodus International, shut down and its leader apologized for its misdirected work.

The obvious answer is that public colleges and universities need to refuse to disseminate "ex-gay" information.  Indeed, should they do so, they could be creating legal liability for themselves should students harm themselves after engaging in this bogus, psychologically harmful "therapy."  If churches and quacks like Doyle want to peddle this snake oil, they need to do it off campus and on their own dime.

Bachmann Pledges to Ban Porn; Says Homosexuality is a Choice

Erstwhile GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann seems Hell bent to provide additional proof that she's a religious fanatic nutcase. Think Progress is reporting that Bachmann has signed a pledge created by THE FAMiLY LEADER, an intensely anti-gay Chrisitanist group in Iowa that helped spearhead the removal of three justices from the Iowa Supreme Court. The utter batshitery contained the pledge goes on and on and, while perhaps playing well with the Kool-Aid drinking Christianist set, ought to scare the Hell out of voters still tethered to reality who oppose a Christian Taliban theocracy in this country. Should other GOP candidates sign the pledge, it will be yet further proof that the Republican Party is now an anti-knowledge sectarian extremist party. As Think Progress notes:
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By signing the pledge Bachmann “vows” to “uphold the institution of marriage as only between one man and one woman” by committing herself to 14 specifics steps. The ninth step calls for the banning of “all forms” of pornography. The pledge also states that homosexuality is both a choice and a health risk.

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The full details of the pledge signed by Bachman can be found here. Here are some highlights of the religious based lunacy:

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HOMOSEXUALITY IS A CHOICE: The preface to the pledge reads, “Social protections…have been evaporating as we have collectively ‘debased the currency’ of marriage…in complete absence of empirical proof, that non-heterosexual inclination are genetically determined, irresistible and akin to innate traits like race, gender and eye color; as well as anti-scientific bias which holds, against all empirical evidence, that homosexual behavior in particular, and sexual promiscuity in general, optimizes individual or public health.” Footnote 8 reiterates this notion.

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HOMOSEXUALITY IS LIKE POLYGAMY, ADULTERY, POLYANDRY: Vow 4 requires the candidate to pledge “Vigorous opposition to any redefinition of the Institution of Marriage…through statutory, bureaucratic, or court-imposed recognition of intimate unions which are bigamous, polygamous, polyandrous, same-sex.”

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PORNOGRAPHY SHOULD BE BANNED: Vow 9 stipulates that the candidate must “support human protection of women and the innocent fruit of conjugal intimacy” and protect them from “seduction into promiscuity and all forms of pornography…and other types of coercion or stolen innocence.”

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REJECT SHARIA ISLAM: Vow 11 requires the candidate to reject Sharia law.

Catholic Anti-Gay Jihad Continues

The hypocrisy and official homophobia of the Roman Catholic Church truly knows no bounds and it's hard to decide which recent story I should start off with. I guess I will start with the one that too me demonstrates the most hypocrisy - yes, I know it's a tough call given the Church's phenomenal levels of hypocrisy. I'll start with the article captioned "Vatican Urges Psychological Tests on Future Priests." The immediate thought that comes to my mind is, shouldn't ALL current priests, bishops, cardinals and the Prada Pope also be required to undergo these psychological tests? I mean, if we want to allegedly protect children, let's test everyone. Oops, I forgot. Many of them would not pass - and the Vatican knows it. Of course, has the Vatican stopped to consider that it may end up with few or new priests if this is testing is done? Here are some story highlights:

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VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Candidates for the Catholic priesthood should undergo psychological tests to screen out heterosexuals unable to control their sexual urges and those with strong homosexual tendencies, the Vatican said on Thursday.

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Vatican officials told a news conference the tests would not be obligatory but decided on a case-by-case basis when seminary rectors wanted to be sure a man was qualfied for the priesthood. The testing by a psychologist or psychotherapist should aim to detect "grave immaturity" and imbalances in the candidates' personality.

