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Wayne Besen
PO Box 25491
Brooklyn, NY 11202
'Ex-Gay' Therapy Is Dangerous And Puts Vulnerable People At Risk, Says Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director Wayne Besen
NEW YORK - Truth Wins Out expressed relief today that Christopher Austin, an 'ex-gay' counselor in Irving, Texas, was convicted of sexually assaulting a client. Austin was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but received seven years probation, had to register as a sex offender and was ordered to pay a $2,500 fine. After years of reported abuse - including several alleged victims who testified at the trial - it is welcome news that Austin has finally been put out of business, says TWO.
"We are deeply gratified that this 'ex-gay' predator is no longer in the counseling business, where he exploited his position of authority to sexually abuse vulnerable clients," said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. "Ex-gay therapy is extremely dangerous and places confused clients in the hands of repressed therapists. It is a recipe for disaster."
According to the 283rd Criminal District Court, a jury convicted Austin of a Second Degree felony. Court documents said that the ex-gay leader, "unlawfully, intentionally and knowingly caused penetration of [pseudonym Stephen Trask]."
Austin had started Renew Ministries, a counseling center run out of a church in Irving. He was affiliated with the National Association For Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH). Indeed, Austin taught a seminar at NARTH's 2004 annual convention entitled, "Understanding and Treating Compulsive Sexual Behavior in Men with Value-Incongruent Homosexual Issues: A Multidimensional Approach."
Austin spoke of the "devastating spiritual effects homosexuality has on a man’s heart." However, he failed to take his own advice when he once wrote, "Before addressing the brokenness in others, we must defeat all the responses of our own flesh."
"As we have seen with Christopher Austin, Mark Foley and Larry Craig, gay people who do not learn to accept themselves act out in unhealthy ways," said Besen. "I hope Austin can use this experience to come out and have healthy gay relationships, so he won't have to exploit other people."
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. - 30 -
35 Comments:
This is a tragedy. Everyone that knows Chris knows that these allegations were blatant collaborated lies. I've been seeing Chris Austin for counseling one on one and in groups for five years and I know most of his past and present clients. I've never seen anything that would support any of these allegations.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/05/2007 6:18 PM
Yes, I would have to read a court transcript and get complete details before moving forward with an accusation. Afterall, Jacko got off - no pun intended - therefore I am not a big fan of the justice system being just.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/05/2007 6:49 PM
I don't know either him or you. But these are not merely allegations. He was found guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt" by a jury. Many people do things that people who think well of them could never imagine, especially if one is heavily invested in them.
Do you have information that the court does not? Do you have proof that there are "blatant collaborated lies?"
And finally, if you do not have that proof, and if the evidence in court is strong enough, are you willing to concede that there are many lies this man has told you, including that there is something wrong with you?
posted by Anonymous, at
9/05/2007 6:53 PM
Cannot find any other comments on the internet about this event except here.
Ben in Oakland, no I do not know the man. But I don't take court room decisions as a place for truth - as we have seen numerous times where DNA has lifted the penalty off a wrongly accussed and convicted man.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/05/2007 7:22 PM
It sounds like we have a few molestation enablers who have infiltrated this website.
Well, that is what makes me different than you right wingers. I don't rely on the Internet. I break the stories myself. Please call the court to confirm the conviction, so you can stop wasting pixels on my site.
Good to see another one of these money-grubbing "ex gay" quacks go down the drain.
I don't doubt this happened one bit, as with my brief stint in "ex gay therapy" a decade ago, the quack was only interested in hearing anything I done sexual in detail. And that was it, nothing else! Needless to say, that only lasted a couple weeks.
The whole "ex gay therapy" thing needs to be shut down, as all it's about is making money off confused people.
One word describes "ex gay therapy" and everyone who supports it:
The link goes to a judge's page and give no other information. Could you provide more info?
posted by Anonymous, at
9/05/2007 10:55 PM
Yes - it goes to a judges page - anonymous. This allows you to call the court for the details. Unless you are paying me, do the work your self, lazy ass.
posted by Wayne Besen, at
9/05/2007 11:00 PM
I would agree that a court proceeding doesn't provide absolute truth. It is why I am against the death penalty in ALL cases. mistakes have been made. But that is why I asked if there was other evidence that the other writer had.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/05/2007 11:29 PM
I don’t believe Dr. Austin has any homosexual inclinations. I have a very good “Gaydar” and he registers a “0″ on that scale.
Before I started going to counseling with Dr. Austin I was hooking up with guys online 2-3X a day. I was VERY lucky not to catch HIV - considering my behavior. I am not proud of it, but I am grateful that it is now in the past (Thanks to Chris Austin). I still wouldn’t consider myself fully str8 or “exgay”, but I have at least stopped having any desires for bizarre and dangerous behavior.
