Shocking Video Reveals Underbelly of ‘Ex-Gay’ Ministries

NEW YORK – Truth Wins Out condemned Manifested Glory Ministries in Bridgeport, Conn., for practicing child abuse in the name of religion, after a video surfaced where the church tried to exorcize demons from a gay teenager.

“This video reveals the underbelly of the ex-gay ministries and shows the medieval mindset of such organizations,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “We call on all such ministries to immediately stop the child abuse, which is harm in the guise of healing. As an organization that helps victims of such barbaric practices, we can attest to the psychological trauma that can result.

The exorcism video shows a teen writhing on the ground as adults implore so-called “homosexual demons” to get out. The leaders yell at the boy on the ground saying, “Right now in the name of Jesus, I call the homosexuality, right now in the name of Jesus.” This scene unfolds for 20 minutes with the boy in a near seizure, even vomiting.

Patricia McKinney, pastor of the nondenominational church who describes herself as a prophet, told CNN that she believes homosexuality, like crack addiction can be influenced by demons.
“It’s not just the homosexuality spirit. It could be the alcohol spirit, the crack cocaine spirit, the adultery spirit. Everything carries a spirit,” McKinney told CNN.

Unfortunately, this terrifying incident is not unique. It is a standard part of groups such as Exodus International, which promise to help people “pray away the gay.”

‘Ex-Gay’ Activist Supposedly ‘Cured’ From AIDS and Homosexuality, Banned From Gym and Charged After Lewd Incident Occurs

NEW YORK – A new report by the website, “Ex-Gay Watch”, has cast a dark cloud of skepticism over “ex-gay” activist Matthew Manning’s tale of being “delivered” from homosexuality and AIDS. According to the report, Manning has been repeatedly dragged into court for allegations of inappropriate behavior and was even banned from a popular gym after improper sexual advances were made on a 22-year-old heterosexual male. Manning, a frequent television guest and the founder of Lighthouse World Evangelism Inc., based in Santa Rosa, California, has yet to comment on the allegations made in the investigative report.

“The ‘ex-gay’ myth is one of the largest frauds ever foisted on the American consumer,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “We call on Manning to immediately close down his snake oil shop. We also urge those in the media who promoted his fake miracle to apologize and update their audience on the sordid facts that have been revealed.”

According to an older version of Manning’s website: “Matthew was delivered from homosexuality in 1989 and miraculously healed from HIV/AIDS in 1994. Matthew’s experience not only enables him to minister effectively to those seeking deliverance from homosexuality, but to all people seeking to know Jesus Christ in a deeper way.”

Ex-Gay Watch discovered that Manning found his way into the courthouse three times, all for activity that contradicted his testimony as an “ex-gay” born again Christian. On September 2, 2005, a complaint was filed with the Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma, accusing Manning of one count of violating CA Penal Code 243.4(e)(1), which states:

“Any person who touches an intimate part of another person, if the touching is against the will of the person touched, and is for the specific purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification, or sexual abuse, is guilty of misdemeanor sexual battery, punishable by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding six months, or by both that fine and imprisonment.”

Manning pleaded “no contest” to a lesser charge. Still, as a result of this incident, Manning was ordered to stay away from the 22-year-old victim for one year, and also ordered to stay away from one of the 24 Hour Fitness locations in Santa Rosa for the same length of time. There were also two other incidents, one in 2000 and another in 1998, according to Ex-Gay Watch.

Manning first burst on the scene several years ago when he claimed, while in the studio audience of the Roseanne Show, that God delivered him from AIDS and homosexuality. Actress Sharon Stone was also in the audience and mocked him as a modern miracle who defied logic and modern medicine.

Since then, he has appeared on several Christian broadcasts, including at least five episodes of The Joni Show and Pat Robertson’s 700 Club. Exodus President Alan Chambers, lauded Manning’s story on the Joni Show as “amazing” and “unbelievable”.

“It just goes to show you how ‘ex-gay’ activists continue to dupe gullible people and promote fake miracles to gain new followers,” said Besen.

For more information on this very detailed story, please visit our friends at “Ex-Gay Watch.”

Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that counters anti-gay propaganda, exposes the “ex-gay” myth and educates America about gay life. For more information, visit TruthWinsOut.org.
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Anti-Gay Organization Drew False Link Between Sexual Abuse and Homosexuality

NEW YORK – In a letter made available to Truth Wins Out, the authors of a book on the health of gay men have accused Focus on the Family of distorting their research. The researchers publicly repudiated an article written by “ex-gay” activist Jeff Johnston in Focus on the Family’s web magazine, Citizen Link, which falsely linked homosexuality to childhood sexual abuse. This letter marks the tenth researcher in two years who has claimed that Focus on the Family misrepresented their work.

“Focus on the Family has zero credibility when it comes to interpreting or analyzing scientific research,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “This group has serially distorted legitimate studies on human sexuality to score political points and demean gay and lesbian people. We thank these researchers for having the courage to come forward and set the record straight.”

