I was at the gym tonight thinking of a documentary I recently saw – “Chasing the Devil.” In the film, a Jewish “ex-gay” organization, Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality (JONAH) is featured.
I am profoundly disturbed by this slippery organization that pretends to be Jewish, while it is really promoting right wing Christianity. Jewish parents should beware that JONAH recommends and promotes fundamentalist Christian books in the guise of helping people “change.”
Worse, they underhandedly use a discredited therapist with a Jewish sounding last name, Richard Cohen, to recruit new clients. The truth is, Cohen abandoned his Judaism long-ago for the Moonies and then switched to fundamentalist Christianity.
So, why is Cohen still JONAH’s leading therapist? Are there no Jewish therapists in New Jersey, where the group is based? If not, are there none in New York City, directly across the river? I suppose JONAH thinks all those guys with beards I see in Brooklyn, where I live, are actually Amish.
Basically, Jewish parents who send their gay children to get “help” from JONAH – will introduce them to Christian missionary work. Come to think of it, JONAH should change its deceptive name to “‘Jews’ Offering New Alternatives To Judaism.” (JONAJ)
JONAH should start acting like a Jewish group or drop its misleading name.
“My dear James…” I’m not your dear, layoff.
And excuse me, but yes I’ve tried to change to straight, it didn’t work for me and I’ve yet to meet a gay person that it did work for. The few it did work for (if it did in fact work) have an awesome life and they are happy. But for many (like me) it was harmful and the only peace I’ve ever felt was accepting myself for who I am.
You proclaim that anyone can change. If it is indeed possible for some gay people to change, then it is most certainly not “all” and for the ones it will not work for that may be fooled by this trickery that you pull, their lives may be at stake because sexual orientation (gay or straight) is natural to the person. It is as natural as breathing and if you try and change it, you’re ripping something out of that person and trying to fit something else in their that doesn’t belong. If you ever wanted to know why many gay people suffer so much from “reparative” therapy, that is why.
If people are having issues with their sexual orientation, then what’s wrong about coping with homophobia and learning to accept themselves for who they are instead of trying an “ex gay” program that may not even work?
Dear JONAH cronies:
Thanks for making my case for me. If you were any better at helping me, I’d have to hire you.
The bottom line is that you are a bunch of tools who have a right wing Christian counselor in Cohen and assign Christian books. No Jew in their right mind would send a friend of family member to your Christian promoting organization.
You can post here 10,000 times, but it does not change these simple and irrefutable facts. Your obsessive commenting just shows how guilty you truly are.
Observations from an interested bystander:
To the Jonah Cronies:
Give it up guys. This is an activist site, not a site for healing or open dialogue. TWO has an agenda and they do what they need to do to promote that agenda; whether its true or not is irrelevant. For proof of this I quote Jame’s reply to Moshico,
“This website opposes all the “facts” that you have said on here. If you come here and start talking like this, then it is you with the problem, because you could just as easily go to some conservative website and speak where people would want to read your BS.”
Please listen to what James is saying, because in this he is speaking the truth. I invite you to take you discourse to those who will listen and not waste your time or anyone else’s longer; they don’t want to hear it.
To the TWO Cronies:
I invite you to consider that what didn’t work for some, might work for others. As Emily pointed out it is about individual choice, and the freedom for each individual to self-determine what they want from their lives.
It leaves me very sad that the political/social agenda and the agenda of individual healing/self-determination must come into such conflict, and that the existence of the one must threaten the other. I am sad because the ultimate victims are those who are seeking answers and peace in their lives. I fear however that the rhetoric and emotion involved is such that there is very little room for live and let live.
Peace to all,
Frank
Frank, what might work for a few people, does not work for most people and often *harms* not only those people, but their parents and others who are wrongly blamed for persons’ sexual orientation.
One problem is that JONAH misdiagnoses both bisexuality and problems resulting from abuse as if they were the same as homosexual orientation.
“If you’re hanging around gays that you think have a bad influence on you, find new friends and healthier hobbies.
Being gay isn’t the problem. The choices people make in life are what lead to problems.”
**********
THANK YOU, EMILY!
Just as there’s straight people out there who’s a bad influence, there’s also some gay people who’s a bad influence as well.
If your group of friends clubs every night and keeps you out at all hours, when you have a job and bills to pay, then maybe you need to dump them, and move on and find some friends to better fit your PERSONAL lifestyle.