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"Such areas of immaturity would include strong affective dependencies; notable lack of freedom in relations; excessive rigidity of character; lack of loyalty; uncertain sexual identity; deep-seated homosexual tendencies, etc. If this should be the case, the path of formation will have to be interrupted," it said.

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Further demonstrating the Church's obsession with gay sex is this article from the San Francisco Chronicle concerning a $200,000 contribution by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in support of "Yes on 8." As usual, rather than clean their own house of those who enabled and/or covered up the sexual abuse of children, the good bishops are sent into near orgasm at the thought of normal gays marrying and living their lives proudly out of the closet. Here are some highlights:

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Campaign finance records show the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has given $200,000 to back a Nov. 4 ballot initiative that would change the California Constitution to outlaw same-sex marriage. . . The Washington-based conference represents the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States.

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Along with leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and evangelical Christians, Catholic clergy and laity have been active participants in the coalition of religious groups working to pass the initiative. Donations totaling $1.4 million have made The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization, the largest institutional donor to the Yes on 8 campaign.

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And then there's this article from the Los Angeles Daily News which looks in part at the Church's "ex-gay" program's efforts to "cure" gays so they can marry innocent straight women with the pretense that if men marry and have children, then they are "cured." It's utter bull shit, of course - as I know all too well from my own experiences - but then the Church for centuries hasn't cared what happens to women. Better that women enter into doomed marriages and have families fall apart rather than admit that homosexuality is normal and part of God's plan. Here are some highlights:

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While many Catholics are strictly following the church's strong support of Proposition 8, the controversial ballot measure is causing others to re-examine the church's stance. Most notable among them is the Rev. Geoffrey Farrow, a Fresno priest recently suspended after declaring his support for the No on 8 campaign and disclosing he is gay.

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The Rev. Maurice Harrigan of Holy Trinity Church near Glendale disagrees with clergy who speak against the Catholic Church's position on Proposition 8. "If Father Farrow is disagreeing with the teachings of the church, then he has no place being a priest," Harrigan said. "If you are contradicting what the church stands for, then don't be part of the church."

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Harrigan oversees the Los Angeles chapter of the Roman Catholic-based Courage support group, modeled after 12-step recovery programs, for men and women renouncing gay and lesbian lifestyles. If they continue to feel homosexual attraction, members receive help in living celibately.

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"In some cases, members finish the program and go on and marry members of the opposite sex and have children," Harrigan said. "As for the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign, I do hope membersof the Catholic Church step up and vote."

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A lot of our pastors have simply chosen not to talk about it," said Farrow, who is considering writing a book about his experiences. "This is not a political issue or a civil-rights issue. It's a human issue. Families are torn apart. I would hope that the hierarchy (within the Catholic Church) looks at this issue. I know many nuns and priests would vote no on the proposition."

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One of the best things I ever have done is leave the Catholic Church. I think that if I had remain in the Church I'd feel dirty and tainted by the Church's hypocisy and false witness to Christ.

Virginia "Ex-gay" Lesbian Custody Battle Continues

The sad saga of the endless litigation by Lisa Miller (pictured at right in the photo) - aided and abetted by Christianist "law firms" - to deprive her former partner of rights to the child they had as a couple while in Vermont living in a civil union continues anew. Now, as reported by Concerned Bitches for America, Ms. Miller is now facing contempt charges for violating a Vermont Court order which was upheld by Virginia's appellate Courts on multiple occasions. While the disingenuous bitches - many of whom are males for some unknown reason - tell a pathetic tale in the hopes of securing monetary donations, the real facts are that Miller entered into perfectly legal and valid arrangements which she now seeks to avoid by claiming that she has "left homosexuality" and fleeing to Virginia where she thought the anti-gay legislation would help her screw over her former partner. Having heard the facts, here is some of the drivel being put out by CWFA in the hope it will bring the organization money (rest assured, it's ALWAYS about money):
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Please act now to pray and support Lisa Miller as she fights to keep her daughter, Isabella. Embroiled in a custody battle with her former lesbian partner, Lisa is now a Christian who wants to raise her own biological child but has been told by the Vermont courts that they may strip her of those rights. Pray for Lisa as she and her legal counsel attend a hearing that will take place on October 27, 2008, in Vermont. At that hearing, a judge will decide whether or not Lisa will be punished for supposedly disobeying the court-ordered visitation to a woman who is not biologically related to her child.

