Tag: ex-gay

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PFOX fails again to draw a crowd for “Ex-Gay Awareness Month” Lobby Day

Greg Quinlan and his "ex-gay" group PFOX again failed to draw a crowd as only 15 people showed up for his Ex-Gay Awareness Month Lobby event.

Right Wing Watch reports that Greg Quinlan and his “ex-gay” group PFOX failed again to gather the “thousands” of “ex-gays” for a Washington lobby day he swears are TOTALLY out there. Although the group claims ‘thousands of Ex-Gays’ were ready to march on D.C. – only 15 showed up:

Despite claims that “there are more ex-gay people in the world than there are gay people in the world” and that there are “thousands of ex-gays” ready to march on Washington and make their voices heard, ex-gay gatherings always seem to assemble just a small handful of people. And it’s always the exact same people.

Ex-Gay Awareness Month, which immediately followed the disastrous Ex-Gay Pride Month lobby day, managed to muster “about 15 ex-gay activists to lobby Capitol Hill” yesterday.

The pathetically unsuccessful lobby day was followed by an equally feeble First Annual Ex-Gay Awareness Dinner and Reception for 60 people, that attracted such “Christian” haters of Mathew Staver of the Liberty Counsel, and Bishop Harry Jackson, the Christian Post reports.

The winner of their “ex-gay theme song contest”, a dramatic ode called “Rise Up” by Dennis Jernigan, was announced and debuted at the event.

(source)

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New York renews push to ban “ex-gay” therapy

In the wake of New Jersey’s passage of banning “ex-gay” therapy for minors, a trio of New York state legislators are renewing the push to ban the practice in New York state.

State Sens. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan), Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) and Assemblywoman Deborah Glick say New York pols should swiftly pass a similar bill they introduced earlier this year that stalled in Albany.

“Conversion therapy is among the worst frauds in history and has been discredited by the American Psychological Association and other leading mental health organizations,” said Hoylman, the state’s only openly gay senator.

The New York bill would bar mental health providers from trying to change the sexual orientation of anyone under the age of 18. If enacted, a licensed mental health provider who ignored the law would be cited for unprofessional conduct and subject to licensing sanctions.

The anti-gay Liberty Counsel yesterday announced that it will sue to block New Jersey’s bill from being implemented. California’s bill, which was signed last September by Gov. Jerry Brown, remains on hold due to the Liberty Counsel’s appeal.

(via JoeMyGod)

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Maggie Gallagher criticizes NJ ban of “ex-gay” torture

A once high-profile opponent of same-sex couples’ marriage rights took aim Monday at Gov. Chris Christie’s decision to sign legislation into law that would ban therapy aimed at changing the sexual orientation of minors.

Maggie Gallagher, the former head of the National Organization for Marriage, who has kept a low profile over the past year, reappeared on the public scene Monday to attack the New Jersey governor for his bill signing.

“The new law communicates to gays and lesbians seeking to conform their lives to their values that they are second-glass [sic] citizens, without the same right to seek help that other people enjoy. It is a right of self-determination that Gov. Christie has shut down,” Gallagher said in a statement in her role as chairman of the Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund.

New Jersey’s LGBT group, Garden State Equality, defended Christie and the legislation — an unusual position for the group that has been fighting Christie on his opposition to marriage equality.

“It’s not about self-determination. What she’s advocating for is taking away self-determination from the youth of New Jersey,” Garden State Equality executive director Troy Stevenson said.

More at Buzzfeed

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New Jersey: Gov. Christie to sign bill outlawing “ex-gay” torture for minors

Today New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will sign into law a bill that bans “ex-gay therapy” for minors:

“Government should tread carefully into this area,” he said in the signing note, which was obtained by The Associated Press, “and I do so here reluctantly.”

“However, I also believe that on the issues of medical treatment for children we must look to experts in the field to determine the relative risks and rewards,” Christie said, citing a litany of potential ill effects of trying to change sexual orientation, including depression and suicide.

“I believe that exposing children to these health risks without clear evidence of benefits that outweigh these serious risks is not appropriate.”

Gay rights groups say the practice of conversion therapy is damaging to young people because it tells them that it’s not acceptable to be whoever they are.

Christie’s signing message also declares that he believes that people are born gay and that homosexuality is not a sin. The Associated Press notes that such beliefs are “inconsistent with his Catholic faith.” We’ll see how that squares with the far-right fringe whose support Christie will need should he run for President in 2016.

(source)

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New Jersey: State Assembly passes “ex-gay” therapy ban

The New Jersey Assembly has approved legislation that would outlaw “ex-gay” therapy by a vote of 56-14.

Passage in the state senate is expected on Thursday.

Governor Chris Christie in March said he opposed the practice of conversion therapy, but on Monday his office declined to comment on whether he would sign or veto the bill.

If enacted, the measure would ban therapists or social workers from performing therapy that aims to change the sexual orientation of patients under age 18.

