For thirty years, Victoria Lavin thought reading Scripture would make her straight. When the miracle “cure” did not work, she numbed her pain with drugs and alcohol.
In recovery for substance abuse, Victoria finally realized she was fine, just as she was. She came out to her pastor and he condemned her. Thankfully, Victoria’s daughter was there for support in her moment of need. As a result, Victoria reconnected with God and entered seminary.
Today, she is out and proud, living in rural Nebraska.
Coming Out was the “cure” she needed all along to find true happiness and be at peace with her spirituality.
Rev. Jerry Stephenson was a Southern Baptist minister who desperately tried to change his sexual orientation. He attended Worthy Creations, a Fort Lauderdale ministry affiliated with Exodus International.
After three miserable years and thoughts of suicide, he realized that the “ex-gay” ministries were a fraud. During his time in Exodus, Stephenson says that he met no one who had changed. Even the leaders of the group were still attracted to the same sex.
Today, he counsels people who are trying to get out of ex-gay programs.
“They are selling a lie,” said Stephenson, a Truth Wins Out board member. “Exodous traffics in intolerance and profits from pain. I just hope I can help people avoid the suffering I endured at the hands of Exodus International. The truth is, you can only fool yourself for so long before you have to come out and be real. The best thing I ever did was come out of the closet.”
With a gift of $35 to Truth Wins Out, you can receive an autographed copy of "Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth."