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Concerned Women for America's (CWA) Field Development Coordinator, Nina Bell, invited Lisa to share on the CWA weekly prayer conference call earlier this week. Nina states, "Participants from all around the country have been specifically praying for Lisa the last few months, so it was a blessing to actually have her on the line with us. What I did not expect was the peace that was heard in her voice as she recounted the horrendous details of her five-year battle to keep her rights as a mother to seven-year-old Isabella."

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To get involved in CWA of Virginia, go to virginia.cwfa.org or e-mail director@virginia.cwfa.org. If you would like to get involved with one of our other fine state organizations, please visit the CWA in the States site.

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If you are done vomiting, it should be noted that Lisa Miller's attorney, Rena Lindevaldsen, is affiliated with Liberty Counsel and Liberty University. An obviously uninformed reader earlier this week claimed that currently there are not the vehemently anti-gay organizations of the past. I'm not sure where he's been, but CWFA and Liberty Counsel - as in Jerry Falwell's Liberty University (another blight on Virginia) - Focus on the Family and Family are just a few of such groups that continue to work to denigrate and stigmatize LGBT citizens on a daily basis.

Junk Science - i.e., Ex-Gay Blather - on Stage

Personally, I hope this year the APA will totally ban its members from using ex-gay snake oil to try to "cure" gays. Hence, it is with dismay that I read that Warren Throckmorton - a leading ex-gay proponent and religious fanatic (in my opinion) who has acquired a taste for the money parents will spend when they learn they have a gay child - will be part of a symposium at the APA's 2008 convention in Washington. I base my low opinion of Throckmorton on numerous e-mail exchanges that we have had, reading his APA Journal articles that do not support the "cures" he purports to offer, and personal attacks he has made against me based on my efforts to expose ex-gays as a fraud perpetrated by Christianists for political and financial reasons.

To this day Throckmorton - who lectured me on the need to change my orientation - has never asnwered a question I posed to him: namely, if homosexuality was the norm and being heterosexual was not, could he change his inate attraction to women as opposed to men so as to be "normal." He asks of others what he himself could not do. One can only suggest that someone at the APA needs their head examined for allowing this carnaval to occur. While Throckmorton claims that he is not a practitioner of reparative therapy, merely calling something by a different name doses not change its substance. One only need read Throckmorton's writings on Christianist web sites to see what he is peddling and it is reparative therapy regardless of what he calls it. Here are highlights from Gay City News on the travesty involving Throckmorton:

[A]t the APA's 2008 convention in Washington, the group will host a symposium, at which one of the two mental health practitioner-panelists is Dr. Warren Throckmorton, a psychologist without state board certification and an advocate for "Sexual Identity Therapy," which he says he has successfully applied to help patients "alter homosexual feelings or behaviors" and live their lives "heterosexually" with "only very few weak instances of homosexual attraction."

[W]hat make this story intriguing, and indeed troubling. Instead it is the embrace by a scientifically-based organization, APA, of an unlicensed practitioner who espouses controversial professional opinions about homosexuality but can point to no peer-reviewed findings that his clinical approach has merit.

While calling on practitioners to "do all that is possible to decrease the stigma related to homosexuality," the group, in the face of determined opposition from a small number of psychiatrists, held back from branding conversion therapy "unethical." But three years later, in 2000, APA adopted a position recommending that "ethical practitioners refrain from attempts to change individuals' sexual orientation, keeping in mind the medical dictum, to 'first do no harm.'"

