Wayne Besen - Author, Activist, Columnist, Public Speaker

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Cured 'Ex-Gay' Caught Misbehaving; banned from gym; Disturbing Criminal Record

A new report by the website, "Ex-Gay Watch", has cast a dark cloud of skepticism over "ex-gay" activist Matthew Manning's tale of being "delivered" from homosexuality and AIDS. According to the report, Manning has been repeatedly dragged into court for allegations of inappropriate behavior and was even banned from a popular gym after improper sexual advances were made on a 22-year-old heterosexual male. Manning, a frequent television guest and the founder of Lighthouse World Evangelism Inc., based in Santa Rosa, California, has yet to comment on the allegations made in the investigative report.

"The 'ex-gay' myth is one of the largest frauds ever foisted on the American consumer," said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. "We call on Manning to immediately close down his snake oil shop. We also urge those in the media who promoted his fake miracle to apologize and update their audience on the sordid facts that have been revealed."

According to an older version of Manning's website: "Matthew was delivered from homosexuality in 1989 and miraculously healed from HIV/AIDS in 1994. Matthew's experience not only enables him to minister effectively to those seeking deliverance from homosexuality, but to all people seeking to know Jesus Christ in a deeper way."

Ex-Gay Watch discovered that Manning found his way into the courthouse three times, all for activity that contradicted his testimony as an "ex-gay" born again Christian. On September 2, 2005, a complaint was filed with the Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma, accusing Manning of one count of violating CA Penal Code 243.4(e)(1), which states:

"Any person who touches an intimate part of another person, if the touching is against the will of the person touched, and is for the specific purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification, or sexual abuse, is guilty of misdemeanor sexual battery, punishable by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding six months, or by both that fine and imprisonment."

Manning pleaded "no contest" to a lesser charge. Still, as a result of this incident, Manning was ordered to stay away from the 22-year-old victim for one year, and also ordered to stay away from one of the 24 Hour Fitness locations in Santa Rosa for the same length of time. There were also two other incidents, one in 2000 and another in 1998, according to Ex-Gay Watch.

Manning first burst on the scene several years ago when he claimed, while in the studio audience of the Roseanne Show, that God delivered him from AIDS and homosexuality. Actress Sharon Stone was also in the audience and mocked him as a modern miracle who defied logic and modern medicine.

Since then, he has appeared on several Christian broadcasts, including at least five episodes of The Joni Show and Pat Robertson's 700 Club. Exodus President Alan Chambers, lauded Manning's story on the Joni Show as "amazing" and "unbelievable".

"It just goes to show you how 'ex-gay' activists continue to dupe gullible people and promote fake miracles to gain new followers," said Besen.

For more information on this very detailed story, please visit our friends at "Ex-Gay Watch."

9 Comments:

(YAWN!) This is getting boring! Yet another "ex-gay" who claims he's no longer gay and is found to be secretly (or not so secretly) hitting on cute, well-adjusted gay guys? And cured of AIDS no less? Well praise the Lord! But seriously, this gentleman looks like John Paulk, too! I think I'm in the wrong business... ;-)
posted by Chris L., at 6/24/2009 5:08 PM

Hey, Alan Chambers wasn't lying when he said Manning's story was "unbelievable."

Perfect adjective from the mouth of an true believer.
posted by Ricardo, at 6/25/2009 9:38 AM

Randy Thomas is another one that talks directly to ones crotch when he meets you. What a joke these people are. It is very sad that they cannot incorporate their physical desires with their emotional selves. That is called immaturity and although society makes it difficult for LGBT folk, it is no reason to turn off and tune out. Here is yet another example of how that impossibility manifests itself.
posted by Spouse Walker, at 6/25/2009 9:41 AM

These people are pitiful. They have too much invested in the ex-gay bullshit to just admit that they are still gay and then go do something about it.

Apprently living a lie is justified when you are a fundamentalist.
posted by Merlyn, at 6/26/2009 1:59 PM

I've heard that "ex gay" conventions are hotbeds of gay sex.
posted by libhom, at 7/09/2009 11:02 PM

Wow, I guess Sharon Stone is an expert on homosexuality. It's truly lucky that she was there!
posted by Kwo, at 7/14/2009 4:38 AM

Quo, you don't need to be an expert to know no one is cured from AIDs and no one can change their orientation. Even the dumbest of people know that, well, except religious conservatives like you.
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