I’ve had to do this at least twice since I’ve been “out”. Life goes on. Plus I haven’t been 21 in a decade, and I don’t have the energy (or money) to be out clubbing and drinking 5 nights a week! LOL
Frank, there was no need to say what you said.
What I was TRYING to say (but you distorted what I said like homophobes typically do) is that anyone who opposes what this website does, and who feels the need to be offensive about it, should not be here. Those who support this website, have a right to come on here without having to deal with what “Moshico” and the others like him are saying.
If you don’t have anything nice to say, or all you wanna do is come on here to argue with others and what is posted, then you shouldn’t be on here.
And don’t whine, “Oh! But you’re arguing!” Yeah well I ORIGINALLY did not come here to argue, I originally wanted to come on here and just look at what’s new, but I see distortions and things that are false, I think I have the right to try and fix it. I’ve seen too many gays hurt by the so called “ex gay” experience. If it worked for someone, then fine, but I know it doesn’t always work and I know it has the potential to be harmful. These gays have the right to know the potential harm of “ex gay” therapy before trying it.
Frank: I fear however that the rhetoric and emotion involved is such that there is very little room for live and let live.
Reply: You are so full of it. Who are you kidding? It is the so-called “ex-gay” activists who have gone on million dollar campaigns to limit gay rights – not the other way around. Your lies may work for the stupid or uninformed. But, you are just making a fool of yourself by repeating such propaganda on this site.
Now, go return to your cult and continue stealing peoples’ money by making false promises that won’t ever come true.
Dear Wayne,
thank you for proving my point,
“Give it up guys. This is an activist site, not a site for healing or open dialogue.”
with your own words.
Peace,
Frank
Frank,
Please leave, you’re not welcome here. This isn’t an activist site. It’s a site that is dedicated to dispelling untruths about homosexuality and “ex gay” therapy.
Why don’t you just stick around people who will listen to you? I mean, if what your people are saying is true, that homosexuality is a mental illness or abnormality and that it causes problems and unhappiness, then I’ll just believe what you’re saying when I get unhappy for being homosexual. Afterall, the “ex gay” ministries do say they are only trying to rid homosexuals of their “unwanted” desires.
But I’m not unhappy for being homosexual and so, consequently I don’t fit those “ex gay” ministries mission in helping to rid homosexuals of their “unwanted” homosexual desires. They are therefore useless to me.
I could never quite get that. Ex gay ministries saying that they just want to help homosexuals get rid of their “unwanted” homosexual desires, but they still distribute their information to homosexuals who ARE perfectly satisfied and happy with their homosexuality. It makes no sense whatsoever.
Frank,
And what you’re doing is taking what I said and you’re twisting it to fit your own purpose. That’s exactly what Focus on the Family, Exodus, Evergreen, and JONAH does. They need to do that because there’s nothing legitimate for them to lean on.
Another reason why this site exists. Thank you Frank for leaving that example. Now what I will do is link to this site whenever I wanna show people how “ex gay” activists distort to get their point across.
But if I’m wrong and you’re right (like you probably think) then you’ll have nothing to worry about, it’ll be me who ends up looking like a fool.
“I could never quite get that. Ex gay ministries saying that they just want to help homosexuals get rid of their “unwanted” homosexual desires, but they still distribute their information to homosexuals who ARE perfectly satisfied and happy with their homosexuality. It makes no sense whatsoever.”
According to “ex-gays”, if you’re well-adjusted, then you AREN’T well-adjusted. Remember – up is down, left is right, and stop means go with these people.
EVERYONE gets unhappy from time to time: I’m unhappy that the economy isn’t in better condition. I’m unhappy because my favorite local record store DOESN’T STOCK ANYTHING BY CAROL DOUGLAS!! But I’m NOT unhappy because I’m a homosexual. That’s the LEAST of my worries! LOL
Frank says: “Give it up guys. This is an activist site, not a site for healing or open dialogue.”
Reply: Yes it is an activist site. One that allows significantly more dialogue than any so-called “ex-gay” sham organization. Notice that I let the PR team from Jews Offering New Alternatives to Judaism (JONAH) comment. That is because when you tell the truth you have nothing to hide. It is also why groups like JONAJ don’t allow dissenting voices.
Please take note of the fact we are having this open dialogue on my site. No comparable place exists to share opinions in the so-called “ex-gay” world.
Wayne thank you for this wonderful site, it is at the front lines battling for truth and tolerance!!!