In the article, “Childhood Sexual Abuse and Male Homosexuality”, Johnston wrote, “Many pro-gay researchers, activists and theorists deny that there could be a connection between child sexual abuse and adult homosexuality.” As proof of a supposed connection, he cited a 2008 book, “Unequal Opportunity: Health Disparities Affecting Gay and Bisexual Men in the United States”, edited by Professors Richard J. Wolitski, Ron Stall (pictured), and Ronald O. Valdiserri.

When approached by Truth Wins Out, the researchers were surprised by the manipulation of their data and agreed to respond.

“We want to respond to a recent Focus on the Family characterization of scientific findings reported in our book, ‘Unequal Opportunity: Health Disparities Affecting Gay and Bisexual Men in the United States’ that misrepresented findings in the book to suggest that childhood sexual abuse causes male homosexuality,” Stall and Valdiseri wrote in their letter. “The Focus on the Family description of the findings reported in Unequal Opportunity is inaccurate and, in our opinion, a distortion of the scientific literature.”

Focus on the Family has made a habit out of twisting science to back its anti-gay agenda. Melissa Fryrear, a Love Won Out speaker, has also repeated the phony link between abuse and homosexuality.

“I never met one woman who had not been sexually violated or sexually threatened in her life,” said Fryrear at a 2007 Love Won Out conference in Phoenix. “I never met one woman. And I never met one man either, that had not been sexually violated or sexually seduced in his life.”

“We call on the media to stop quoting an organization on gay issues which has proven to be untrustworthy and unethical in its use of research,” said Besen. “It is abundantly clear that this organization will do and say anything in its effort to misrepresent the lives of gay and lesbian people.”

The editors of the book have released the following statement to Truth Wins Out regarding Focus’ portrayal of their publication’s research:

We want to respond to a recent Focus on the Family characterization of scientific findings reported in our book, Unequal Opportunity: Health Disparities Affecting Gay and Bisexual Men in the United States (Oxford University Press) that misrepresented findings in the book to suggest that childhood sexual abuse causes male homosexuality. The Focus on the Family description of the findings reported in Unequal Opportunity is inaccurate and, in our opinion, a distortion of the scientific literature. (Read More)

The gross hypocrisy and outright cynicism is difficult to believe.

Focus on the Family is bringing their notorious “ex-gay” road show, Love Won Out, to Grand Rapids, Michigan this week. In response, Grand Valley State University is hosting my presentation, followed by a panel discussion on the danger of ex-gay programs.

Focus on the Family is livid and demands that the panel include anti-gay Focus on the Family speaker Michael Brown. They are urging their huge mailing list to complain and bully university officials.

“The ‘Religion and Homophobia’ panel discussion seems awfully one-sided for an event sponsored by the school’s ‘inclusion and equity’ department,” wrote Gary Schneeberger, vice president of media and public relations at Focus on the Family.

Focus on the Family might be taken seriously if they had actually extended an invitation to gay advocates and pro-gay preachers to speak at Love Won Out. I’d be more than happy to present my slide show, “Pray Away The Gay” on Saturday, at the Focus on the Family event. I’d even bring along the original photograph I took of Love Won Out’s ex-gay founder, John Paulk, (pictured) fleeing a gay bar.

Unfortunately, no such invitation was forthcoming. It seems that Focus on the Family has a double standard when it comes to inclusion and diversity. They demand representation, yet do not have the decency, manners and common courtesy to extend an invitation of their own. And, they wonder why their assertions of “love” and “morality” are deemed politically motivated and insincere.

If you are encouraged that Grand Valley is offering this program — “Religion and Homophobia: Spiritual Violence in our Community” — then let the university know: 616-331-2221.

If you are in Michigan and would like to attend the panel, please visit www.TruthWinsOut.org for more information.

Wayne Besen
Executive Director
Truth Wins Out

Exclusive Truth Wins Out interview with Thomas Maier

For decades, anti-gay organizations have gleefully pointed to Masters & Johnson’s 1979 book, “Homosexuality in Perspective”, that claimed to cure homosexuality. Indeed, Dr. William H. Masters and Virgina E. Johnson, the husband and wife sex research team, went on Meet the Press on Sunday, April 22, 1979, to discuss their finding that homosexuals could be converted into heterosexuals. The book has since been used by the so-called “ex-gay” industry to “prove” gays could go straight, if they just tried hard enough.

In his groundbreaking new book, “Masters of Sex”, author Thomas Maier discovered through investigative reporting that the results of Masters & Johnson’s study were entirely fabricated. Virginia Johnson acknowledged that the results were fake. She had actually argued in 1978 that book should never have seen the light of day – but it was already to late in the publishing process to undo the damage.

One can not overstate the importance of Maier’s findings. They undo the very underpinnings of the so-called “ex-gay” therapy movement, further showing that there is no scientific evidence or data to support the outdated idea that gay people can become heterosexual through therapy. Indeed, many people who have undergone such “treatment” claim the experience was harmful and that they were psychologically damaged. The American Psychiatric Association says that attempts to change sexual orientation can lead to “anxiety, depression and self-destructive behavior.”