Currently, California is the only U.S. state to outlaw the practice. But, a federal appeals court has put that law’s implementation on hold while it weighs the issue.

The legislation cites American Psychiatric Association studies that found sexual orientation is determined at birth.

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Chris Matthews and guests discuss the demise of the “ex-gay” movement

Chris Matthews, of MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews, and guests Wayne Besen of Truth Wins Out and psychotherapist Laura Berman discuss the shutdown of Exodus International and the harm done by so-called reparative therapy, aimed at turning gay people straight.

Both the host and his guests denounced such therapy as wrongheaded and harmful, and lauded the progress toward LGBT equality in the U.S., which much remains to be done. “Today, it’s gone beyond tolerance to acceptance,” said Matthews. Added Besen: “Equality is an unstoppable train.”

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy (via Advocate)

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Exodus International, so-called “ex-gay” organization, ends it’s harmful run

Exodus International, the most prominent “ex-gay” ministry, is closing up shop after more than three decades.

Decades have passed as we’ve seen Exodus and other offer so-called “reparative therapy,” seeking to turn from gay to straight, only to find the therapy is not only ineffective but harmful.

From the Exodus International website:

“We’re not negating the ways God used Exodus to positively affect thousands of people, but a new generation of Christians is looking for change – and they want to be heard,” Tony Moore, Board member of Exodus. The message came less than a day after Exodus released a statement apologizing  to the gay community for years of undue judgment by the organization and the Christian Church as a whole.

“Exodus is an institution in the conservative Christian world, but we’ve ceased to be a living, breathing organism,” said Alan Chambers, President of Exodus. “For quite some time we’ve been imprisoned in a worldview that’s neither honoring toward our fellow human beings, nor biblical.”

Chambers continued: “From a Judeo-Christian perspective, gay, straight or otherwise, we’re all prodigal sons and daughters. Exodus International is the prodigal’s older brother, trying to impose its will on God’s promises, and make judgments on who’s worthy of His Kingdom. God is calling us to be the Father – to welcome everyone, to love unhindered.”

Alan Chambers has also released his own apology in a post entitled I Am Sorry “to the people within the LGBTQ community who have been hurt by the Church, Exodus International, and me”:

Please know that I am deeply sorry. I am sorry for the pain and hurt many of you have experienced. I am sorry that some of you spent years working through the shame and guilt you felt when your attractions didn’t change. I am sorry we promoted sexual orientation change efforts and reparative theories about sexual orientation that stigmatized parents. I am sorry that there were times I didn’t stand up to people publicly “on my side” who called you names like sodomite—or worse. I am sorry that I, knowing some of you so well, failed to share publicly that the gay and lesbian people I know were every bit as capable of being amazing parents as the straight people that I know. I am sorry that when I celebrated a person coming to Christ and surrendering their sexuality to Him that I callously celebrated the end of relationships that broke your heart. I am sorry that I have communicated that you and your families are less than me and mine.

More than anything, I am sorry that so many have interpreted this religious rejection by Christians as God’s rejection. I am profoundly sorry that many have walked away from their faith and that some have chosen to end their lives. For the rest of my life I will proclaim nothing but the whole truth of the Gospel, one of grace, mercy and open invitation to all to enter into an inseverable relationship with almighty God.

I cannot apologize for my deeply held biblical beliefs about the boundaries I see in scripture surrounding sex, but I will exercise my beliefs with great care and respect for those who do not share them. I cannot apologize for my beliefs about marriage. But I do not have any desire to fight you on your beliefs or the rights that you seek. My beliefs about these things will never again interfere with God’s command to love my neighbor as I love myself.

You have never been my enemy. I am very sorry that I have been yours. I hope the changes in my own life, as well as the ones we announce tonight regarding Exodus International, will bring resolution, and show that I am serious in both my regret and my offer of friendship. I pledge that future endeavors will be focused on peace and common good.

Good riddance to Exodus and others who have caused great harm and injury to so many.

The Oprah Winfrey Netowork will air a special tonight that features Alan Chambers apologizing to gays and lesbians who were affected by his organization. Check times on your local guide.

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Exodus International leader to apologize for damaging “cure” for homosexuality

For almost 40 years, Exodus International claimed to offer a “cure” for homosexuality. Alan Chambers, the leader of Exodus, decided last year to stop endorsing the controversial practice of gay-reparative therapy. And now, he has a new message: an apology.

In a special episode of Our America, Lisa Ling is joined by a group of survivors of the condemned and damaging practice of “reparative therapy” as they confront Alan Chambers.

Chambers recently asked Ling to help orchestrate an opportunity in which he could formally apologize to those who felt deceived and defrauded by Exodus’ practices and to announce that the organization will cease to be an “ex gay” organization.

Tune in Thursday, June 20th at 10/9c for a special presentation of this powerful report.

For more on Our America with Lisa Ling, click here.