Truth Wins Out (TWO) expressed its hope today that James Dobson resigning as chairman of Focus on the Family would eventually lead the anti-gay organization in a new direction. Dobson has created an entire industry that distorts the lives of gay and lesbian people for political gain, says TWO.
“James Dobson’ legacy of lies has caused significant pain for gay and lesbian people and their families,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “We hope his departure will eventually signal a shift in tone and end Focus on the Family’ destructive attacks against gay and lesbian Americans.”
The Associated Press reports that Dobson, 72, will still be a powerful presence. He will continue to host his daily radio show, which reaches 1.5 million listeners in the United States. A Focus on the family spokesman also said he will “continue to speak out as he always has – a private citizen and not a representative of the organization he founded.”
“It is time for Focus on the Family to abandon the politics of polarization and choose moderate leaders who are not fixated on culture wars,” said Besen. “This would also be a good time for the organization to consider abandoning its failed “ex-gay’ ministry, Love Won Out.”
In Nov. 2008, Truth Wins Out protested Dobson’ selection into the Radio Hall of Fame. In the past two years, TWO has found eight researchers in three countries who say that Dobson has distorted their work. Videos and letters that these scientists sent to Dobson can be viewed at www.Respectmyresearch.org.
Dobson’ rhetoric is so divisive that former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX) said that, “Dobson and his gang of thugs are real nasty bullies.” Focus on the Family co-founder Gil Alexander Moegerle said that, “I believe Dobson-style politics have been inept, simplistic, exclusionary, divisive and alarmingly sectarian…James Dobson’ political style has been one of relentlessly demonizing his adversaries.”
Dobson told The Daily Oklahoman on Oct. 23, 2004 that, “Homosexuals are not monogamous. They want to destroy the institution of marriage. It will destroy marriage. It will destroy the Earth.” Dobson also told the Daily Oklahoman that Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is “a God’ people hater. I don’t know if he hates God, but he hates God’s people.”
Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that defends gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people against anti-gay misinformation campaigns. TWO also counters the “ex-gay” industry and educates America about gay life.
James Dobson, co-founder of Focus on the Family, publicly announced his resignation today as chairperson of the organization which serves as flagship of the Christian Right’s culture-war network.
Dobson, who inaccurately presents himself to the public as FOTF’s sole founder, was quoted by AP (via SFgate.com):
One of the common errors of founder-presidents is to hold to the reins of leadership too long, thereby preventing the next generation from being prepared for executive authority. … Though letting go is difficult after three decades of intensive labor, it is the wise thing to do.
But Dobson, now 72, did hold the reins of leadership too long. His authoritarian management style and his personal animus against women and ethnic minorities drove away at least one organization co-founder, Gil Alexander Moegerle, and ensured that the organization would drift from its original pro-family mission into political trench warfare for the preservation of white male evangelical privilege in a nation of numerous and increasing faiths, denominations, and cultures.
Dobson filled the organization’s top ranks with like-minded managers and successors who would carry on his amoral, almost all-consuming, preoccupation with just two issues: abortion and homosexuality. Dobson’s obstinate and ignorant policy positions against sex education ensured that millions of unprepared women would unnecessarily become pregnant and seek abortion when underequipped religious and secular charities failed to offer viable alternatives. Dobson’s efforts to smear, silence and discriminate against gay students and young adults ensured that millions of persons struggling with their faith and sexual orientation would resort to unsafe and compulsive behavior instead of informed and disciplined management of their values and sexuality.
As Dobson’s health declined in recent years, his successors have gradually taken over for him — and Truth Wins Out will spotlight these successors in the coming days. Many of them are, unfortunately, as uncompassionate, partisan, amoral, and closed-minded as Dobson.
Dobson may be on his way out, but Focus on the Family may continue to threaten family values, accuracy in science, civil political discourse, and national unity for years to come.
It is an odd time to be gay in America. Whether you are celebrated or despised depends on where you stand at any given moment.