Drescher doesn't buy this benign view of Throckmorton, terming him in his AGLP riposte to Scasta a "spin doctor of the ex-gay myth," and warning of the symposium's "potential harm," particularly if its presentation at an APA convention "becomes a PR tactic to buttress the standing of conversion therapies to the general public."

On his blog, Throckmorton argues that he is not a conversion or reparative therapist, specifically rejecting the traditional focus of such practitioners on gay men's "failure to bond with the father" as the root of their disorder. Instead, without laying out his own therapeutic approach in detail, he claims to meet troubled gay men where they are, as it were, to help them "pursue their objectives." But like reparative therapists, Throckmorton claims success with leading gay men away from homosexuality and is unable to point to any data or research to buttress his assertions.

Wayne Besen, the founder of Truth Wins Out, a non-profit aimed at exposing "the 'ex-gay' myth," argues that Throckmorton's primary goal is to supplant the reparative therapy model championed by Dr. Joseph Nicolosi, who heads up the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality. NARTH's work, which has won wide acclaim in Christian right circles, is rejected by every leading mental health and education association, including APA. According to Besen, Throckmorton and Nicolosi previously worked collaboratively, but have since had a falling-out.

Obama’s Gospel Concert Tour

As I have previously indicated, I think someone in Obama's campaign needs to be fired for the inclusion of Donnie McClurkin in Obama's South Carolina Gospel Tour. I feel even stronger about this now that McClurkin used his platform provided by Obama to launch into his gays can be "cured" by prayer bull shit routine. This article from the New York Times (http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/29/obamas-gospel-concert-tour/?ex=1194321600&en=c79c27963d8efe04&ei=5070&emc=eta1) provides some details. Here are some highlights:

". . . Donnie McClurkin, the superstar black gospel singer, decried the criticism he has generated because of his views that homosexuality is a choice. Tonight there was a small vigil of about 15 or 20 gays and lesbians, who stood quietly across the street as people filed into a big auditorium here for the last of three campaign-sponsored concerts (and the only one to feature Mr. McClurkin). The whole controversy might have been forgotten in the swell of gospel sound except Mr. McClurkin turned the final half hour of the three-hour concert into a revival meeting about the lightning rod he has become for the Obama campaign.

He approached the subject gingerly at first. Then, just when the concert had seemed to reach its pitch and about to end, Mr. McClurkin returned to it with a full-blown plea: “Don’t call me a bigot or anti-gay when I have suffered the same feelings,” he cried. “God delivered me from homosexuality,” he added. He then told the audience to believe the Bible over the blogs: “God is the only way.” The crowd sang and clapped along in full support.

As I have said before, if God truly changed McClurkin (and he did not merely discover that there's money in being "ex-gay"), then I am Queen Victoria and just did not know it. McClurkin is full of crap, and Obama gave him a platform on which to peddle it. I am still waiting to hear that some one has been fired by Obama. It looks like I will have a long wait.

An Interview with Donnie McClurkin's Ex-Lover

One had to wonder when someone would challenge McClurkin's "cure" claims as bogus. If the story being reported on Claycane.net (http://claycane.blogspot.com/2007/10/exclusive-interview-with-donnie.html) is true, McClurkin appears to be another Michael Johnston type: preach against gays and homosexuality while nonetheless indulging in it himself. It will be interesting to see if other corroborating information is forth coming. Here are a few segments:

I firmly believe one can be anti-gay, against gay marriage, against gay rights and still be gay. Meaning, you can fully hate yourself and that hate manifests in every part of your life. Senator Larry Craig, Ted Haggard and Mark Foley are not necessarily hypocrites; they are suffering from a toxic, and sometimes criminal, level of homophobia.The story I heard in a face to face interview with someone who claims to be Donnie McClurkin’s ex-lover was one of sadness, sexual deviance and scandal. He detailed in an hour and twenty minutes his relationship with the millionaire pastor, which I have on audio. He demands to remain anonymous being that he is tied to the gospel music industry and explains, “I can be blackballed by him.” For his professional and personal protection he will only go by the name of “Rob”.

