Activist and Author Wayne Besen To Be Joined By Married Gay Couple Who Met at Notorious Memphis Ex-Gay Ministry

Patrick McAlvey, Survivor of Ex-Gay Ministers Bizarre Sexual Therapy to Speak

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Truth Wins Out founder Wayne Besen will end a twelve-city speaking tour in Memphis highlighting the harm caused by programs that claim to turn gay people straight through prayer and therapy. Besen chose Memphis as his final stop because Exodus International’s flagship ministry, Love In Action, is based here. The multi-media presentation will take place at 7PM at Rhodes College, Room FJ-B.

KC and Larry Jansson will join Besen to share how they met at Love in Action while trying to “pray away the gay”. The two men fell in love and are now legally married. The Jansson’s story was featured recently in the Dallas Voice’s Valentine’s Day issue.

Patrick McAlvey (video below)will also appear on-stage to discuss how his “ex-gay” counselor in Lansing, MI used inappropriate sexual techniques during his therapy. As a result, his counselor was expelled from a network of such programs.

“The message of this tour is that you can’t ‘pray away the gay’ and LGBT people are fine just the way they are,” said Wayne Besen, founder of Truth Wins Out. “In Memphis, we will spotlight the stories of brave individuals who are living proof that these groups are fraudulent and sometimes dangerous”

Truth Wins Out’s Winter Tour has included: Chicago, Illinois; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Fargo, North Dakota; Moorhead, Minnesota; Des Moines, Iowa; Lincoln, Nebraska; Stillwater, Oklahoma; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Montgomery, Alabama; and Memphis, Tennessee

Besen’s multi-media presentation offers a unique, innovative and entertaining look behind the mask of so-called “ex-gay” programs. Besen is the author of two books including the critically acclaimed, “Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth”. He is also noted for photographing “ex-gay” poster boy John Paulk in a gay bar in Washington, DC and helping expose the late Rev. Jerry Falwell’s personal “ex-gay” activist Michael Johnston as a fraud.

“This tour hopes to educate people in an exciting and memorable way,” said Besen, who has spoken at more than 100 leading universities, community organizations, business groups and religious institutions.

During his hour and a half show, Besen takes the audience on a whirlwind tour of “ex-gay” programs. Audiences will learn the history of these groups, the bizarre techniques they use, and the political players that finance these ignoble efforts.

In 2009, Besen was noted in Instinct Magazine’s “Leading Men” issue. In 2006, he was recognized in the Advocate Magazine’s “People of the Year” issue. Besen has appeared as a guest on leading news and political talk shows including: The Rachel Maddow Show, NBC Nightly News, The O’Reilly Factor, Hannity and Colmes, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He has been quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone and the Advocate Magazine.

For additional information, please visit www.TruthWinsOut.org.

Truth Wins Out reported last week that the “ex-gay” organization Exodus International plans to target Middle School age children in 2011. In response, we revealed Exodus’ profoundly disturbing record in its work with youth. TWO also published an op-ed by Exodus Survivor Patrick McAlvey who strongly urged the discredited “ex-gay” group to stop focusing on children and teenagers.

Instead of looking at its perverse history and rethinking its dangerous 2011 strategic plan, Exodus announced this week that it was intensifying its teen and pre-teen efforts, beginning at an upcoming Exodus Leadership conference in Orlando, which is scheduled for January 24-26. According to Exodus President Alan Chambers in a flier promoting the event:

I am so excited about spending the week with you all and learning how God wants to use each of our gifts, talents, brains and uniques [sic] styles for His glory and the building of His Kingdom.  I am thrilled that our dear friend, Kathy Koch, is here to lead us, encourage us, rally us and mobilize us to reach greater heights in ministry!

Who is Kathy Koch? (Aside from someone who can’t spell in her own bio. Or maybe Exodus staff is responsible for the incompetence?)

Dr. Kathy Koch:  As the founder of Celebrate Kids, Inc., Dr. Kathy is dedicated to helping parents, educators, adn [sic] children of all ages meet their core needs of security, identity, belonging, purpose, and competence in healthy ways. She teaches these important truths nationally and internationally in various venues. Dr. Kathy is known for her down-to-earth, upbeat, humorours, [sic] and forthright style.

Wow — this is nauseating. At Exodus’ first big shindig of 2011, they bring in a speaker from a group called “Celebrate Kids, Inc.” As I have detailed, Exodus has a creepy history celebrating kids in a very unsettling way. Koch’s presence at this conference is further proof that Randy Thomas and Alan Chambers are going after vulnerable children, who may not be old enough to have the critical thinking skills to see through the group’s self-hatred and propaganda.