The most dramatic example of this dichotomy occurred on Sunday evening at the Academy Awards. To attend the glamorous event, one had to drive past anti-gay protesters shouting vile condemnations of homosexuality. Once inside, guests were treated to perhaps the most pro-gay Oscar extravaganza in history.
First, openly gay Dustin Lance Black won Best Original Screenplay for “Milk”. Black gave a moving acceptance speech to thunderous applause and told GLBT youth that they were “beautiful, wonderful creatures of value…no matter what anyone tells you.”
The icing on the cake was superstar Sean Penn’ remarks after winning an Oscar for his role as Harvey Milk.
“For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, and, I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren’ eyes if they continue that way of support.”
The GLBT community has come a long way. It is now acceptable for top tier straight men to play gay roles without it negatively impacting their careers. This is no small achievement and we should be quite grateful to have obliterated this barrier that once seemed insurmountable. (Let’ not forget Tom Hanks who played a gay man with AIDS in Philadelphia.)
Before we sip the Champagne, we should remember that there is still an ongoing taboo against openly gay actors playing leading men in Hollywood. On the morning of the Oscars, the New York Times Magazine wrote a profile on actor Rupert Everett discussing the obstacles he faced as a result of coming out. The article spoke of the time he was turned down for a major movie role because of his sexual orientation. An MGM executive told his agent, “to all intents and purposes, a homosexual was a pervert in the eyes of America.”
Clearly, some glass ceilings still need to be shattered. It should be a major priority among GLBT activists to make sure this breakthrough in Hollywood comes to fruition.
Equally jarring was my experience in Charlotte, North Carolina this past week. My organization, Truth Wins Out, traveled there to counter Focus on the Family’ “Love Won Out” conference, where they teach people to “pray away the gay.”
On a beautiful Saturday morning, I broke away from our protest group to attend a seminar at Love Won Out. It was heartbreaking to see more young people than I ever had before at this traveling “ex-gay” road show. There was a cardboard sign that read “Youth Track”, and several teenagers — some that appeared not much older than 13 — were being taken inside by their desperate and confused parents.
Outside the conference were many dedicated local activists, such as Matt Comer, who organized our protest. Counter-protesters from Operation Save America greeted us. They preached that in 1973 the Lord turned against America. In this year, they said, God was angered by Roe v. Wade, the American Psychiatric Association removing homosexuality from its list of mental disorders and Israel’ war with the Arabs. Yeah — this is a bizarre conclusion to draw, but one that compelled about one dozen troglodytes to bring signs calling us “whoremongers.”
On the other side of town, the Human Rights Campaign held its annual North Carolina dinner. Much like those who attended the Academy Awards, attendees were greeted by belligerent Bible-thumpers who shouted Scripture into megaphones.
The dinner itself was an elegant affair that featured an excellent motivational speech by HRC Executive Director Joe Solmonese and a keynote address by Sen. Kay Hagen (D-NC). It was truly inspiring to hear Sen. Hagen, who occupied the seat once held by the notorious Jesse Helms. (R-NC).
The week ended with a hateful ad by The Policy Council of West Virginia, which compares same-sex marriage supporters to snipers targeting families. The more we progress, it seems the more our opponents regress and resort to shrill and bombastic attacks.
At any given moment, GLBT people are portrayed as either wonderful or wicked. While it is still painful to be put down, I can’t help but notice that when it counts — whether in Hollywood or Charlotte — it is we who are increasingly on the inside. While our opponents could win Oscars for their dramatic protest performances, they certainly can’t like the way the script is unfolding.
(Published In The Charlotte Observer, Feb. 21, 2009)
By Wayne Besen
As long as prejudice and discrimination exist, some gay men and lesbians will feel pressure to try to change their sexual orientation. Unfortunately, there are organizations, such as Focus on the Family, that exploit such vulnerable people and their fears of rejection by family, church and society. On Saturday, Focus on the Family will roll into town with its much-hyped road show, “Love Won Out,” which offers false hope and broken promises.
