(Video from Think Progress)

To his family, Kirk Andrew Murphy was an eccentric young boy in a society that fears eccentricity.

To the founders of what would become Exodus International and NARTH, Kirk was merely a guinea pig, a prototype for their latest “state of the art” aversion therapy.

State of the art? Not really. These were the 1970s, but the NARTH founders’ ideology was rooted in harsh 19th-century myths about child development. While the remainder of the mental-health profession was starting to view gay people as equals, people like reparative therapist George Rekers hoped to give old-fashioned abuses a sexy new image.

Couched in an amateurish veneer of clinical legitimacy, the particular aversion therapy that was inflicted upon Kirk involved outright child abuse: Weekly whippings and beatings that, if successful, would condition the child to be not who he was, but rather what a godfearing society expected him to be.

Decades later, physically abusive aversion therapies are now frowned-upon. Today’s ex-gay activists and aversion therapists have learned how to scar people without leaving physical marks. (Read More)

South Africa GLAAD encourages TWO readers to write letters similar to the following, in your own words.

To: pret@international.gc.ca, Pretoria-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca, pm@pm.gc.ca, info@parl.gc.ca, SpkrOff@parl.gc.ca, BrisoS@parl.gc.ca, info@cpsa.ab.ca, ttheman@cpsa.ab.ca, bward@cpsa.ab.ca, kgardener@cpsa.ab.ca, kmazurek@cpsa.ab.ca, kreed@cpsa.ab.ca, jswiniarski@cpsa.ab.ca, jlwright@cpsa.ab.ca, cmccann@cpsa.ab.ca, keby@cpsa.ab.ca, rdoyle@cpsa.ab.ca, lmoyles@cpsa.ab.ca, kstruski@cpsa.ab.ca, mstuffco@cpsa.ab.ca, sbarron@cpsa.ab.ca, msorochan@cpsa.ab.ca, dsunde@cpsa.ab.ca, bleisen@cpsa.ab.ca, kinsen@sen.parl.gc.ca, TTlali@justice.gov.za, CMsibi@justice.gov.za, deputyminister@justice.gov.za, info@foreign.gov.za, molobisk@foreign.gov.za, Edriese@foreign.gov.za, Bassonh@foerign.gov.za, Mashabaned@foreign.gov.za, Hattinghl2@foreign.gov.za, Rankhumisep@foreign.gov.za, sepanyamogalen@foreign.gov.za, Sitholer@foreign.gov.za, Montwedip@foreign.gov.za, jacobsd@foreign.gov.za, debeerj@foreign.gov.za, egale.canada@egale.ca, Coordinator@publicservicepride.ca, ayronvillegas@gmail.com

To whom it may concern,

It is with mixed elation, sorrow, anger and shame that LGBTIQ South Africans, their friends and family learnt of the arrest of Aubrey Levin of Calgary, Canada. Levin has been described as South Africa’ own Dr. Mengele. Many are happy that he has finally been caught for something seemingly related to his alleged activities in South Africa – but there remains a great deal of unfinished business left behind. If the reports about him can be believed, it would seem that Aubrey Levin literally got away with murder!

He was not prosecuted in South Africa. He disappeared to Canada before any such charges could be brought against him and did not appear before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He has since avoided coming to South Africa because of the alleged risk that he may be charged. Justice might still not have been served in South Africa.

The charges he is currently facing in Canada are not nearly sufficient to make up for his alleged activities committed at 1 Military Hospital and the alleged heinous violations of the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender conscripts, conscientious objectors and others whom the Apartheid government considered undesirable. The charges he might face are as chilling as any which would be levelled against his Nazi namesake, who disappeared without a trace, never to be brought to justice.

We ask that Aubrey Levin not be allowed to go unpunished for his alleged crimes. We ask that he face the full might of Canadian law for his crimes there – and the full might of South African law here. (Read More)

Dr. Aubrey Levin, aka the Dr. Josef Mengele of apartheid South Africa, may have finally run afoul of the law.

He was arrested in Canada last week for allegedly abusing a Canadian man at his practice. It seems that old habits die hard. “Doctor Shock,” as he was called back in the old days, used to torture gay and lesbian military personnel to try and turn them straight. Amazingly enough, the folks at your local friendly neighborhood “ex-gay” ministry have been trying to that for decades, too – and haven’t been having much success either. Most intelligent people already know that it is nigh impossible to “straighten” what was made “skew” in the first place, to paraphrase an Afrikanerism. For those not smart enough to bluff their way out of Levin’s grasp, (shouting “Praise the Lord, I’m healed!”) he allegedly performed forcible sex-changes on them – and according to some sources, many of these were intentionally botched. (Read More)

It was announced that both “ex-gay” organizations Love Won Out and Exodus will merge, which begs the question, is one better than two?

Love Won Out is the brain child of right wing evangelical “leader” James Dobson. Dobson has a long history of over thirty years of anti-gay rhetoric, which started in 1977 with the inception of Focus on the Family. He then formed the organization Family Research Council 1981 which attempts to imposed its right wing evangelical Christian views in government, politics,and law making.

