Josh Weed wrote an emotional, tear-jerker of story on his website, The Weed, this week that captured the attention of many people on the Internet. In his tale, he claimed to be an average gay dude who is a devout Mormon and married to a woman named Lolly. They have three children and a robust sex life. To the average sucker, it seemed to be an innocent and sweet story of a man who just wants everyone to get along and love each other.
To be blunt, his saccharine story sent my bullshit detector rocketing off the charts. Monitoring the “ex-gay” cult has made me somewhat of an expert at seeing through lies and the tales of insincere phonies. So, it comes as no surprise when Joe.My.God revealed today that Weed is not some lovable dude coming out to the world about his life — but a full-fledged, professional “ex-gay” con artist who crafted a slick story to trick gullible people.
Wow – what a fraud. These “ex-gay” types will do and say anything deceive suckers into imbibing on their lie. However, the truth always seems to come out in the end.
It’s too bad that God doesn’t do the lightning bolt thing anymore for acute liars.
He is the Warren Throckmorton camp of ex-gay therapy. He doesn’t want to literally turn people straight (as in actual conversion therapy). He even helps them to accept that they are gay. But his clients are highly religious, so the only option is either celibacy or a sham marriage. He then helps to make one of those two options work.
So don’t accuse him of offering conversion therapy. He will rightfully deny these charges. His approach is more subtle, but dangerous in its own ways. And also unfair to the spouses of these men.
And, wouldn’t you know, NOM are praising him ! Just the kind of jerk they love to get a hold of!
b******t Steve. He omitted quite a detail from his big coming out charade post. That makes him a sleaze. And a con artist.
Sorry Steve, did mean to say your post was bs. Only the fact he did not include the critical detail that he was a shrink.
So, is he a gay man married to a woman? Is he a straight man married to a woman? Is he a bisexual man married to a woman? Is he lying about being a gay man?
I’m not defending him or anything. I still think it’s incredibly sad to live such a lie instead of leaving their current religion behind. And I have no doubt that it’s psychologically damaging to some degree.
I also think it’s bad that he didn’t include it his original article, when the info can be found on several of his profiles on the web. He first admitted it when replying to questions on Gawker. And her is defending himself:
http://www.gay.net/news/2012/06/15/josh-weed-im-gay-and-straight-married-not-ex-gay-therapist
I’m just saying that he is already saying that he doesn’t conduct “ex-gay therapy” and in the strict sense he probably doesn’t. So it’s important to be very precise of what you’re accusing him of. You can still say that what he is doing is dangerous.
You guys love fake revelations huh? He says, in his original post that he is a **marriage and family counselor** who councils people on their sexuality:
“First and foremost, my clinical work as a therapist is taking me in the direction of helping clients who struggle to reconcile their sexual orientation with their religious beliefs. I have decided to be open with these clients about my own homosexuality, and in doing so have opened the door to people finding out about this in ways I can’t control. Therefore, we thought it would be wise to be the ones who told those we love about this part of our lives.”
And yes, we all know it’s faked, because we all know how much straight people with an agenda want others to believe they’re gay, just to further said agenda. That makes sense*
*(it doesn’t)
I hear ya Steve.
Yes, we love exposing hypocrites wing nut
*Wing nut–all the time you’ve been trolling here and you still don’t actually read the articles.
you know “The weed” is a humor site, with such hilarious entries as “Body Deformities.”
Oh, no! Looks like after Weed Josh went viral the schtick decided to hit the fan. What a great thing to come home from vacation to! May someone have pity on this poor deluded man, his gullible wife and innocent children.
daemon
I agree the line about “unwanted sexual attractions and/or behaviors” is troubling and sounds like ex-gay rhetoric, but it’s not quite proof that Weed is an ex-gay activist. I love TWO’s work and exposing religious ex-gay hypocrites, but isn’t it possible that Weed may not fit into the typical pro-gay/anti-gay debate?
Norm, a person doesn’t offer “counselling” for “unwanted sexual attractions” if he’s not an “ex-gay”/anti-gay type.
“To be blunt, his saccharine story sent my b******t detector rocketing off the charts.”
LOL!
Weed is a phony, an imposter, and a sneak. I don’t trust him.