It is important that one realize that such efforts are rejected by every mainstream medical and mental health organization in America, such as the American Psychological Association, American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The America Psychiatric Association says that attempts to change sexual orientation can cause, “Anxiety, depression and self-destructive behavior.”
Without science on their side, Focus on the Family has taken to distorting research. In the past two years, eight scientists have accused this group of manipulating their studies. The testimonies of these experts can be viewed at www.Respectmyresearch.org.
The empirical evidence also suggests that people can’t “pray away the gay.” For example, I photographed the “ex-gay” founder of Love Won Out, John Paulk, in a gay bar in 2001. Two of the founders of Exodus International, Michael Bussee and Gary Cooper, divorced their wives after they fell in love.
This week Truth Wins Out and Lambda Legal released a publication, “Ex-Gay & The Law,” to help victims of such “therapies” understand their legal rights. There is also the problem of broken families. Focus on the Family loves to show people wedding photos. But, it would be more honest if they showed the divorce papers, which are a common outcome of such sexual engineering efforts.
More disturbing are conversion techniques. These include exorcisms and encouraging masculinity in male clients by suggesting they drink Gatorade and call friends “dude”. Sadly, these groups even take clients as young as three years old!
A new study by Caitlin Ryan shows that gay teens who experienced “negative feedback” by family members were more than eight times as likely to have attempted suicide, nearly six times as vulnerable to severe depression and more than three times at risk of drug use. Clearly, Love Won Out is the very negative feedback that can produce such harmful results.
Love will truly win out when gay and lesbian people can live out of the closet with the unconditional acceptance, love and support they deserve.
Wayne Besen is the founder of Truth Wins Out (www.TruthWinsOut.org). He is also the author of “Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth.”
New Landmark Publication, “Ex-Gay & The Law’, Unveiled At Press Conference
CHARLOTTE — Truth Wins Out (TWO) announced today that it has joined a coalition of North Carolina gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender advocates responding to Focus on the Family’ Love Won Out conference, which encourages people to “pray away the gay.” Led by the Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE), there will be a week of educational events in Charlotte designed to get correct information to the public about the danger of ex-gay programs. The coalition will also offer honest and accurate depictions of the lives of GLBT people, to counteract the distorted view offered by Focus on the Family.
“The research is very clear that you can’t pray away the gay and attempts to do so can be harmful,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “Focus on the Family is offering false hope to vulnerable people and profiting from their pain. They are intentionally confusing stereotypes with legitimate science in an attempt to mislead people about homosexuality. We hope to offer a realistic view of our lives and use sound science to set the record straight.”
The week’ events include a lecture by Besen on Thursday, Feb. 19, at the Lesbian & Gay Community Center (7:00-8:30 PM). On Friday, Feb. 20, there will be a press conference at the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Charlotte (11:30 AM). On Saturday, Feb. 21, there will be a non-violent protest against Love Won Out (11:00 AM-2:00 PM) in front of Central Church of God (5301 Sardis Road).
At the Friday press conference, Truth Wins Out and Lambda Legal will release a landmark publication, “Ex-Gay & The Law”, that aims to educate victims of “ex-gay” programs of their legal options. The many people who have had their lives damaged by ex-gay programs inspired this work.
“Ex-gay programs teach that homosexuality is demonic and “treat’ children as young as three years old,” said Besen. “What they do is dangerous, scientifically unsound and rejected by every respected medical and mental health association in America.”
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.
Thursday Evening Talk Will Dispel False Claims Made By Focus On the Family’ Love Won Out Conference
What: Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out (TWO), will discuss the damage caused by programs that teach people to “pray away the gay”. The presentation will take place prior to Focus on the Family’ “ex-gay” road show, Love Won Out, which rolls into Charlotte on Saturday. Besen will address the history of ex-gay ministries; what the mental health experts say; the bizarre techniques used by these programs; why they are harmful and the political machine behind these dangerous groups.
Where: Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 820 Hamilton St., Charlotte NC
When: Thursday, Feb. 19, 7:00-8:30 PM
Background:The Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE) is sponsoring the lecture. 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.