TWO Thanks Grand Valley State For Terrific Event Discussing The “Ex-Gay” Industry

NEW YORK – Truth Wins Out thanked Grand Valley State University for hosting a top-notch event that evaluated the claims made by the “ex-gay” industry.  In front of several hundred people, TWO’s Executive Director, Wayne Besen, spoke about the harm done by Focus on the Family’s Love Won Out conference, which will be in Grand Rapids on Saturday. Following his talk, he participated on a distinguished panel with local experts including:

• John Corvino, Wayne State University professor, author and lecturer;
• Milt Ford, director of Grand Valley’s LGBT Resource Center;
• Judith Snow, Grand Rapids area forensic therapist and author;
• Doug Van Doren, pastor of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ;
• Josh Sleutel, GVSU student, previous reparative therapy patient.

Besen will take-part in a protest response to Love Won Out on Saturday, hosted by the National Organization of Women. ( June 13 at the Calder Plaza from noon-1pm)

“We thank Grand Valley State University, the LGBT resource center – and particularly Dr. Milt Ford and Colette Seguin Beighley – for organizing an amazing event that had a community-wide impact,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “I hope people in Grand Rapids will join me at the NOW protest on Saturday, so we can help the parents and children being targeted by Focus on the Family. Our participation in such events helps people come out and even saves lives.”

Court Favors Mob Rule By Allowing Majority to Dictate Basic Rights

NEW YORK – Truth Wins Out expressed deep dismay over the California Supreme Court’s split 6-1 ruling today that upheld Proposition 8, a ballot measure which abolished the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. The court did, however, allow the 18,000 marriages that took place in California, while marriage equality existed, to stand.

“This was a shameful day that will live in infamy,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “It was a heartbreaking loss that established the tyranny of the majority as the law of the land in California.”

Today’s ruling defies a string of marriage equality victories and a trend of societal acceptance. In the past few months, Vermont, Maine and Iowa granted same-sex couples equal marriage rights. New Hampshire’s legislature also passed a bill supporting marriage equality. According to the Human Rights Campaign, twelve states plus Washington, D.C. have laws providing at least some form of state-level relationship recognition for same-sex couples.

“Our movement is resilient and stands ready to fight on until full equality is achieved,” said Besen. “This ruling is merely a speed bump that will not deter us from ultimate victory. We must turn disappointment into determination and pain into progress.”

Truth Wins Out applauded the Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW) today for condemning “reparative therapy” — a fringe and discredited practice that claims to “cure” homosexuality.

“The actions taken by the Irish Association of Social Workers will save lives,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “So-called ‘reparative therapy’ is nothing more than stereotypes disguised as science. This false doctrine is promoted by ideologues that twist science to fit their sectarian views.”

“There is no evidence that conversion therapy is effective, though there is evidence of mental health risks associated with the use of such approaches with gay, lesbian or bisexual people,” Declan Coogan, a spokesperson for the IASW told the Irish Examiner.

At its conference, IASW delegates voted to oppose use of reparative therapy in Ireland. Mr Coogan said IASW discouraged social workers from making referrals to agencies that claim to “cure” homosexuality.

Last month the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Britain issued a statement saying there was no sound scientific evidence that sexual orientation can be changed. It also criticized “so-called treatments of homosexuality” as recommended by NARTH, the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality.

“It is encouraging to see a worldwide rejection of the quack-like theories promoted by NARTH,” said Besen. “This disreputable organization is on the far-reaching fringe of acceptable medical and mental health practices.”

Read More at Bay Windows

Truth Wins Out joined local Boston GLBT advocates to demonstrate against Exodus International, which hosted a training seminar on Tuesday to teach people to “pray away the gay.” The protest was held at the site of the “ex-gay” symposium – the Park St. Church. 

“We thank Join the Impact MA for coordinating an effective response to the damaging misinformation Exodus International peddles to vulnerable people,” said TWO Executive Director Wayne Besen. “Speaking up and educating the public is the first step in exposing the ex-gay myth. I was honored to be part of this bold action.”

The protest, at one point, moved to the burial grounds of some of America’s Founding Fathers, which was next to the church where the seminar was held. The radical, anti-gay organization, Massachusetts Family Institute (FMI)  filmed a poorly shot video of the protest. Interestingly, their own video shows that protesters had not “desecrated” the graveyard, as they had stated in a press release.

“It is amazing that people who claim to represent ethics and morality would not only lie – but capture their dishonesty on videotape,” said Besen. “What the Massachusetts Family did was reprehensible and they should be ashamed of their blatant lies.”

Speakers at the protest included: Arline Isaacson of The Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus, Stewart Landers, Scott Gortikov of MassEquality, Tom Lang of KnowThyNeighbor.org, Paul Sousa of Join the Impact MA, and keynote speaker Wayne Besen, founder of TruthWinsOut.org. Co-sponsors include MassEquality, the Mass G/L Political Caucus, the Anti-Violence Project, Know Thy Neighbor, CourtingEquality.com, and LBGT@MIT.