Exodus is also a right wing evangelical organization that was founded in 1976. Since its formation Exodus has been marred with controversy. Exodus was founded by five alleged “ex-gay” men, two of which (Gary Busse and Michael Cooper) later left the organization, reneged their prior claims, and announced their love for each other. In more recent years another controversy emerged when John Paulk, a self proclaimed “ex-gay” and Exodus chairman, was caught by Wayne Besen in a Washington DC gay bar in 2000. This came after years of Paulk attesting to be “cured” from his former “gay life”. This proved to be a huge embarrassment to Exodus, contradicting years of claims preaching just the opposite. Paulk was removed and relieved of his duties with the organization.

Interestingly enough Paulk is also connected with James Dobson, as they co-founded the organization Love Won Out in 1998, a subsidiary of Focus on the Family, to specifically address and promote an “ex-gay” agenda.

Exodus and Love Won Out work to the detriment of the GLBT community as they promote conversion and reparative therapy, claiming its effectiveness to change ones orientation. These claims are asserted without any empirical evidence or peer reviewed studies and at the condemnation of 13 medical and mental health organizations, including the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Psychological Association (APA). These 13 organizations vehemently oppose reparative and conversion therapy and its damaging ways so much they actually formed the “Just the Facts coalition” which clearly states their disapproval of such actions and tactics.

www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/justthefacts.pdf

This merger just reinforces the need to remain steadfast in our efforts to expose the “ex-gay” movement for what it really is, present facts and promote love and acceptance rather then shame and self loathing.

Download Ex-Gay & The Law (PDF Format, 1.4 MB)

New Landmark Publication By Truth Wins Out and Lambda Legal Offers Legal Options To Those Hurt By Ex-Gay Programs

If You Have Been Harmed By ‘Ex-Gay’ Programs, ‘Ex-Gay & The Law’ Is For You

CHARLOTTE — Truth Wins Out and Lambda Legal released a landmark publication today, “Ex-Gay & The Law“, that aims to educate victims of “ex-gay” programs of their legal options. This work was inspired by the many people who have had their lives damaged by programs that seek to “pray away the gay” or use questionable counseling techniques.

“Ex-Gay & the Law helps survivors of ex-gay programs explore their legal rights if they believe they have been harmed,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “This groundbreaking publication offers practical legal advice so important questions can be answered.”

“We are pleased to help support this publication and to be a part of this effort,” said Hayley Gorenberg, Deputy Legal Director of Lambda Legal. “Groups that proclaim to ‘cure’ gay people of their sexual orientation lack any legitimate medical backing, cause harm, and sometimes operate unlawfully and unethically. If you have experienced any of the scenarios outlined in the last pages of ‘Ex-Gay & the Law‘, we welcome you to contact or Legal Help Desk.”

Each year, thousands of men and women enter “ex-gay” programs. Adolescents are even forced into these boot camps by their parents. While their stories differ, nearly all of these individuals have one thing in common: They are harmed by the traumatizing experience.

The American Psychiatric Association says, “The potential risks of ‘reparative therapy’ are great, including depression, anxiety and self destructive behavior.”

Ex-Gay & The Law was released at a press conference in Charlotte to counter Focus on the Family’s ex-gay Love Won Out conference. The Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE) hosted the event.

CRANE is a grassroots coalition of activists and community members working toward civil and social equality for Charlotte‘s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) community.

Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that defends gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people from anti-gay lies. TWO also counters the “ex-gay” myth and educates America about gay life.

Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full regonition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

Become ex-gay — or else: Sydney, Australia, Anglican Rev. Richard Lane once wrote to High Court Justice Michael Kirby, urging him to join an “ex-gay” ministry or face the wrath of God. Lane’s letters were publicized at a Sydney forum on religious tolerance and homosexuality. In response, Kirby accused the churchman of using intemperate language, ignoring modern discoveries about sexual orientation and missing the “central loving message of Jesus and the Gospels.” Kirby stated, “There is not a single word of Jesus that sustains the thesis of animosity in your letter.”

Kern’s double-talk: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) released recordings of its 40-minute meeting with Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern, refuting Kern’s subsequent claims that she did not object to antigay discrimination and that she did not agree to meet again with the families of gay Oklahomans.

Exodus support for Kern? Video is now available of Exodus member activist Stephen Black giving his support to Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern and falsely claiming that most gay people are abused or badly parented. Exodus’ national office declined to affirm or condemn Black’s statements.

Door open to future antigay violence: Massachusetts antigay group MassResistance, which has been classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, has declined to condemn violent threats made against Lexington, Mass., School Superintendent Paul Ash. Antigay parent David Parker, whose campaign against tolerance in Lexington schools has been trumpeted by Exodus, conditions his own opposition to the threats by simply saying that violence is not justified “at this time.”

Reclaiming Judaism: A new Hebrew-language website has been launched in Israel to counter ex-gay propaganda published by Atzat-Nefesh. (XGW)

Shock ‘em straight? Maybe not: Officials of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have accepted an invitation to meet with Affirmation, a support group for gay and lesbian Mormons. Affirmation wishes to discuss the church’s historical support for ex-gay therapies including electric shock aversion therapy, which prompted some Mormons to commit suicide. (BTB)