In this revealing interview "Rob" details his relationship, or as he described, "roller coaster ride" with the “We Fall Down” hit maker from 2001 to 2004, which is ironically during the height of McClurkin's anti-gay rants and calls for conversion. How they met, his status in the gospel industry, their sex life, why he stayed and why they ended it. Plus, their last encounter in March 2007.

I truly do not understand the mentality of those who attain high profile positions, malign other gays, and then think that their trysts, etc., will not come out.

Obama to do gospel tour with radical right singer who crusades against "the curse of homosexuality"

John Aravosis at AmericaBlog.com picked up this story line (http://www.americablog.com/2007/10/obama-to-do-gospel-tour-with-radical.html) about Barack Obama that I find unsettling:

As religious conservatives gather in Washington this weekend for the “Values Voters Summit,” Senator Barack Obama’s campaign announced its latest effort to attract people of faith to the campaign: a gospel concert tour.All three of the dates of the “Embrace the Change” tour are in South Carolina, where Mr. Obama is locked in battle with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for black voters.Gospel acts including Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin and Hezekiah Walker, Byron Cage and the Mighty Clouds of Joy are scheduled to appear.

I'm sorry, but to me, it's sort of like agreeing to tour with Hitler and the SS in order to pick up votes in Bavaria in the early 1930's. I guess we now know that Obama will stoop pretty damn low in pandering for votes. He's making Hillary look better to many I suspect by doing this. Besides, how many Democrats - even in South Carolina - are Christianists like Gospel singer Donnie McClurkin? Does Obama plan on visiting a couple of Klan functions while in South carolina too? Keith Boykin has more on who Obama will be sharing the stage with (http://www.keithboykin.com/arch/2005/09/30/is_donnie_mcclu):

But what makes McClurkin a controversial figure is his preaching. It began with McClurkin's 2001 book, Eternal Victim/Eternal Victor, where he explained his 20-year experience with homosexuality, which he said started after he was raped by an uncle. "Love is pulling you one way and lust is pulling you another and your relationship with Jesus is tearing you," McClurkin told the media. He says that God delivered him from homosexuality, and since that time, he has been counseling adolescent boys that homosexuality is merely a lifestyle choice that can be overcome.

Donnie McClurkin had a very rough childhood. That alone is a tragedy. But what makes his otherwise inspiring story so troubling is that he is now violating young people in much the same way that he was violated. By teaching young people that they can pray their way out of who they are, he is essentially creating a generation of newly confused adolescents.

Gay teenagers are already more likely to be abused in school or to attempt suicide than their straight counterparts. We've already reported on young gays and lesbians who have been beaten to death by their parents (3-year-old Ronnie Parris) and their neighbors (15-year-old Sakia Gunn). Do these young people really need to have their ministers beating them up too? We think not.

Comparing gays and lesbians to liars, McClurkin explains, "There are certain things like, you know, anybody who has a lying problem; they get to the point where they hate being so, having such a lack of character that they make a change."

In the same interview, McClurkin argues again that homosexuality is simply a lifestyle choice. "There's a group that says, 'God made us this way,' but then there's another group that knows God didn't make them that way," he says. Notice the circularity in his rhetoric. The people who say that God made them gay don't know what they're talking about because the people who say God did not make them gay are right. Well how do they know if someone was born gay or not if they are not gay themselves? It's insulting and presumptuous of others to tell gays and lesbians that they're not smart enough even to know who they are.

Is he really cured or, as with all the ex-gays I have studied, is it really about the money? Seems to me that McClurkin has a lot to lose financially if he were to admit he really is still gay:

Back in 2002, we reported that McClurkin's church, Perfecting Faith Church in New York, drew nearly a thousand people every Sunday, including his friend, Starr Jones of ABC-TV's "The View." The collection plate at the church reportedly brought in $100,000 a month.