To educate the community about the harmful message of Love Won Out, CRANE will hold a press conference on Friday, Feb. 20, 11:30 AM. It will take place at the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Charlotte (234 N Sharon Amity Rd.) At the event, Truth Wins Out and Lambda Legal will unveil their new publication, “Ex-Gay & the Law,” which offers practical legal advice for victims of “ex-gay” therapies.
On Feb. 21, there will be a non-violent protest of Love Won Out, 11:00 AM-2:00 PM, in front of Central Church of God (5301 Sardis Road). The demonstration is open to all people and supporters of equality are encouraged to participate.
God TV Cuts Deal With Focus on the Family During Creepy “End Times’ Month
NEW YORK — Truth Wins Out (TWO) today expressed its dismay over a deal between GOD TV and Focus on the Family to air the group’ “ex-gay” Love Won Out conference. Focus on the Family claims they will now reach millions of people with their anti-gay propaganda and distorted science. The agreement comes at a time when GOD TV is airing a solid month of spooky End-Times programming.
“This deal of the delusional seems like a marriage made in heaven because so-called “ex-gay’ programs are a personal apocalypse for so many people,” said Truth Wins Out’ Executive Director Wayne Besen. “It is tempting to brush this off as fundamentalists preaching to the choir. But, these viewers have children who internalize this damaging message and are psychologically harmed by the lies.”
“Love Won Out offers hope for those struggling with same-sex attractions,” said Nima Reza, host of Focus on the Family’ “news’ program, Turn Signal. “That message will go out to millions on GOD TV.”
GOD TV has aggressively promoted its maudlin End-Times line-up this month as a bulwark against Satan, according to its website:
“Over the past year, the Lord has laid on our hearts a tremendous sobriety concerning the End-Times and we believe that it is so important to the Lord that His people were prepared in their spirits for the shaking that lies ahead and that they are not ignorant of Satan’ devices. That is why we at GOD TV are sounding the alarm this month, as we bring you an extensive line-up of End-Time programming.”
In the Life has produced a powerful segment highlighting the harm of ex-gay programs that is worth watching. A new movie, “Chasing the Devil,” will also have a showing in New York City on January 21 (6PM) at the Anthology Film Archives (32 Second Avenue, at 2nd street). TWO’ Besen will be on a panel following the show and invites people to attend the movie.
Love Won Out’ founder, John Paulk, was photographed by Besen in a gay bar in 2000. The next ex-gay road show will be in Charlotte on Feb. 21. TWO will join local and state activists who are planning a vigorous response.
Half-Finished Building To Be Sold In What Museum of Broadcast Communications Calls, “A Very Disappointing Development”
NEW YORK — A month after protesters picketed its annual dinner for inducting Focus on the Family’ James Dobson into its Radio Hall of Fame, the Chicago-based Museum of Broadcast Communications (MBC) announced today that it was selling its half-finished building.
“It is with deep regret that I announce the MBC board on December 10th voted to sell its half-finished building at State and Kinzie in downtown Chicago,” said Bruce DuMont, Founder, President and CEO of the MBC. “This is a very disappointing development.”
“Pandering to extremists doesn’t pay and the Museum of Broadcast Communications suffered a catastrophic blow to its reputation by honoring Focus on the Family’ James Dobson,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out (TWO). “Bruce DuMont hoped to cash in by catering to the deep pockets of the religious right, but his prayers weren’t answered. Truth Wins Out wants to thank the hundreds of people who came out to protest in freezing weather — your efforts and determination paid off.” (Read More)
According to Dobson’s ghost-writer, if you don’t smugly shout out that God and the Bible are on your side in every speech or essay, then you’re no longer a conservative:
Whatever she once was, Ms. Parker is certainly not a conservative anymore, having apparently realized it’ a lot easier to be popular among your journalistic peers when your keyboard tilts to the left.
Dobson limits the totality of moral concern to his own self-serving interests — sex and reproduction — in order to state, misleadingly:
Ms. Parker cites the election of Barack Obama as evidence that Americans no longer care much about the moral-values issues that have historically driven conservative voters to the polls.