Here’s why ‘ex-gay’ people can’t win with fundies. If he truly is having a “robust sex life” with his wife, it means that, now that he’s been successfully shamed into suppressing his sexual desires for men, the fundies will return to their anti-sex agenda and expect him to feel shame for having ‘normal’ sex of any mind, even with his wife. Fundies, after all, think that sexual desire of any kind is evil.
I’m not sure what your accusing Josh of. He clearly stated in his story that he is a therapist and that letting his clients know he is homosexual has helped many of them. Also saw nothing in his article that stated his way was the right way, as a matter of fact he made a point to make sure it was understood that he was not saying that! So all this judging of personal choice and name calling is pretty hypocritical.
Weed doesn’t have to be an ex gay activist. That’s what pisses me off about people like him. Their assertions that ‘they just made this decision for themselves and are out to help others with it too’, IS bulls*t.
The reason why?
Weed has to know the STAKES for gay people. Especially gay kids in a religious community. There is considerable risks to their psyche and family cohesion. Families pressure their gay kids to undergo his therapy, and will blackmail that kid with very powerful incentives to adhere it.
Even in criminal investigations, there is a specific reason why suspects are not tortured, coerced or threatened. Especially without counsel, or if they are minors, without parents AND counsel present.
It’s because in a court, anything obtained UNDER DURESS isn’t credible.
In a society still very ignorant and argumentative about the origins of homosexuality, and straight people entirely TOO comfortable about bald faced insisting that gay people can change, what he’s done is utterly selfish and self serving.
There is a quality about the need for validation is those claiming to be ex gay, that’s pathological.
Weed is a Mormon. A social construct that’s PRE PLANS everything for it’s members. I mean seriously, it’s such strict pre planning do any of those people know who THEY really are as INDIVIDUALS?
In all this pre planning, is the pre planning that gay people MUST either be celibate or enter into op sex marriages, babies aren’t even optional because Mormons sure love to increase their tribe.
Weed had to know how his information would be used and he can’t unring that bell.
It’s a BIG FU to gay people, and his practice is just there to exploit what systemic prejudice does to young gay people and their parents.
So this is why ex gays don’t deserve to be trusted, they BETRAY gay people constantly and don’t care how they do it.
And putting on the phony veneer of doing it for compassion’s sake, is just evil.
Weed’s piece was diabolical on so many levels. It takes a special kind of con artist to write a piece like that.
Weed conveniently overlooks the Mormon’s nasty and bigoted positions on gay issues. H
Cherrish said “Also saw nothing in his article that stated his way was the right way, as a matter of fact he made a point to make sure it was understood that he was not saying that!”.
Cherrish, just the fact that he is offering to counsel people for “unwanted same sex attractions” is proof that he thinks his way is the right way. If he didn’t think so he wouldn’t be “counselling” people in that way. The man is scum.
Surprise, surprise! Weed works for Lifestar, which has ties to Evergreen:
http://evergreeninternational.org/Speakers.htm
Two leading Lifestar managers are speakers for the Mormon ex-gay program
Wait a moment, how is he a fraud? Which part of his post was a lie?
I doubt he’s lying about his beliefs or life experiences – they are exactly what I would expect of a devoutly religious gay man whose church believes that gay sex and relationships are wrong. He states in the post that he believes marriage is, quote, “between a man and a woman [and is] ordained of God.” Having those beliefs, being gay probably *is* an “unwanted sexual attraction” to him.
Obviously, Weed is living the ex-gay “lifestyle”. And we all know how that’s defined: usually a pure bred religously induced fear based rejection of one’s authentic homosexual orientation and it’s inherant desires, replacing such with a desired and desperate attempt to become ‘heterosexual’ or “act out” in a ‘heterosexual’ manner, coupled with immense psychological devastation and lack of success.
Right after that huge “study” came out that showed what a huge mistake it is for gay men to enter into heterosexual marriages and how bad it turns out for the kids is it really a good time for this guy to be pushing forward this idea that a gay man should marry a straight woman?
And how narcisistic–do these men think of all of the women they marry and the children they will produce?
Weed is certainly lying when he says that he isn’t advising people to live like him. That’s exactly what he does. Celibacy or a sham marriage are the only options in Mormonism.