I hope he appeals and is soon vindicated. Regardless of how you feel about exgay therapy, anyone with an ounce of human decency should be appalled that false accusations like this have been used to try to ruin a good person’s life.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/06/2007 2:37 AM
Maybe he didnt rape you Jeremy because you're not his type. BTW, FIVE years! Sounds like you had a sexual addiction, but being gay wasnt and isnt the problem! And shouldnt you be AVOIDING websites like this one, that will tempt you back into a life of debauchery and sin? Oops--now I'm talking about your 'therapist'. How much money have you wasted on this closet perv anyway?
posted by Anonymous, at
9/06/2007 10:02 AM
I wasn't trying to debate the exgay / conversion issue. Even if I never get to be fully str8; the therapy from Dr. Austin will still have been worth it because it stopped my self-destructive behavior.
I realize that it's hard for people on this site to have empathy and compassion for Chris. Even though you disagree with his views, you should still be appalled by this kind of sneak attack/ false accusation. I would be outraged if this happened to my worst enemy.
Even if you don't believe in his innocense, the very nature of the charges is beyong ridiculous. Dr. Austin is a Psychologist, not a Psychiatrist. He couldn't prescribe drugs to sedate these "helpless adults." They could have walked out if he had really done anything like what they claimed. I know the nature of therapist relationship. I've met with Chris for 5 years and with other counselors before that. I haven't always agreed with the advice I've received, but I still always had free will to make my own decisions. If these adults really couldn't decide for themselves who to sleep with. If they were really that "vulnerable" then they belong in an institution. No one is THAT vulnerable.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/06/2007 10:28 AM
Jermemy,
Any physician charged with an improper sexual relationship with a patient would love to have you on their jury. You would never hold any of them responsible for exploiting their patients.
My understanding is that this case was charged in Dallas. Dallas/Fort Worth has millions of inhabitants. If Mr. Austin wanted to hook up sexually with men, he could easily have done so with men other than his patients. So why didn't he? I guess he just didn't have the same sway over folks he would meet in a bar or online. He wouldn't have all that knowledge about their past and their vulnerabilities.
Doctors or counselors who exploit patients sexually are abusing their position in a power relationship. Abusing that power and exploiting the patient may be fundamental to what makes the abuser get off sexually.
I think your friend got off easy form this court.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/06/2007 11:12 AM
So far Wayne, then your story is just a story unless YOU can provide the evidence that it is true. Yes, I can be lazy - but you are the journalist - oops the guy who put the story out there. Usually people provide the link or evidence.
And the pile up of picking on this guy seem all so familiar when the christians are doing the same thing to gays. I wonder where the real truth is. Certainly not here.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/06/2007 12:31 PM
Anonymous 12:31
How stupid are you? A jury convicted him. This is not my opinion or a story. This is a fact. Welcome to the reality based community.
Call the police yourself and ask what happened. You have not done so already because you rather live in denial - like most ex-gays denial comes quite naturally.
posted by Wayne Besen, at
9/06/2007 1:08 PM
You sound angry that anyone would accuse you of of being incomplete?
Perhaps you do not believe in science and DNA testing which has released convicted men from prison.
Why can't you provide the accurate information to verify what you have reported?? Just asking.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/06/2007 2:10 PM
Wayne-- my humble opinion. The guy is clearly in denial, but maybe cut him a little slack? As you have pointed out many times, being ex-gay, like being a fundie, means an inability to see some things clearly that are obvious to anyone who is interested in the real world, instead of Made Up Land.
an anonymous-- either check out the facts of the case, or provide someone with some evidence that it isn't what it appears to be. stop insisting it isn't true just because you don't want it to be. That is ex-gay and fundie in action.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/06/2007 2:17 PM
The person who said, "Doctors or counselors who exploit patients sexually are abusing their position in a power relationship. Abusing that power and exploiting the patient may be fundamental to what makes the abuser get off sexually" is right on! This has nothing to do with gay or ex-gay, it is a pathology of abuse of power. As for this particular case, like Wayne said, he was found guilty by the courts. It is up to him to appeal. I don't know what happened anymore then what Wayne knows what he learned from the courts. Unfortunately, this sort of thing happens in all therapies (with all genders and orientations), it is not unqiue to licensed ex-gay therapists. In fact, in proportion to others, this is actually rare. Its not right in any case, period.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/06/2007 3:46 PM
I have to ask, what better place for predators to pick up young, wholesome, confused and above all, trusting, young men than places like Exodus, Evergreen or any other religious-based "ex-gay" sca m???
posted by Anonymous, at
9/06/2007 4:19 PM
Yes, please help me be less knowledgable and inform me where in the public forum is this information found? It should be accessible online? Or is this not real.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/06/2007 6:09 PM
Jeremy, what about heteros with destructive sexual behavior and sexual addiction that far outnumber ours? Why aren't their ministries for them, and why aren't there any ex-straight ministries for that matter, there are after all millions of bisexuals who could benefit from that I'm sure? Do tell.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/07/2007 11:07 AM
There are places for people with sexual addictions (who happen to be straight or gay). And there are ministries for people to become gay - they just move a person who has questions into a place of not questioning anymore - or they leave (because they were not successful in becoming totally gay) and you never hear from them again.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/07/2007 12:32 PM
Who is this idiot who keeps posting that because there is no link that it isn't real?
The world exists outside your computer. There is no link to the contents of my freezer, but they are real.
