We are at a historic crossroads where we have a genuine opportunity
to undermine the consumer fraud known as the “ex-gay” myth. In 2012 several notable events occurred:
- Exodus’ Alan Chambers admitted that “ex-gay” ministries don’t really work
- Former Love in Action leader John Smid reinforced Chambers’ admission
- Dr. Robert Spitzer disavowed his study on the “ex-gay” myth
- A radical band of “ex-gay” activists broke away from Exodus to start the Restored Hope Network
- California banned “ex-gay” therapy for minors (which is now tied up in court)
- The Southern Poverty Law Center sued JONAH and a therapist affiliated with that program
Given this favorable and quickly changing terrain, TWO will marshal its limited resources for important research and key investigations, offering less time for commentary on the day’s events. Our original research is needed in court cases, the media, and in state legislatures where bans on “ex-gay” child abuse are under consideration. Essentially, we are like prosecutors building a deliberate and irrefutable case against our guilty foes. We believe our work is critical to exposing this fraud, particularly when the charlatans at NARTH are now trying to portray themselves as mainstream, when they personify the extreme.
While posts will be less frequent on certain days, they will be more substantive and less ephemeral, offering lasting value to our fight against the quacks. Simply recapping the news, while good for our web statistics and quick media hits, will not put the “ex-gay” industry out of business. And that’s our goal, isn’t it?
Only the unglamorous task of research and special investigations will hasten their demise. This is what we are dedicated to doing as we move forward in 2013. We hope our loyal readers will continue to support us as we face the critical task that lies ahead. Please consider a holiday gift to Truth Wins Out to help with our crucial work. We intend to have a significant impact in this debate, but we can only do so with your help.
GIRL, NO!!!! TWO can’t die us on now. you are too important.
Rayray — I’m glad you appreciate our work, but I think you misinterpreted this post. We are not dying, not sick, not even coughing. TWO is in better shape than ever.
What we are going to provide is a superior product. We are simply going to take more time and invest our resources in places where it matters. However, we are not going to waste our money recapping the day’s events. We are in the breaking news business — not the entertainment business — and this will be reflected in our work in the future
Quality, not quantity. That is what we will be providing. If people want fluff go to another site.
Very good Wayne, though I will miss the day to day.
I am wondering if you consider Exodus a reparative (group therapy) therapy group. Which for all intents and purposes, seems to be headed up by recovering gay sex addicts. I know Chambers has disavowed one on one Therapy, yet it seems Exodus promotes group reparative therapy nonetheless.
Similarly to what the SLPC does, is there an organization that compiles a hit list of these groups that could be rubber stamped showing a consolidated list for people to gain awareness from? SLPC might consider a sub chapter of their organization to heighten awareness and double down on these lethal groups.
iDavid:
There will still be a lot of day to day coverage. As long as it doesn’t conflict with research or an investigation. In such cases, the research and investigation will take precedence.
We also are not going to invest money into day-to-day coverage, which limits our funds for investigating. It’s a matter of priorities at this specific point in time — when we have a unique opportunity to put these frauds out of business.
As you point out, Exodus member-ministries still conduct reparative therapy. Virtually ALL ex-gay books and other materials contain copious amounts of reparative therapy. There isn’t much distinction, except it is probably more difficult to sue a group like Exodus because they cloak their “therapy” under the religious expression.
NARTH, on the other hand is a religious group masquerading as a medical organization. However, because they consider their quacks secular therapists, they don’t have the same protections in theory. Now that they are under heat for child abuse disguised as therapy, they are making it sound as if their religious beliefs have been violated — which is incredibly dishonest and hypocritical for an organization that claims to be scientifically based.
They are all a bunch of con artists. We hope to provide irrefutable evidence to vividly make this point.
thanks for the clarification. guess i didn’t read too closely.
I agree that most (if not all) are con artists. I’m curious, do you think that Nicolosi is a con artist or is he so invested that he really believes what he is selling?