Also, he had to know how this would be used. He naively says that he doesn’t see himself as an example for others. That’s just BS. He had to know how this would be used. And of course, tons of Mormons are know sending his story around as an example of how things should be.
Weeds is a typical ex-gay, gay sex is a “sin” and that’s what he pushes. There is no soft shoe on this one, the guy is poison. He has also never consumated his sexuality (never has had gay sex) which makes him even more addicted to “purity” and a perfect fundie prop.
He wreaks of the Alan Chambers/Randy Thomas ‘I’ll do anything to be accepted’ even screw myself and pedophile the gay community, just show me where to turn in my backbone.’
This as with all ex-gays, is another display of someone strong in fear while equally weak in character, leaving dead bodies at every corner.
Fear is certainly a nasty beast, for which all of them pay homage. All hail religion.
Marcus,
The guy is a fraud because he allowed fear to trump having an authentic life replacing it with a plastic life. The lie is gay sex is a sin, which he refuses to dismiss. By never having gay sex as is his nature, he never fully matured relationally. As with all who reject their sexuality, only a counterfeit life awaits. By never sexually bonding with a male, he can never know the full recognition of a completely satisfying authenticated relationship. This is why he must tell other gay men his position via religious dogma, it strenthens him against “straying”, a full time job no doubt. Men of honor dignity and courage would never allow this scenario to happen. Fortunately it’s not the norm.
He can “believe” whatever he wants, but at the end of the day, chemistry tells the truth every time. He simply refuses to listen, and therefore lives a half life, a fraud, at the hands of his own misplaced decisions.
iDavid, I understand what you’re getting at. But I get the feeling that Wayne and others think Josh Weed was lying about his own beliefs or experiences, and I don’t see any evidence of that.
As for advising people to live like him, it’s not necessarily a contradiction between “I won’t tell my readers what to do” and “I think some choices are wrong.” Sure, I couldn’t disagree more with the guy on this issue, but I can understand thinking that something is a bad choice while also thinking that others need to make their own decisions.
[...] Truth Wins Out, an organization that works to expose practitioners of “ex-gay” therapy, goes further, calling Weed “a total fraud.” “These ‘ex-gay’ types will do and say anything deceive suckers into imbibing on their lie,” writes Truth Wins Out’s Wayne Besen in a blog post. [...]
[...] Truth Wins Out, an organization that works to expose practitioners of “ex-gay” therapy, goes further, calling Weed “a total fraud.” “These ‘ex-gay’ types will do and say anything deceive suckers into imbibing on their lie,” writes Truth Wins Out’s Wayne Besen in a blog post. [...]
[...] Truth Wins Out, an organization that works to expose practitioners of “ex-gay” therapy, goes further, calling Weed “a total fraud.” “These ‘ex-gay’ types will do and say anything deceive suckers into imbibing on their lie,” writes Truth Wins Out’s Wayne Besen in a blog post. [...]
[...] Truth Wins Out, an organization that works to expose practitioners of “ex-gay” therapy, goes further, calling Weed “a total fraud.” “These ‘ex-gay’ types will do and say anything deceive suckers into imbibing on their lie,” writes Truth Wins Out’s Wayne Besen in a blog post. [...]
LOL- Take a look at Josh Weed’s blog- he fully advertises the fact that he is a therapist- he even has a link showing this, including the fact that he treats people with “sexual identity issues”
So, I am confused: what have you “EXPOSED”?
Answer: absolutely nothing.
There is so much anger in your post that it is hard to see any reason in your writing.
Now, Josh Weed has been open about his practice, and to call him an “ex-gay” con artist is not accurate or fair. It appears that you are just trying to cause a fight.
On another level, why can’t you accept that some people do experience fluidity in their sexuality? Cynthia Nixon describes herself as gay now but straight before. So what is the difference if someone considers himself gay now and straight later? Or straight and then bisexual later, or vice versa?
This is my brother and you couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Polly–Cynthia Nixon is a bisexual–she says she calls herself a lesbian because it’s easier. And it’s different for a person to have a fluid sex life than to be shamed into a marriage with a person they don’t actually sexually desire. If Weed desires women (and his wife is a woman) sexually, he’s also bisexual. The reason it matters is that he’s making money by similarly shaming people into trying to be something they are not.
