Comments on: Survivors of Abusive Ex-Gay Programs Remember http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2010/01/6184/ Fighting antigay lies and the ex-gay myth Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:56:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ben In Oakland http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2010/01/6184/comment-page-1/#comment-42538 Ben In Oakland Thu, 26 May 2011 13:50:44 +0000 http://www.truthwinsout.org/?p=6184#comment-42538 Good for you, Dennis. Standing up for yourself is a wondrous curative. Good for you, Dennis. Standing up for yourself is a wondrous curative.

]]> By: Dennis http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2010/01/6184/comment-page-1/#comment-42534 Dennis Thu, 26 May 2011 13:08:49 +0000 http://www.truthwinsout.org/?p=6184#comment-42534 Tonight I find solace from listening to the reflections of fellow LGBTs who have survived the ex-gay journey. I started mine through a chapter of Exodus International in my country when I was 14. Grew up trying to be straight and have sought ministry whenever I could to be set free from my "broken image of masculinity". For 5 years in my late twenties, I was involved with a Foursquare minister who ministered inner healing and deliverance to me. For 5 years, I walked around feeling like there were demons of perversion in my body every time I felt attracted to a man. The minister was spiritually and emotionally manipulative through his "prophetic gifting" and eventually turned sexually abusive in our therapy sessions. I eventually broke away from his control and decided to accept myself as gay. It was freeing but the journey to undo the scars of the past proved difficult. I loved God deeply but despaired and was confused about the decision that I was making. Over time, I found peace within myself, and found a tremendous partner who is tremendously supportive. Unlike what Exodus Intl folks would have me believe, my gay relationship was neither idolatrous, co-dependent, nor disordered. I still struggle with the anger of being manipulated by this minister but the stories on this site gives me a lot of comfort and courage. Tonight I find solace from listening to the reflections of fellow LGBTs who have survived the ex-gay journey. I started mine through a chapter of Exodus International in my country when I was 14. Grew up trying to be straight and have sought ministry whenever I could to be set free from my “broken image of masculinity”. For 5 years in my late twenties, I was involved with a Foursquare minister who ministered inner healing and deliverance to me. For 5 years, I walked around feeling like there were demons of perversion in my body every time I felt attracted to a man. The minister was spiritually and emotionally manipulative through his “prophetic gifting” and eventually turned sexually abusive in our therapy sessions. I eventually broke away from his control and decided to accept myself as gay. It was freeing but the journey to undo the scars of the past proved difficult. I loved God deeply but despaired and was confused about the decision that I was making. Over time, I found peace within myself, and found a tremendous partner who is tremendously supportive. Unlike what Exodus Intl folks would have me believe, my gay relationship was neither idolatrous, co-dependent, nor disordered. I still struggle with the anger of being manipulated by this minister but the stories on this site gives me a lot of comfort and courage.

]]> By: Brian Martin http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2010/01/6184/comment-page-1/#comment-28158 Brian Martin Mon, 20 Sep 2010 13:17:12 +0000 http://www.truthwinsout.org/?p=6184#comment-28158 a letter by Brian Equality Martin on Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 1:08am Dear NOM, FOF, Evergreen International, Exodus International and all other ignorant, hypocritical religious entities and persons, No one chooses to be gay and most never wanted to be. A great many like myself fell to their knees to pray, sobbing like babies, pleading with God to fix them; to cure them; to forgive them. We sought reparation therapy; psychological and religious counseling. We lived in fear and in despair as we wondered why God had forsaken us, why he had not answered our prayers. Finally breaking through the din I heard a voice say, “Why do you listen to them? They know not of what they speak and they DO NOT speak for me. I did not forsake you for I have been with you and speaking to you all along”. "You do not need reparation therapy for you are not broken. You do not need cured for you are not ill. You do not need forgiveness for you have done nothing wrong. You do not need their compassion, understanding or love for you have always had mine. Go now and rejoice for you are as I have made you; a wondrous and unique individual who deserves all the love and happiness you can find". And no it was not Satan, for his voice I know. For his voice I have heard and his voice does not bring peace, comfort and joy. Sincerely, Brian Keith Martin a letter
by Brian Equality Martin on Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 1:08am

Dear NOM, FOF, Evergreen International, Exodus International and all other ignorant, hypocritical religious entities and persons,

No one chooses to be gay and most never wanted to be. A great many like myself fell to their knees to pray, sobbing like babies, pleading with God to fix them; to cure them; to forgive them. We sought reparation therapy; psychological and religious counseling. We lived in fear and in despair as we wondered why God had forsaken us, why he had not answered our prayers. Finally breaking through the din I heard a voice say, “Why do you listen to them? They know not of what they speak and they DO NOT speak for me. I did not forsake you for I have been with you and speaking to you all along”.

“You do not need reparation therapy for you are not broken. You do not need cured for you are not ill. You do not need forgiveness for you have done nothing wrong. You do not need their compassion, understanding or love for you have always had mine. Go now and rejoice for you are as I have made you; a wondrous and unique individual who deserves all the love and happiness you can find”.

And no it was not Satan, for his voice I know. For his voice I have heard and his voice does not bring peace, comfort and joy.

Sincerely,

Brian Keith Martin

]]> By: Michael http://www.truthwinsout.org/blog/2010/01/6184/comment-page-1/#comment-16474 Michael Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:05:48 +0000 http://www.truthwinsout.org/?p=6184#comment-16474 May God bless all those who have struggled with "ex-gay" programs. May He also bless those caught up in homophobia and the "ex-gay" lifestyle and lead them to acceptance of their natural, God-given, sexual orientation. May God bless all those who have struggled with “ex-gay” programs. May He also bless those caught up in homophobia and the “ex-gay” lifestyle and lead them to acceptance of their natural, God-given, sexual orientation.

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