Perhaps LGBT activists in Florida should protest this despicable conference and save the children from the slimy clutches of Exodus.

If you have been a victim of Exodus International, please read our publication,

“Ex-Gay & the Law”.

Last week, I commented on how the “ex-gay” group Exodus International had a sluggish year where, at times, it seemed as they had dropped off the radar. It turns out that Exodus had gone into hibernation since the summer to ask God for direction. According to a new letter written to Exodus supporters from Executive Director Alan Chambers:

As is the case every year about this time, my team and I are gearing up for a new year!  We have been in meetings regularly since August praying and talking about how and where God is leading Exodus International in 2011 and beyond. Some years we roll out big new endeavors and introduce big ideas that God has given us.  This year, however, God isn’t calling us to do anything new.

God’s call to do nothing sat well with me, considering Exodus was already losing relevance. Unfortunately, I continued reading and was was alarmed that Exodus’ top goal in 2011 is to recruit school children as young as eleven years old (Middle School age). The organization plans to lure these children by investing in high-tech gadgets and new media. According to the online letter:

…the greatest area of need in our culture is outreach to young people.  We will be changing the name of Exodus Youth to Exodus Student Ministries in order to encompass middle school thru [sic] college age students.

We have listened to youth pastors, parents and especially students and we want to amplify our message in a way that they will best receive it: via web communication, YouTube, podcasts and short to the point booklets. We are also in the process of creating an App for iPhone users.

Given the organization’s appalling record with youth, this organization has no business in schools or around anyone under the age of 21. Their message is hateful, intolerant, scientifically bankrupt and may lead to teens harming themselves — including the potential for depression, drug abuse and even suicide.

Disconcertingly, many of Exodus’ “counselors” have virtually no professional training and the organization does not employ rigorous standards when they pair up vulnerable youth with adults. The results of Exodus’ lack of professionalism has, at times, been devastating.

The so-called “ex-gay” organization has forced youth, against their will, into its programs. The most notable example is Zach Stark, a 16-year-old Tennessee boy, who in 2005 was forced into Exodus’ “Refuge” boot camp, run by member ministry Love In Action. Zach Stark made international news when he posted his predicament on MySpace:

Somewhat recently, as many of you know, I told my parents I was gay… Well today, my mother, father, and I had a very long “talk” in my room where they let me know I am to apply for a fundamentalist christian program for gays. They tell me that there is something psychologically wrong with me, and they “raised me wrong.” I’m a big screw up to them, who isn’t on the path God wants me to be on. So I’m sitting here in tears, joing the rest of those kids who complain about their parents on blogs – and I can’t help it.

The uproar over the incident prompted Exodus into closing down the notorious Refuge program. Similarly, on October 6, 2010, Exodus shuttered its noxious Day of Truth program which mocked the Day of Silence, an annual event where students take a vow of silence in support of LGBT friends who are bullied.

Exodus took this extraordinary step following a high profile string of suicides, tacitly admitting that its program exacerbated homophobia and bullying in schools.

“Even though we have reached a fair number of students”, said Chambers, “We believe that due to the timing of the event, Day of Truth was always perceived in an adversarial manner, and became more about policy than people.

One of the more disturbing aspects of Exodus is the tendency to place youth in programs alongside sexual reprobates. On the March 15, 2007 the Montel Williams Show featured former Exodus client Lance Carroll who spoke out about his harrowing experience with Exodus:

“I went to one of your organizations,” said Carroll, who was speaking directly to Exodus’ Alan Chambers. “I was in a group with a convicted sexual offender.” (See video 1:10 mark)

Lance Carroll is not alone. Exodus clearly has an ongoing predator problem that it must seriously address before it makes brainwashing youth its foremost priority in 2011.

Patrick McAlvey was also an Exodus client at the age of 19. He visited Exodus’ Lansing affiliate Corduroy Stone where he was counseled by Mike Jones. During counseling, McAlvey was asked about the size of his member and made to engage in erotic cuddling. He spoke out about the experience in a Truth Wins Out video:

‘Ex-gay’ survivor Jaylen Braiden was taken advantage of by an Exodus team leader at Desert Stream Ministries [DSM]. This counselor later got in trouble for sexually abusing other minors. Exodus’ Alan Chambers has yet to come clean and publicly discuss the Desert Stream Ministries scandal.

However, on March 8, 2010 Desert Stream founder Comiskey wrote a blog post entitled “Falling Mercies” where he says DSM had been, “cast out of our home church”, Vineyard Anaheim, as a result of “a darker strain of sin in our own ranks.” He goes onto reveal that this sin was, “a longstanding staff person from Desert Stream had sexually abused at least one teenager who had sought help from us.”

