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Wayne Besen
PO Box 25491
Brooklyn, NY 11202
Yesterday, I took part in a conference call with reporters to discuss a new report by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force that debunks the "ex-gay" myth. "Youth in the Crosshairs: The Third Wave of Ex-Gay Activism," takes a look at this sinister scheme to trick Americans into believing gay people can go straight through prayer and therapy.
"There's no evidence that conversion therapy actually works, but there's a growing body of evidence that it can be extremely harmful and unethical," said Jason Cianciotto, a study author and director of research for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in New York, the organization releasing the report.
The report highlights a 2002 study of several hundred people who underwent conversion therapy. Twenty-six of the 202 interviewed said the therapy was successful, although only eight of those said they didn't experience any "slips" or have to employ coping mechanisms to counter same-sex attraction. And all but one of those eight worked in ex-gay counseling.
Almost 90 percent of the other interviewees reported long-term harm: depression to the point of attempted suicide or strained relationships with family and parents.
NGLTF should be congratulated for putting together a first-rate report that exposes these sham groups. I am thrilled to see a major organization address this serious issue, which is the right wing's core strategy to derail GLBT equality.
16 Comments:
Interesting comments by Mr. Chambers, as I remember asking words to the effect of "Why should one be afraid if a 100% gay man is able to change to 100% straight?":
"I really think the core of their problem with us is a fear-based mentality," said Alan Chambers, an ex-gay who is president of Exodus International.
posted by Anonymous, at
3/03/2006 12:41 PM
I think the ex-gay ministries should first try to prove they can make a straight man gay before I would ever buy into the myth that they can make gay men straight. Its an absurd notion. Maybe they should also try to pray away adultery, philandering and bringing unwanted children into the world and get their own house in order instead of obsessing over homosexuality.
Kurt, your game is up. Ex-gay "ministries" are nonsense. The only people who believe in them are religious zealots. Your quoting Alan Chambers is an example of abject, flagrant dishonesty. "Why should one be afraid if (someone) can change to 100% straight?"
In Chambers VERY OWN TESTIMONY, he admits that he still is attracted to men. "The difference is where I decide to take it," he says. 100% straight? What a load of baloney. Ex-gay ministries are a complete sham.
posted by Anonymous, at
3/03/2006 1:03 PM
Yes kurt, why should one be afraid if a 100% man is able to change into a 100% woman? Because it CANT happen--you can cut off the cock and inject estrogen, but 'her' DNA will still have XY chromosomes. Get the point! And chambers is full of shit--the problem we have with them isnt fear, it's the soul crushing sham of the whole 'ex-gay' movement. Gary (NJ)
posted by Anonymous, at
3/03/2006 1:14 PM
Nothing like a little tranny-bashing to lend force to one's argument.
posted by Anonymous, at
3/03/2006 1:15 PM
Kurt W:
Get real. Did you even read the article before responding?
Reading this study in the most favorable light, your quote should have been: "Why should one be afraid if only 8% of 100% gay [men are] able to change to 100% straight?"
It's not a fear based mentality, it's a reality based mentality.
Homosexuality is biological like eye color. You can not change eye color by praying - you can not change sexual orientation by praying.
You also can not change your height by praying.
You can however deny your sexual orientation but that does not make it change.
Chambers is like a witchdoctor.
posted by Anonymous, at
3/03/2006 1:20 PM
I wasn't intentionally 'tranny bashing', just (crudely) stating a biological fact. I apologize if I offended anyone. PS..Do transgendered people like being called 'trannies'?? Gary (NJ)
posted by Anonymous, at
3/04/2006 10:22 AM
Kurt W -- you know, it's hard to be afraid of something you know does not exist.
But I am willing for you to correct me. Please pass on the details of any 100% gay man who has become 100% straight. Or do you just think they exist?
When you do, if you can, I shall check with my straight male friends. I shall ask them "Is this one of you?"
(PS this is one of said "100% straight" friends. No 100% straight ever wants to suck dick or kiss men. Alan Chambers does, and that makes him gay. Or gay-ish. Whatever. He still dreams about dick. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but straight guys don't do it. Am I being clear enough on this point about wanting dick and being gay?)
Kurt, we're waiting for those names...
posted by Anonymous, at
3/04/2006 12:39 PM
Am I the only person who thinks it is weird that the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is attacking a program to stop kids from becoming gay because it is allegedly ineffective? Like, because it implies that if the program WERE effective, they wouldn't have a problem with it? Shouldn't they have much MORE of a problem in that case?!
posted by Anonymous, at
3/04/2006 7:46 PM
Great to see the NGLT speaking out on the ex-gay farce. I am not aware of any ex-gays who are not brain-washed with religous psycho babble. It is not credible and is a political arm of the religious right that exists only to further the "gay by choice" lie. Too bad people like Chambers have fallen victim to this heinous brainwashing. I actually (kind of) feel sorry for the guy, I can only imagine the bullshit that those religous wingnuts put him through.
posted by Anonymous, at
3/04/2006 8:11 PM
I love the "fear" argument these charlatans use. . .as if they seriously believe that people would go to the SOURCE of their pain and suffering in order to seek reparative redemption...it most certainly speaks to the utter arrogance of that industry.
One would think that Exodus could at least attempt to be consistent with their numbers. . .one press statement says they receive 400,000 phone calls seeking "help," while another quote from the same person says only "thousands". . another inconsistency which calls their credibility into question again.
Kurt's rather mistaken about anyone being fearful of the message of a scam. But as any real christian knows, lies are harmful, especially ones that make a profit from bearing false witness - so perhaps Exodus should be more forthcoming about the ex-ex gays whose message THEY attempt to silence.
There are few things more disgusting to me than someone who is ex-gay-for-pay. Apparently prostitution of the soul is okay for a faith-based organization with a political agenda.
posted by Anonymous, at
3/05/2006 11:08 AM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
posted by Anonymous, at
3/05/2006 4:51 PM
