You can purchase an autographed copy of Anything But Straight by sending a $35 check or money order to:
-------------------------
Wayne Besen
PO Box 25491
Brooklyn, NY 11202
DALLAS - Truth Wins Out (TWO) brought together a coalition of church and advocacy groups today to counter an "ex-gay"conference in Carrollton, Texas. As Living Hope/Lasting Change participants entered Vista Ridge Baptist Church, the demonstrators held up gay affirming signs to show these victims that they can be loved and accepted for who they truly are.
"This symposium is a masquerade of the misguided that shatters families, ruins lives and can lead to suicide," said TWO Executive Director Wayne Besen. "Living Hope should stop using distorted images of gay life, outdated science and slanderous stereotypes to scare people into attending its conference. We also reject the false message that gays and lesbians cannot be people of faith."
Joining Besen at the demonstration were notable leaders such as: Rev. Colleen Darraugh, MCC of Greater Dallas; Rev. Ken Ehrke, Agape MCC, Fort Worth; Brother Curtis Smith, Pastoral Leader, Trinity MCC, Arlington; Daniel Gonzales, contributing author, Ex-Gay Watch; and Fort Worth Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).
"The Metropolitan Community Churches have been incredible allies in educating America about the 'ex-gay' myth," said Besen. "MCC pastors are the ones who often have to pick up the pieces when lives are shattered by 'ex-gay', ministries. Truth Wins Out is grateful for the help of MCC and its continued commitment to helping people escape the ex-gay trap and go on to lead spiritually and emotionally healthy lives."
The protest was attended by an estimated twenty demonstrators who braved nearly 100 degree heat. Living Hope is part of Exodus International, a group of recloseted homosexuals that purports to pray away the gay. Some of their methods include exorcisms, lipstick seminars for lesbians and repossessing men's Calvin Klein underwear because it is deemed "too gay."
Two of Exodus' co-founders, Michael Bussee and Gary Cooper, left the group to marry each other. In 2000, Exodus Board Chair, John Paulk, was photographed by TWO's Besen in a gay bar in Washington, DC. So-called "conversion therapy" is rejected by every mainstream medical and mental health organization. At the American Psychological Association's annual meeting in New Orleans this month, the APA released the following statement:
"For over three decades the consensus of the mental health community has been that homosexuality is not an illness and therefore not in need of a cure. The APA's concern about the position's espoused by the National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality and so-called conversion therapy is that they are not supported by the science. There is simply no sufficiently scientifically sound evidence that sexual orientation can be changed. Our further concern is that the positions espoused by NARTH and Focus on the Family create an environment in which prejudice and discrimination can flourish."
TWO is a non-profit think tank and educational organization that counters right wing disinformation campaigns, debunks the ex-gay myth, and provides accurate information about the lives of GLBT people. Besen, the group's founder and Executive Director, is the author of "Anything But Straight: Unmasking The Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth."
34 Comments:
kudos for a job well-done. Families of gays and gay people themselves need to know that they are not defective and that they do have the right to worship as they see fit.
posted by jekelhyde, at
8/26/2006 11:44 PM
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posted by Anonymous, at
8/27/2006 8:33 AM
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posted by Anonymous, at
8/27/2006 12:30 PM
The "Dyke dressed in black" is a minister, in case you didn't notice the collar.
posted by jekelhyde, at
8/27/2006 1:54 PM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
posted by Anonymous, at
8/27/2006 5:18 PM
Wayne is always quick to point out that APA statement. However, he fails to highlight the importance of client autonomy and self-determination, and that the APA's president Dr. Koocher himself stated, "APA has no conflict with psychologists who help those distressed by unwanted homosexual attraction." Additionally, it's been 6 years now that he photographed Paulk's backside outside of Mr P's; isn't it time to move on? Apparently Paulk has.
posted by Anonymous, at
8/27/2006 6:01 PM
yeah he has moved from that ex-gay nonsense to cooking. i personally think wayne is doing an excellent job. I need to write that child a check (small check mind you)for his work. I strongly advise everyone to support him monetarily if you can.
posted by Anonymous, at
8/27/2006 6:29 PM
Protest all you want. You yahoos don't stand a chance on judgment day. I'd hate to be in your shoes Besen. Protesting to have gay sex? Get real. How shameful and childish. I'm sure your mommy and daddy are very proud of you.
posted by Anonymous, at
8/27/2006 8:43 PM
Actually his parents are proud of him fuck face---and a hateful asshole like you has plenty of bad karma to answer for---not Wayne! So bugger off you CLOSET CASE!
posted by Anonymous, at
8/27/2006 9:34 PM
Yahoos don't have a chance huh, Well I can think of so many things to to say But I'll be polite, I don't think It's a very good idea to be passing judgement, also Wayne is Not protesting to have gay sex, He's protesting small minded groups who oppress and cause self loathing and perhaps suicide, Not to mention giving false impresions of GLBT people. I'm not sure But God may dislike all of those behaviors.