Daddy Dobson Wears Prada

This post from Ex-Gay Watch (http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2007/09/open-forum-if-james-dobson-were-in-the-devil-wears-prada/)is too funny - I guess probably because I just watched The Devil Wears Prada yet again last night. While Mike Airhart has done a great job of satire on Dobson, I suspect that much of the premise is true. Everything Daddy Dobson does in the ex-gay field is calculated and with political PR in mind. Without maintaining the "choice" myth, the Christianists are faced with sexual orientation being an immutable characteristic which makes non-discrimination and hate crimes protection all too appropriate. Here are a few highlight, but you should read the entire post:

If James Dobson ruled the ex-gay movement with an iron fist, and if the opening scene of The Devil Wears Prada were to peek inside a political empire instead of a fashion magazine, then what might Dobson’s morning arrival at Focus on the Family look like?

Elevator doors open onto the executive floor. James Dobson dons his glasses, steps from the elevator, and barks orders at his female personal assistant, who takes notes.]

Tell Alan I’m not going to approve that young man that he sent me for the youth layout. I asked for sexy, serious, and ripped; he sent me chaste, smiling and bleached. And RSVP yes to Peter LaBarbera’s party, I want the driver to drop me off at 9:30 and pick me up at 9:45, sharp.

[Dobson rounds a corner of the corridor to his office, his assistant stumbling behind in high heels and a long skirt.]

Then call Warren at Grove City and tell him no, for the 40th time, no, I don’t want “sexual identity guidelines,” I want “the road to godly masculinity through baseball.” Then call Newt’s ex-wife and remind her to stay out of the limelight. Then call Newt’s ex-ex-wife. Ask her to please be “out of the country” before Thompson’s next gig with that show that Russert hosts.

Ex-gay Conversion Attempts Mostly Lead to Harm

It was a pleasnt surprise to see this article (http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070816/OPINION01/708160395/1008), authored by Jack Drescher, M.D. (pictured at left), a distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, appear in The Tennessean, published in central Tennessee. Hopefully, more and more people will wake up to the fraudulent nature of these programs and the harm that they can do to the individual subjected to the conversion attempt:

In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association, after careful scientific review, removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. Their decision is supported by the American Psychological Association and the American Medical Association. Yet, some people with same-sex attractions have religious backgrounds condemning homosexuality. Others wish to avoid the stigma of calling themselves gay. Often these people seek to change their sexual orientation.

How? Historically, psychiatrists gave electric shocks to change patients. It didn't work. Today, some therapists (incorrectly) tell prospective patients that parents cause homosexuality and therapy can "cure" them. Still others seek religious therapies or support groups. Some try both.

Does it work? The little scientific study done is not encouraging. Most who try do not change — and no long-term studies show that those claiming change remain heterosexual. Most people seeking change (and therapists trying to change them) believe no price is too high to pay to become heterosexual. However, there are growing reports of people who tried to change, failed, and then felt worse than when they started. Yet, rather than faulting the treatment, they blame themselves, leading to increased feelings of depression, hopelessness, shame and anxiety. Some became suicidal.

Some enter heterosexual marriages — often with a therapist's encouragement or urging. Some have children. However, marriage and children do not necessarily end homosexual desires. Some families fall apart. Those who do not believe in divorce live in tragic circumstances.

Religious social conservatives who oppose gay civil rights argue that homosexual feelings and behaviors are a "learned behavior" that can change. As a behavior, no one is "born gay" and civil rights protections for gay people (which they call "special rights") are therefore unnecessary. These groups spend a lot of time and money promoting and publicizing conversion therapies. They sell "hope" to people desperate for change. Sadly, in many cases what they are selling is false hope and, in some cases, a damaging experience. Let the buyer beware.

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.