Benjamin Gresham, a former ex-gay and college student, observes:
A major ex-gay program, Living Waters, is seeking to expand across Sydney and even the rest of Australia. Led by Christian minister and ex-gay himself, Ron Brookman. Living Waters is located in Ramsgate in Southern Sydney but also runs groups in St Marys, and North West and South West Sydney through various churches and ministries. Living Waters is holding an ex-gay confernce in Sydney in February and starting up a new branch on the Northern Beaches in April 2009. Along with this, Ron brookman aims to release his autobiography in the near future as well as 2 other books which will promote the ex-gay message.
The expansion of the ex-gay programs across Sydney is a major concern as the psychological damage and pain caused by these programs is considerable. Hundreds of young gay men and women who have gone through these programs have committed suicide after not being able to change their sexual orientation. I attempted suicide twice after 3 years of ex-gay programs and I am lucky to be alive today. I have a friend who was not so lucky and after struggling with his sexuality and being told he had to change…he committed suicide back in 2007.
Read more at Gresham’s blog.
A great shame that Living Waters is hooked up to a government subsidised counselling service that promotes reparative therapy. The damage caused by such dangerous, ideological rubbish is immense. I fear for all the young gays and lesbians dragged by their neurotic parents to any of these reparative therapy venues. Homosexuality is as natural as eye colour. We need to stand up against these right wing religious freaks who want to take Australia back to a dark and scary time.