Someone anonymously quoted Dr. Koocher as having said that, "[The American Psychological Association] has no conflict with psychologists who help those distressed by unwanted homosexual attraction." The key word in this statement is help, and there is no credible research to suggest that reparative/conversion therapies are at all helpful.
Last time I checked, the APA's answer as to whether therapy could change sexual orientation was a clear, unequivocal "No." Moreover, most ethical practitioners would never support attempts to change sexual orientation, particularly when a) they are predicated upon ignorance and stereotype, b) they are based on the erroneous notion that homosexuality is pathological, and c) there is a high potential for harm to the client.
posted by Anonymous, at
8/28/2006 1:06 AM
"Wayne is Not protesting to have gay sex, He's protesting small minded groups who oppress and cause self loathing and perhaps suicide, Not to mention giving false impresions of GLBT people. I'm not sure But God may dislike all of those behaviors."
You can be sure! God does not like those behaviors. Remember the Gospel according to Luke, where the Savior rebuked the self-righteous (chapter 6, verses 41 and 42)? This is what Jesus Christ is reported to have said: "Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? . . . You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye." Believe me, there are enough "logs" in the eyes of fundamentalist bigots to keep a furniture manufacturer in business for 100 years!
posted by DC HAMPTON JACOBS, at
8/28/2006 9:36 AM
Why isn't Wayne protesting JONAH and their activites????
posted by Anonymous, at
8/28/2006 11:18 AM
Stuffed Animal, Self Righteous means alot of people. That might mean you, too. And me, of course. I think that is a message to ALL.
posted by Anonymous, at
8/28/2006 11:20 AM
"I think that is a message to ALL."
Yes . . . all who fit under the category of HYPOCRITE. Emphasis on Ex-Gay activists, in keeping with this topic.
posted by DC HAMPTON JACOBS, at
8/28/2006 2:12 PM
Actually, my parents are very pround of my work and supportive. They just picked me up for the airport.
posted by Wayne Besen, at
8/28/2006 4:01 PM
I would protest JONAH if they were a real group. It is just a handful of faux Jews selling Christian books.
posted by Wayne Besen, at
8/28/2006 4:02 PM
well these other groups are faux, too - aren't they??
posted by Anonymous, at
8/28/2006 4:54 PM
anonymous:
"APA has no conflict with psychologists who help those distressed by unwanted homosexual attraction."
You conveniently misstate what Koocher actually said by taking one sentence out of context. Here is the relevant parts of his full explanation (borrowed from Dr. Throckmorton's website):
"I affirmed during the Town Hall discussion, and I will always affirm, the crucial importance of providing our services with careful attention to patients’ wishes.
BUT—and this is absolutely essential, especially when dealing with sexual orientation—the therapeutic responsibility, in strict accordance with APA guidelines, MUST also include the following considerations:
One: The therapist has an obligation to carefully explore how patients arrive at the choices they want to make. Therapists must determine whether patients understand that their motives may arise purely from the social pressures of a homophobic environment. No type or amount of individual therapy will modify societal prejudices.
Two, informed consent: Patients must understand the potential consequences of any treatment, including those intended to modify sexual orientation. Patients must understand that such treatments lack a validated scientific foundation and may prove psychologically harmful.
Finally, I would add that our patients ought to know from the very start that we as their therapists do not consider homosexuality a mental disorder. In fact, the data show that gay and lesbian people do not differ from heterosexuals in their psychological health. By that I mean that they have no greater instance of mental disorders than do heterosexuals."
So yeah, if Exodus were doing all of that instead on NONE of the above, then Koocher would be OK with them.
Considering that the quote you used is pretty much the opposite of what Koocher actually said, I think you need to do a lot of prayer and repentence for your sinful lying ways.
posted by Timothy Kincaid, at
8/28/2006 7:11 PM
"Why isn't Wayne protesting JONAH and their activites????"
