By DAVID CRARY
The Associated Press
Wednesday, November 15, 2006; 2:40 PM

NEW YORK — Evangelical leader Ted Haggard, in apologizing for contacts with a gay prostitute, said he had sought help to combat a “repulsive and dark” side of his life _ but no approach had proven effective.

Even as he pledges to undergo further counseling, Haggard’s comments have rekindled debate over the controversial premise that people can overcome same-sex attractions through “reparative therapy.” It’s a concept espoused by many religious conservatives, and disputed by many mental health experts.

“Haggard is Exhibit A of how people can’t change their sexual orientation,” said Wayne Besen, a gay-rights activist and author. “With all that he had to lose _ a wife, children, a huge church _ he had to be who he was in the end. He couldn’t pray away the gay.” (Read More)

NARTH Promotes Bizarre Anti-Gay Theories and Racist Ideology, Says TWO

ORLANDO,Fla. – Truth Wins Out joined a coalition of organizations in Orlando on Saturday to protest the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality’s annual meeting. More than thirty GLBT advocates chanted, “Quacks, Quacks, Quacks, Stop The Attacks,” in an effort to oppose a disreputable pseudo-scientific group that claims there “are no gay people, just heterosexuals with a homosexual problem.”

The demonstration – which had representatives from PFLAG, HRC Orlando and Equality Florida - included inflatable ducks, duck whistles and a character in a duck suit to highlight the peculiar ideas from NARTH, which claims that in some cases “non-homosexual men who experience defeat and failure may also experience homosexual fantasies or dreams.”

“NARTH’s theories are laughable, but the psychological damage they perpetrate on desperate and vulnerable people is far from funny,” said TWO Executive Director Wayne Besen. “When one learns of this group’s odd ideas, it is clear that many of these so-called doctors are in need of a good shrink.” (Read More)

Protest planned Saturday at Focus on the Family confab at Gov. Sonny Perdue’s church

By Dyana Bagby
Southern Voice Online

Atlanta gay rights activists planning to protest the Love Won Out conference Saturday held a press conference today, calling ex-gay therapy a “hoax” that utilizes fear to promote a socially conservative political agenda.

	Patti Ellis of Atlanta, who has a gay son, said she wishes she could share her story of unconditional love for her son with participants in Saturday’s Love Won Out conference.

The conference, sponsored by Focus on the Family, teaches the idea that gay people can change their sexual orientation. It is set to take place Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Woodstock, located at 11905 Highway 92. The protest begins at 10 a.m. Woodstock is about 33 miles north of Atlanta. Gov. Sonny Perdue attends this mega-church when he is in Atlanta.

“We are determined to expose the truth about this greedy, anti-gay hoax and we wish to do it in peace by speaking the truth in love,” said Rev. T.J. McGiffert of Atlanta at the press conference held at Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse. McGiffert is a member of Soulforce, an interfaith organization that addresses what it views as spiritual violence against gay men and lesbians. (Read More)

Truth Wins Out held its first annual West Palm Beach benefit this week hosted by supporter Daniel Drennen and TWO board member Dan Hall. A featured speaker at the event was Lance Carroll, an 18 year old boy who was forced to attend an ex-gay booth camp and then driven from his home after the “cure” did not work.

The benefit was a wonderful opportunity to introduce the community to the important work of Truth Wins Out and raise funds to combat the multi-million dollar ex-gay industry. If you are interested in hosting a benefit in your area for TWO, please contact us.

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