This video traces the career of Wayne Besen, from 1993-2007. Video clips come from his first organization, Sons & Daughters of America, founded in 1993; show him as a news reporter in Maine; show his tenure at the Human Rights Campaign and end with his current job as founder of Truth Wins Out, a Brooklyn-based non-profit that counters the so-called ex-gay myth. 

Scandal-tinged NARTH Conference Also Fails To Generate Support

The so-called “ex-gay” industry suffered twin setbacks in the past month with two highly touted events failing to live up to expectations. This week, the much-anticipated “Allies Too” campaign floundered in its attempt to win support in high schools for its ex-gay message. This sub par campaign followed the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality’s (NARTH) annual conference in Dallas, which attracted only 50 therapists, according to media reports. The double disappointments reveal that ex-gay programs do not have broad public support and are merely publicity stunts with little following or substance, said Truth Wins Out.

“The ‘Allies Too’ week was a bust because students were smart enough to understand that it was an exclusionary ex-gay message packaged and sold as a tolerance campaign,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “NARTH’s support has been eroding ever since it was discovered that its website housed an essay that seemed to justify slavery. Credible researchers don’t want to be associated with this fringe organization and I think this was reflected in the paltry attendance numbers at NARTH’s annual conference.”
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The Montgomery County (Maryland) Council is considering a new gender identity nondiscrimination bill, which has angered some people - a few which have gone off the deep end. It has also generated a batch of unpleasant letters to the Council. The websites Box Turtle Bulletin and Teach The Facts report that the following letter came from Gabriel Espinosa, the webmaster for Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays: (in 40-point type)

Bill 23-07

Allowing men who think they’re women into women’s bathrooms and locker rooms?

ARE YOU PEOPLE OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MINDS?

Hopefully, it will be one of your daughters who gets raped first!

Sincerely Yours,
Gabriel Espinosa
President
Furryllama Media Productions

As we have pointed out, PFOX’s former president and cult member, Richard Cohen, was permanently expelled from the American Counseling Association. PFOX has recently drawn controversy for either faking or greatly exaggerating “hate crimes” against members who staffed a booth for the organization. The webmaster prior to the unhinged Espinosa was a violent individual who went by the name “Burning Black Triangle.” Clearly, PFOX is a nut magnet that attracts the bizarre and unstable. It is scary that they keep trying to foist their insanity onto the public schools. This letter is representative of PFOX - a vulgar group that is nearly devoid of content. Judging from this letter, PFOX is not Pro-Family, but profanity.

Pastor’s Words Hurtful and Disappointing, says TWO

NEW YORK – Truth Wins Out called on mega-church televangelist Joel Osteen to apologize to gay and lesbian Americans for saying that they need “help” and comparing their love to drug addiction. The ignorant and offensive comments took place in an interview with reporter John King on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360.”

“We call on Joel Osteen to immediately apologize for his insulting remarks about gay and lesbian people,” said Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director Wayne Besen. “We are here to offer him help in kicking his addiction to cynically raising money off the backs of gay people. While there is nothing wrong with gay and lesbian Americans, there is something insidious about masking anti-gay prejudice under the cloak of religion.” (Read More)

Group Misleads By Using Language of Inclusion, When Real Goals Are Conversion, Ridicule, Isolation and Exclusion

NEW YORK – Truth Wins Out slammed Exodus International today for its slippery Allies Too Week, which masquerades as a tolerance campaign, when its real intention is to marginalize gay students, while encouraging bullies. According to the Allies Too website, “Christian students across the United States can declare their commitment to making school safe and harassment-free for everyone, and promote true tolerance that treats all viewpoints with respect.” However, when they say “true tolerance,” what they are really asking is for gay students to “tolerate” getting demeaned and humiliated in classrooms.

“The Allies Too campaign is dishonest in that it fails to inform students that Exodus repeatedly refers to gay people as ‘perverse’ and ‘sexually broken,’” said Besen. “This group also works to pass anti-gay laws and believes that homosexuality is demonic. The Allies Too campaign is twisted, in that students who object to being insulted and labeled as defective are smeared as ‘intolerant.’ The Allies Too campaign is a slick attempt to turn logic on its head and make bullies feel that there is a moral justification for isolating and ridiculing gay students.” (Read More)