I think Wayne has protested every single event JONAH has had. I recall because he brought a marching band and juggled elephants at each protest.
Oh, wait... there weren't any events to protest. The vast majority of Jews in this country are very supportive of gay people. And those who aren't seem (at least to me) not to put much value in faith healing.
posted by Timothy Kincaid, at
8/28/2006 7:16 PM
Tim and Wayne have made up? I don't recall any apology being issued to Besen calling "Timmy" Kincaid a "trained monkey"...
posted by Anonymous, at
8/28/2006 8:46 PM
To the anonymous...well one of the millions of anonymous' who are afraid to name themselves, no one is protesting to have sex. Got news for you, hon, I can have sex in the majority of these fifty states we live in. God, you Bible thumpers are so fucking ignorant.
And to those of you who have a personal beef with Wayne, no one is really listening to you, so I fear you may be wasting your time. Again I say, if folks are so dead set against you, as an activist you must be doing something right.
posted by jekelhyde, at
8/28/2006 9:51 PM
Well, think of it this way. If he is so dead set against them - they must be doing something right. Hmmmm? Makes you wonder? If not - then you turn a blind eye.
posted by Anonymous, at
8/28/2006 11:31 PM
Yes, they are doing exactly what they set out to do. Which is convince thousands of families that gay people are wrong, should be changed, can be changed, and that their gay sons and daughters are on their way to hell. So yeah, they are doing something right; if you consider harming the psyche of many good hearted people to be "right."
posted by jekelhyde, at
8/29/2006 7:57 AM
An anonymous (of course) poster said that Wayne and the group were protesting for the right to have gay sex. This is one of the cherished lies of the ex-gays and is a way to deny our humanity and reduce us to sexual behavior. The same lie is told to combat gay-straight alliances in high schools. Of course, intelligent, thinking people know that sex is just part of being gay, just as it is part of being straight, and that being gay effects every part of our lives.
That group in Carrollton was fighting for human rights, no matter how hard our enemies try to de-humanize us.
posted by Sam, at
8/29/2006 10:01 AM
I wasn't taking sides JH. Just pointing out an idea. BTW, do they really tell people they are going to hell? Tsk, tsk.
posted by Anonymous, at
8/29/2006 10:41 AM
Do they really tell people they're going to hell? Well, consider this quote from Mr. Randy Sermon, interviewed by Decca Aitkenhead for her article about "Love Won Out", which appeared in The Guardian newspaper of Manchester, England April 3 2004.
Mr and Mrs Sermon took their son Drew to that event, and Mr Sermon is reported thus by Ms Aitkenhead:
"Does Randy believe his son will change? He looks ashen, and for a moment broken. "It's possible he won't", he whispers. "But I pray every day." Then louder: "You see, Drew knows it's wrong! He wants to change it! He said he'd turn it off is he could." Randy tails off and gazes at the floor. "That's what's so stasnge about the whole situation. He knows if he continues in this lifestyle, he is going to hell. For him to make that choice? It's mind-boggling. It's blown me away" "
(As far as his "lifestyle" goes, by the way, Drew was apparently entirely celibate).
For those with a genuine interest in this topic, the whole article is well worth reading. Wayne was interviewed for it, and it's at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,3605,1183596,00.html
posted by Anonymous, at
8/29/2006 1:33 PM
I have one better: A friend of mine was killed in a car accident in 1990. The minister comes to the pulpit to officiate the funeral and says, I've already talked to the family, and they are aware that Justin is going to hell. And we need to, at this time, understand what we can do to not join him in eternal blazes. Justin's debotury and perversion are sending him to the devil. Then he proceded to out my friend in front of the entire congregation at the guy's funeral. Talk about a sick twisted group of people.
posted by jekelhyde, at
8/29/2006 7:09 PM
I swear - if anyone talks about my sexuality at my funeral - shoot 'em. That is a private issue between me and God!
posted by Anonymous, at
8/29/2006 11:07 PM
You know what is sad? It is sad that both groups name call, pick, slander, etc.. eachother. Makes it difficult for others to take any side seriously.
posted by Anonymous, at
8/30/2006 1:26 PM
I, for one, take both sides very seriously. I take seriously the gay activist side, who work tirelessly to help me attain equal rights. And I take very seriously, the anti-gay side, who would probably prefer I be burned at the stake. Yes, I take them very, very seriously.
posted by jekelhyde, at
8/30/2006 8:50 PM
I can certainly understand that perspective. Sorry for the flippant remark.
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