Bishop Gene Robinson could hardly have been clearer about his reason for dropping out of a forum on religion and sexuality that was to be held May 5 in conjunction with an American Psychological Association convention in Washington:
“Conservatives, particularly Focus on the Family, were going to use this event to draw credibility to the so-called reparative therapy movement. It became clear to me in the last couple of weeks that just my showing up and letting this event happen…lends credibility to that so-called therapy.” (The Washington Blade)
Robinson’s exit prompted the forum’s cancellation, but the political biases and oversights of forum organizers and panelists doomed the forum from the start.
Despite Robinson’s clear explanation, ex-gay and antigay advocates ranging from Warren Throckmorton to Exodus and Focus on the Family to LifeSiteNews continue to redirect blame.
In its latest video, Focus on the Family falsely describes the cancelled forum as a debate between “gay activists” and “pro-family leaders” regarding “homosexuality and therapy” — implying that the topic would be ex-gay therapy. Focus then falsely reports that “gay activists” prompted Robinson’s exit. Focus goes so far as to accuse forum critics of silencing Christian voices — as if Bishop Robinson, and the Christian ex-gay survivors who were excluded from the forum, were something other than Christian. Focus quotes Exodus executive vice president and resident cynic Randy Thomas:
“It’s pretty amazing that if if they (unnamed gay activists) want to be as diverse as they claim, they would accept people who have a different perspective on faith with regard to this issue.”
Throckmorton admits that opposition to the forum was motivated by involvement of Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. But Throckmorton fails to explain how inclusion of a highly political activist such as Mohler was ever appropriate for a forum about religion, homosexuality, and mental health. Throckmorton continues to sidestep mischaracterizations of the forum by Focus on the Family, as well as the forum’s exclusion of former ex-gays and informed critics of ex-gay therapy that would have balanced out his own presence.
Tags: Exodus, Focus on the Family, homosexuality, mental health, psychology, religion, scienceRelated posts
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changed his sexual orientation my ass, that man is so gay
http://www.queersunited.blogspot.com
Comment by queerunity — May 7, 2008 @ 8:59 pm
Mike, I did not “admit” anything. I speculated that his involvement may have prompted some of the extreme reactions since I presented an identical program at the American Psychological Association in August, 2007 with no efforts on the parts of opponents to quash it. However, you have overlooked so much it is hard to know where to start. You claim that the program was doomed from the start but do not have an explanation for the Bishop’s presence from the start. You are criticizing him when you make this claim.
Comment by Warren Throckmorton — May 7, 2008 @ 9:29 pm
Is it me, or is Randy Thomas experiencing some kind of Pinocchio effect with all of his lies? Instead of his nose growing longer with each lie about GLBT people, the queen is just getting enormous!
Comment by Scott — May 8, 2008 @ 8:38 am
Randy Thomas, May 1st, 2008:
Creating new content about current affairs or homosexual issues is probably going to be rare to nill over the summer.
Oops.
Comment by NG — May 8, 2008 @ 9:53 am
It is interesting that background picture on Randy Thomas’ desk is he and Newt Gingrich. So much for the ex-gay group’s vow not to be political. I bet his picture with Karl Rove is on the same desk.
Comment by Wayne Besen — May 8, 2008 @ 10:56 am