Does the fact that one of this quack's ex-patients is one here lamenting the conviction do nothing to convince you?
I'm worried about you -- seriously.
And Jeremy, I respect your admiration and respect for your therapist. Even if he helped you, that doesn't mean that he didn't exploit these other young men. Predators do not pick on every single person that crosses their path. Your desire to believe in his innocence is understandable, but the fact remains that a jury convicted him. The allegations were judged to be truthful. His defense had every opportunity to introduce even a "reasonable" doubt that they allegations were the product of collusion and/or fabrication. They failed. Our justice system isn't perfect, but you'll have to provide something more credible than "I just know he couldn't have done it" if you actually hope to convince anyone.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/07/2007 9:23 PM
Anonymous, if ex-straight ministries exist, can you name any? Who are their leaders, what studies have been done to document straight to gay conversion? Where is the scientific evidence for that, I'd love to know, and what about the success rate, where are these people and why aren't they stepping forward? You say that such ministries exist and that the success rate isn't that great, so why would ex-gay ministries be any different? After all, nobody chooses to be heterosexual either.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/08/2007 8:40 AM
From Iring Texas: I have known Chris since 1995. At that time he volunteered as a facilitator for a group of survivors of sexual abuse. I joined the group when I came to the DFW area. He worked with our group weekly for many years. Chris has continued as my therapist until he called to inform me that he was losing his license.
In many of the groups that I have been to over the last 30 years, people have talked about falling victim to doctors and therapist who made improper advances toward patients. They had put their trust in professionals to help guide them through the healing process. I am always so shocked and outraged by this kind of behavior! I know how if feels when no one believes you because your abuser is a prominent, Christian adult. I am especially observant when it comes to noticing children who have been or are being abused. It goes hand in hand with my profession. I believe this is because of my own abuse as a child and teenager. Believe me – I AM on the side of the abused!
One of the adult male who has accused Chris is NOT a stable person and has an imagination warped by his illness. At one point he placed flyers on all the cars in a church parking lot where Chris was a member. There are hundreds of people who will stand up for Chris. I am just one of them. I personally know of at least 30 people that have gone to Chris for guidance. They are as shocked as I am by this misguided campaign of lies. . Chris is NOT an abuser. It breaks my heart that this abuse is being perpetrated against someone who has given his life helping anyone that has a need.
Please realize, sometimes accusations, no matter how vivid, detailed or “documented” can be imagined and totally false. Some people have an agenda. You have just proved that this is one of those websites.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/08/2007 7:45 PM
Let's consider this quote: "Please realize, sometimes accusations, no matter how vivid, detailed or “documented” can be imagined and totally false. Some people have an agenda."(Anonymous, Iring Texas)
And take that author's advice when we consider something else he/she wrote: "One of the adult male who has accused Chris is NOT a stable person and has an imagination warped by his illness. At one point he placed flyers on all the cars in a church parking lot where Chris was a member."
The second quote looks very different in light of its author's own words. Accusations, no matter how vivid, like accusing someone of being warped by illness, can be imagined.
The point is that a jury reviewed the testimony and evidence, and found Christopher Austin guilty. Yet a few people with an obvious agenda are accusing the very people he harmed, of lying.
They have not provided any evidence to back up their accusations. Mr. Austin's accusers, his victims, did provide evidence, and they proved their point. Now some folks are libeling them without a shred of evidence.
"This is a tragedy. Everyone that knows Chris knows that these allegations were blatant collaborated lies." Jeremy and "you should still be appalled by this kind of sneak attack/ false accusation. I would be outraged if this happened to my worst enemy." (Jeremy)
The second quote above is particularly ironic because it not only falsely accuses the victims of Mr. Austin's predation, it is also a sneak attack. They are not here to face their false accuser, though they had to face Mr. Austin in court.
No evidence is presented, just the outrage of a name on the internet.
These are not the only examples, of course - just enough to illuminate an abusive pattern of falsely accusing the victims of a crime - people who met the very strict standards of the U.S. justice system. They proved their case with evidence.
Their accusers here have provided none, and that speaks volumes about Jeremy and Anonymous from Texas. To both of you - if you have evidence, concrete, verifiable evidence that would exonerate this predator - you have a duty to the court to come forward, and frankly, you should have done so before a verdict was delivered.
Information that I have is the at noon (on the day of the verdict) the jury stood 8-4 in Chris's favor. I have served on a jury sevreal times with strong people with strong oponions. The way I see it is the verdict is usually the opinion of the strongest/most stubborn members of the jury. So you have 4 people who stood their ground and convience 8 other people to change their mind. Not a strong verdict if you ask me.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/08/2007 11:17 PM
anonymous at 11:17:
Maybe Chris was posessed by a space alien parasite and forced to do those things against his will. Once you open the door to boundless speculation, all kinds of interesting things are possible!
He did a bad thing and got caught. Just accept it.
Last I heard, it required a vote of 12-0 to convict in criminal cases. If he was convicted, then the jury voted 12-0 in favor of convicting, not 8-4 in favor of aquittal.
posted by Anonymous, at
9/09/2007 7:10 PM
