TRUTH WINS OUT TO COUNTER THE 'EX-GAY' MYTH AT READING GROUNDS IN OMAHA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Besen will be Joined by Former 'Ex-Gay' Survivor Shawn O'Donnell and Bible Expert and Author Rev. Jerry Stephenson

Mystery Truth Wins Out 'Live Bloggers' to Appear Inside Love Won Out Conference

(Pictured: Rev. Jerry Stephenson)

OMAHA - Activist and author Wayne Besen will appear at Reading Grounds (7PM, April 12) only days before Focus on the Family hosts its ex-gay road show, Love Won Out, in Omaha. Besen will present the dangers of so-called 'ex-gay' groups and sign his book, Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth.

Joining Besen will be Rev. Jerry Stephenson, a victim of the ex-gay ministries and author of Coming Out of the Closet and into the Light. Stephenson has been featured on many talk shows including Phil Donahue. Also sharing his experience is former 'ex-gay' survivor Shawn O'Donnell, who was featured this week on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360.

Truth Wins Out will deploy mystery bloggers inside of Love Won Out to let Americans know what is going on inside the conference. This is important, because while Focus has previously "invited" gay activists, these advocates are usually turned away by musclebound guards.

"Focus has repeatedly gone back on their word and refused peacful entry by gay advocates,"said Besen. "I'm not sure what they've got to hide, but we intend to find out."

In 2000, Besen photographed Love Won Out founder and Focus on the Family's ex-gay poster boy John Paulk in a gay bar in Washington, DC.

Truth Wins OUT is a non-profit organization that counters right wing propaganda, exposes the "ex-gay" myth and educates America about gay life. For more information, visit www.TruthWinsOut.org.

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