Maquel, you either need to expand and say why this article is wrong or don’t post at all.
I lived the life he proposes to have others live. I’ve also spent many years coaching/mentoring men who find they have to change course and live honestly at midlife. All of us must go through that coming out process, but it is infinitely tougher to do at 45 or 50, when the very act of being honest about who you are is going to inflict collateral damage on a wife and kids. This is exactly the scenario that the overwhelming majority of his clients will face. Over 90 percent of these marriages fail.
Very true Doug, as the Regenerus study showed–it’s a bad idea for gay men and lesbians to enter into heterosexual marriages.
Thank you, Wayne. I have that same BS detector. I had no idea who the guy was but a friend posted his blog entry on FB. I read it and found it snarky and disingenuous, and my BS detector went through the roof. Then I found out he’s a “pray away the gay” and knew why I reacted like I did.
I know a bruh by the name of Josh Sole who played Jack the stripper on Single Ladies that is a fake gay dude that will suck you dry. I have seen it with my own eyes what he does to guys and girls. I felt sorry for his current boyfriend but do not anymore. Beware of Josh Sole who has serious issues and will cheat you to get what he wants. He is always on the prowl and is looking for modeling jobs. Don’t hire him until you have checked him out to see the truth about this man.
He isn’t ex-gay he IS Gay. If you want to hear the truth about him don’t go to some random site go to where HE talks and explains himself. His blog The Weed will answer many of your questions and they even posted a couple videos on the therapy he uses. He is in love with a woman. It is possible to be in in love with someone and not be physically attracted to them. Believe what you want but if you want to hear the truth you now know where to find it. He is not physically attracted to women and only to men therefore he IS gay.
Shut up with your incessant trolling over all the gay sites you can find, Maquel. He wouldn’t be a problem if he didn’t tell people to be like him. But no, he is counseling vulnerable people to emulate him and have sham marriages too. And the f*****g Mormon cult is already holding him up as an example. Mormons are already asking their gay children why they can’t be like him. The hurt, the depression and, years down the road, the failed marriages are all on his hands.
It’s also a problem because he doesn’t want this himself. The only reason he is in a fake marriage is because his church forced him to. It’s 100% social pressure and coercion.
I really hope people don’t try to follow in his example. If there’s anything the Regenerus study showed it’s that it’s a really bad idea for gay people to enter into heterosexual marriages. Assuming he is telling the truth his marriage is a very rare thing, more often the result is bad for everyone. I’ll be interested to see if they’re still so blissfully happy 10 years from now.
YOu don’t have to troll any gay sights to find this. You just google Josh’s name and this is one of the first things that pops up. So, those of us who know Josh personally and care about him ( I am also his sister) may come here to see what people could possibly be claiming makes him a fraud. ANd then we feel compelled to try and defend him. So, know as a witness to his life I can assure you that he is not a fraud. He is genuine and authentic and the things he claims are true and they are not part of an any agenda. They are all a part of who he is as a person. He genuinely felt compelled to tell his story for no other reason than it is his story to tell and he wanted people to hear it from him. There was no way he could know the never ending response that has followed. And to claim that any one or any thing forced him to make the decisions he has made in his life is insensitive at the very least. When we don’t understand something we sometimes totally disregard that thing and can’t accept it as truth. I feel like that is what is happening here.
It would be misleading to market oneself as a gay Mormon while concealing the overriding antigay themes in one’s counseling.
And it would be fraudulent to practice professional mental-health counseling if one is guiding clients to conform to one’s own agenda. That is especially true if that agenda involves denying a patient’s orientation, steering a patient toward an arranged “marriage” based upon platonic friendship, and declining or mistreating patients whose sexual orientation is not, as Weed says, “unwanted” except in the eyes of an ignorant and prejudiced society.
Weed’s underlying message to clients — that society is right to not “want” their sexual orientation, and that mental health should be sacrificed to serve societal prejudices — seems to run contrary to professional ethical standards.
Does Weed affirm same-sex attraction in his clients? Does he ever affirm a client’s inclination toward a same-sex romantic relationship? Does Weed advise clients that their identity should be congruent with their long-term attractions, or does he encourage them to adopt a false identity in contradiction to their orientation?