Countering Exodus In Irvine — The LGBT Affirmation Conference

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4 Comments

1. 

   Jeff Coe June 3, 2010 at 10:03 pm -

   Wayne read about the conference in Irvine which I mentioned to someone about if something was going on for this would be like the first ex-ex gay conference in Irvine. Can’t make it bummer but it is what it is.

   But I do want to comment on something. In the post you mentioned cult and pray away the gay. These two things are not nor ever been about Exodus just a reactionary sound bite from you or your staff. If you truly want credibility, dialogue, honesty I would suggest you stop demonizing people and Exodus. The very thing you hate about the right and their judgments on what it means to be gay you are doing the very same thing. Making inflammatory judgments never helps nor does it create the change that all of us want and need.

2. 

   Wayne Besen June 4, 2010 at 1:14 am -

   Jeff: “These two things are not nor ever been about Exodus just a reactionary.”

   Reply: Um, b******t Jeff. How stupid do you think we are? Do you not read Exodus’ materials or attend conferences.? Please, stop spinning us. You appear to have real issues with the honesty and the facts.

   What does Exodus do, exactly? Well, it is a sleazy outfit that peddles junk science that is not peer reviewed. They present an outdated theory that no credible scientific association has believed for at least 30 years – about distant parents or molestation causing people to be gay — and present it as scientific fact. This is profoundly immoral and unchristian.

   The fact that everyone, including you Jeff, goes along with this Big Lie without so much as questioning the efficacy of the fake theory is extremely cult-like. It makes you a cult member. Oh, and what about Love in Action taking peoples’ gay underwear and sequestering clients? Or timing them in the bathroom? Sounds like a classic cult to me.

   Finally, the people at Exodus spend a lot of time praying so God will intervene with a miracle and make them straight. This is an indisputable fact. In other words, pray away the gay. I’m sorry that you are ashamed of what you believe and of Exodus’ program. I would be too. But you diminish your already lacking credibility when you deny that Exodus does what it does.

   As for demonizing? I just shine a large spotlight and the staff at Exodus acts like demons (i.e. Uganda). Again, I’m sorry you are ashamed of their behavior when it is brought out in the light of day. I don’t blame you one bit.

3. 

   Michael Bussee June 4, 2010 at 3:15 pm -

   Jeff: There are many features of Exodus that ARE cult-like — including the practice of shunning, shaming and blaming those who don’t “change” and who drop out of their programs. They advise people to pray that such drop-outs will be “miserable”.

   I agree that it may be an over-simplification to say that Exodus believes you can “pray away the gay” — but that’s largely Exodus’own fault in my opinion. They still teach that faith will “change” you — but they rarely are honest about what kind of “change” they really mean.

   Under tremendous pressure from their critics, they are beginning to be a bit more honest, but to this day, they continue to use deceptive and misleading language to give the impression that people will become straight if only they have enough faith.

   Wendy Gritter (in her keynote address to Exodus a few years back) urged Exodus to “deal humbly and transparently with the impression that we have LIED” and to drop the “ex, former, post-gay” labels. They completely ignored her advice. She dropped out.

   Exodus has earned the “impression” that they lie because they DO lie about it. I myself lied about it because I was taught to “claim it on faith” — in prayer. I believed it and I passed it on.

   John Smid (formerly of Love In Action)admits he lied about it: — “I said I ‘used to be gay’. It was a lie”. Former Exodus leader, Darlene Bogle, says she realized she was “teaching a lie”. So did former Exodus leader,Jeremy Marks. We have all apologized, but the harm is done.

   If Exodus wants fewer angry “sound bites” directed against them, they should follow Wendy Gritter’s advice — and tell the whole truth for a change.

4. Truth Wins Out - Exodus Shamelessly Engages In Historical Revisionism June 5, 2010 at 12:16 pm -

   [...] Today, Bussee is advocate warning people about the harm of Exodus. He will be speaking at a counter-conference on June 19th. Why did Chambers leave out this crucial detail? Perhaps, it is the same reason Love [...]