As evidence, Focus cites just one issue: freedom for sexual minorities and orientation-tolerant Americans from orthodox religious tyranny. Specifically, Dobson cites the votes in three states to withdraw or deny the freedom to marry to gay and lesbian Americans — votes that were won with support from misinformed members of the antigay religious left and that were opposed by many conservatives who favor limited government and true religious freedom.
Focus doesn’t seem to fully know left from right — or rather, it is redefining “conservative” and “Republican” to favor big government, federal bedroom police, and federal arbiters of religious correctness.
Focus falsely accuses Parker of taking “gratuitous swipes” at Sarah Palin’s vacuous displays of shallow pop spirituality. Parker criticized Palin for this transparently thoughtless and egocentric remark:
I’m like, okay, God, if there is an open door for me somewhere, this is what I always pray, I’m like, don’t let me miss the open door. Show me where the open door is…. And if there is an open door in (20)12 or four years later, and if it’s something that is going to be good for my family, for my state, for my nation, an opportunity for me, then I’ll plow through that door.
Such notions are to be expected from spiritually immature teen-agers, not mature leaders — whatever their religious affiliation.
When Parker says Americans live in a “diverse” nation that “is no longer predominantly white and Christian,” Focus responds not by documenting a coherent case to the contrary, but by vaguely suggesting that readers search Google for some kind of evidence to reinforce their prejudices.
Dobson seems most angered at Barack Obama’s past suggestion that democracy “requires that their proposals be subject to argument, and amenable to reason. … I may be opposed to abortion for religious reasons, but if I seek to pass a law banning the practice, I cannot simply point to the teachings of my church or evoke God’s will. I have to explain why abortion violates some principle that is accessible to people of all faiths, including those with no faith at all.”
In the view of Dobson and the Southern Baptists that dominate both Focus and the ex-gay movement, it is heresy to recognize beliefs other than fundamentalist Christianity. And it is deeply threatening to require a rational basis for law. Dobson asserts that simply requiring reason and recognizing diversity is “rescinding the invitation” for conservative Christians to speak at all.
Focus on the Family hopes to silence both liberals and conservatives who oppose its smug presumption to speak as America’s sole political, moral and religious authority. Meanwhile, Focus whines that it is being silenced simply by being compelled to share U.S. political movements with people who hold different viewpoints and who don’t want government bureaucrats dictating the religious and moral beliefs that Americans — and their religious institutions — are allowed to hold.
Dobson whines: “We’ve never been that marginalized in our culture and government ‚Äî and won’t be anytime soon, the efforts and epithets of big media notwithstanding.”
So long as Dobson presumes to speak for all conservatives and for all moral or religious people, he deserves to be marginalized.
Call it karma, but Focus on the Family is now in big trouble. At the group’s peak, it had nearly 1,500 employees. This week, they announced another round of layoffs – shedding 202 jobs, an estimated 20 percent of its workforce. This brings the new total to around 950 workers, according to the Colorado Independent.
The move to can workers comes after the group threw away $800,000 on Proposition 8 to ban same-sex marriage in California. One wonders if Focus on the Family will cut staff from its failed “ex-gay” Love Won Out road show? This extravagant traveling circus must cost a lot of money and it doesn’t work.
The fact is, if this organization would butt out of gay relationships, it might be able to actually help heterosexual families. If it would stop its “ex-gay” propaganda – which helps no one and destroys lives – it would not have to downsize.
I think donors to this organization should focus on the money flushed down the toilet to uphold bigotry and discrimination at the expense of families.
Thursday Evening Talk Will Dispel False Claims Made By Focus On the Family’ Love Won Out Conference
God TV Cuts Deal With Focus on the Family During Creepy “End Times’ Month
NEW YORK — A month after protesters picketed its annual dinner for inducting Focus on the Family’ James Dobson into its Radio Hall of Fame, the Chicago-based Museum of Broadcast Communications (MBC) announced today that it was selling its half-finished building.
