FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LGBT Groups to Host Week of Education, Entertainment, and Protests to Show Harm of ‘Ex-Gay’ Programs in Houston
What: On September 10, the infamous “ex-gay” organization Exodus International will host Love Won Out in Houston, which is a quarterly road show promoting the false and dangerous idea that one can “pray away the gay.” (Sugar Creek Baptist Church)
In response, a coalition of local and national LGBT organizations will host a weeklong series of educational and entertainment events highlighting the harm caused by “ex-gay” programs. The week will conclude with a Saturday protest outside Love Won Out and an MCC church service highlighting the values of love, inclusion, diversity, tolerance, pluralism, and acceptance.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (All events open to media)
Opening Night: Overview of ‘Ex-Gay’ Ministries with Wayne Besen
Wednesday, September 7
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Resurrection MCC (2025 West 11th Street, Houston TX)
Presentation followed by a Pastors’ Panel and Q&A Session
Event Info: Truth Wins Out founder Wayne Besen will discuss in an acclaimed multi-media presentation the history of ‘ex-gay’ programs, the techniques used, the key players involved and political context in which these dangerous programs operate. Besen is the architect of the recent undercover operation that revealed that the clinic of Michele Bachmann’s husband, Marcus, practiced “ex-gay” therapy. Besen is the author of Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth. He has appeared on leading shows including: NBC Nightly News, ABC Nightline, ABC World News Tonight, ABC’s Good Morning America, FOX’s The O’Reilly Factor, MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show, and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
Film Screening: This is What Love in Action Looks Like
Thursday, September 8
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Resurrection MCC (2025 West 11th Street, Houston TX)
Event Info: America was captivated when Zach Stark, a gay teenager, was forced by his parents into the Memphis “ex-gay” ministry Love in Action (LIA) against his will. This is What Love in Action Looks Like is a new film that explores the controversial LIA experience and shows how youth are coerced into “ex-gay” programs. Film director Morgan Jon Fox and interviewee Brandon Tidwell will be on-hand to answer questions about the film and “ex-gay” programs.
One Man Show: Peterson Toscano
Friday, September 9
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Resurrection MCC (2025 West 11th Street, Houston TX)
Event Info: Celebrated comedian and actor Peterson Toscano shares his own story of trying to ‘de-gay’ himself and the process he took to integrate his sexuality with all parts of his life. In this presentation you will witness the Best of Peterson Toscano as he presents excerpts from original plays including The Re-Education of George W. Bush, Queer 101–Now I Know my gAy,B,Cs, and Doin’ Time in the Homo No Mo Halfway House. Peterson will also share extracts from his newest play, Transfigurations, which looks at the stories and lives of transgender Bible characters. Peterson is the co-founder of Beyond Ex-Gay and has been featured on the Montel Williams Show, The Tyra Banks Show, FOX’s The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, and the BBC.
Protest of Exodus International’s Love Won Out
Saturday, September 10
11:30AM – 1:00PM
Outside the Sugar Creek Baptist Church (13333 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX)
Founded in 1972, Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church serves more than 850 members and friends and is one of the largest congregations within Metropolitan Community Churches, a Christian denomination with churches in more than 35 countries. The church is widely known for its positive, affirming ministry to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, along with their friends, families and allies, and for its strong commitment to social justice as an expression of the congregation’s Christian faith. For additional information on the ministry, services, and programs of Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church, visit www.ResurrectionMCC.org.
Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that fights anti-LGBT religious extremism. TWO specializes in turning information into action by organizing, advocating and fighting for LGBT equality.
I should think that we have as much right to “Pray Away the Hate” as our opponents do to “Pray Away Reality.”
It’s not hate. People just don’t want to be gay. Why force them?
Oh god, the world’s stupidest troll is back.
Don’t engage with it, people.
Tony, Tony, Tony….. I love how you make it seem, you “ex gays” just want too help us, BS, and you know it! I have yet too see any ex gay group not affiliated with some right wing, anti gay propoganda machine. Sadly, some try these groups and simply cannot “change”… some even commit suicide… Tony are you aware the founder of Exodus Mike Bussee speaks out against “reparative therapy”… he shares horror stories about these groups you think are so wonderful.. one in particular where a young man slashes his genitals and then pours drano all over it so he would no longer have “gay thoughts”…. Tony, I for one am glad your view is not the only one on homosexuality, I’m glad there are those like Wayne who are speaking against IGNORANCE and HATE!
“People just don’t want to be gay,” because they’ve discovered how delicious pussy tastes to them, and they naturally can’t get enough of eating it.
Tony,
It’s not hate. People just don’t want to be left-handed. Why make them?
After all, they are sinisterists, followers of the left-hand path, on the side of the goats, Satan’s helpers.
Everyone knows that being left-handed is a choice you make in your youth to annoy your rightist elders.
And lefties only exist to recruit others into the leftist life-style and make them into lefties.
Very soon, there will be too many of them with their holding their hand funny when they write and going against the natural way of things. We’ll be having to manufacture things to fit their disgusting unnatural ways.
Even you, my little trollish friend must realise that put like that, it’s silly.
If being left-handed is natural, then why not being LGBT?
If lefties shouldn’t have to change to fit in with the right-handed world then why LGBT people?
My mother was one of those left handed people and she insisted on bringing my two siblings and I into the world, depriving us of two right handed parents. she ruined our childhood by insisting on telling us that left handed people are just the same as right handed people…she stole our innocence!
Thats funny scott…I discovered how delicious pussy is and now I can’t get enough of being gay…I love who I am
Another Jessica! Who didn’t know she was gay till she discovered how delicious pussy was!
Of course the question to ask is;
I’m a bisexual and I’ve performed oral sex on a woman BECAUSE I am, well, bisexual, so Ms straight to gay Jessica how did you discover how delicious it was?
I wouldn’t pray away the gay even if I could. I went through too much mental anguish to get out of denial to ever want to go back in. Tony and his ilk can live their own lie if they want.
Tony, why not just admit you think we are awful sinners who you want to convert to what you consider the “right way” and be done with it. I am tired of hearing the anti-gay lies and I have seen what your therapy does to so many gay people.
Why don’t you just live your fantasy that you are now straight and leave us to live our lives in peace?
I went through a LOT of pain to get where I am today and I have no intentions of getting back into that mindset. I married a wonderful man 4 years ago and see no need whatsoever to change.
[...] a complete schedule of event, click here to visit the Truth Wins Out website. Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that fights anti-LGBT religious [...]
I wonder how much the troll is charging to cross his bridge these days…
(With a nod to my Norwegian grandmother. :-D)
Let us agree to stop attributing the “ex gay” schtick to a conservative agenda. True thinkers are on both sides of the aisle. Interesting to note Besen’s article in the National Review this morning.
Michael, what do you mean by “true thinkers”. Why would someone who is socially liberal buy the ex-gay crap. And while you are right that there are some people who aren’t anti-gay among the conservatives and some who are among the liberals you will find the “ex-gay” has far more support among social conservatives than social liberals.
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