Aside from the very real prospect of youth being placed with unsavory characters who appear to be unmonitored and unfiltered, the message of Exodus is destructive. The organization tells youth that they are sexually broken, sinful, counterfeit, satanic or perverse.

Spiritual warfare is a common part of Exodus’ rhetoric.

In a 2005 Exodus Newsletter Chambers said:

“One of the many evils this world has to offer is the sin of homosexuality. Satan, the enemy, is using people to further his agenda to destroy the Kingdom of God and as many souls as he can.”

At the “Family Impact Summit,” a right wing conference in Brandon, Florida held on Sept. 21, 2007, Chambers told the crowd of social conservatives:

“We have to stand up against an evil agenda. It is an evil agenda and it will take anyone captive that is willing, or that is standing idly by.”

To lure youths, Exodus resorts to outright lying about LGBT life. For example, Chambers says that that gay life is only for the young:

Chambers also misleads by falsely claiming that gay life will disappoint.

Given the recent uptick in gay suicides and understanding that hate leads to bullying in schools, it is grossly irresponsible for Exodus, given its reprehensible record — to target youth. Before parents hand their children over to this organization or get them an i-phone application, they should know the whole truth about this notorious organization.

¬?¬?¬?On Monday, April 12, TWO spokesperson Patrick McAlvey will appear at Michigan State University. He was invited by the Alliance of LBGTQQA students to kick off Pride Week. Last year Patrick McAlvey garnered national attention by going public with his story about falling victim to “ex-gay therapy” from a Lansing based organization. In addition to being featured in newspapers and blogs around the country, the YouTube video in which he shares his story has garnered over 17,000 views.

Holmes Hall
Room C106
7PM

Truth Wins Out held its first New York City benefit last Friday and raised more than $10,000 to fight religious extremism and the ex-gay myth. Philanthropist Henry van Ameringen, who pledged $25,000 this year, hosted the event. The elegant party drew more than 50 people who braved a messy snowstorm that turned the city’ streets into frozen slush.

“We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support of Henry van Ameringen and we thank him for hosting a delightful evening that introduced Truth Wins Out to new supporters,” said TWO Executive Director Wayne Besen.

A highlight of the event was a $5,000 contribution from Tom Viola, Executive Director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. This organization mobilizes the unique abilities within the entertainment industry to mitigate the suffering of individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. It also facilitates the fundraising capabilities of the theatre community for other charitable organizations.

“It was quite an honor to receive this unexpected gift from Tom Viola and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS,” said TWO’ Besen. “They do such amazing work and we are proud to be a recipient of their legendary benevolence.”

Truth Wins Out also expressed its gratitude today for those who served on the host committee and ensured a successful evening despite the inclement weather. The host committee includes: Ted Snowdon, John Berendt, Sean Strub, Anabel Evora, Mike Wilke, David Mixner, William Kapfer, Ph.D, Gene Stone, Glen Shadix and Lisa Darden.

One special guest was Moses, a gay Ugandan who spoke out at the National Press Club in February against his country’ Anti-Homosexuality bill. He was joined by Patrick McAlvey, who appeared in a Truth Wins Out video discussing his unpleasant experience in an Exodus ex-gay ministry.

If you were not at the benefit but would like to make a tax-deductible donation to Truth Wins Out, please send a check to:

33 West 19th Street, Fourth Floor, NY, NY 10011

or donate online.

By Patrick McAlvey

Prior to August 2009 I had probably told the story of my experience with ex-gay therapy to a total of 50 people. When it came up with friends I would share some of the details of how Mike Jones, an ex-gay “therapist” in Lansing, MI had robbed me of years of self-esteem and confidence with his lies and predatory practices. It wasn’t something I was overly eager to bring up — it’ not necessarily polite, feel-good conversation and I felt more than a bit embarrassed I had fallen for the ex-gay lies in the first place.

Since going public with my story last summer with the help of Truth Wins Out, things have changed. Thousands of people have now seen the video in which I tell my story and the man who performed my “therapy” has seen his Board of Directors dissolve and Exodus International remove their affiliation.

In early February I had the opportunity to travel to Des Moines, Iowa and share my story with over 100 strangers — including a State Senator sitting front-and-center. A group called First Friday Breakfast Club invited me to Des Moines to speak at their monthly meeting. As part of the trip I also spoke with 25 students at Iowa State University at an event hosted by the LGBTA Alliance and the Office of LGBT Student Services.

I was overwhelmed with the support and kindness with which I was received at both events. But I was also shocked at the number of people who were unaware the ex-gay industry is still alive and actively victimizing the most vulnerable members of the LGBT community. Since sharing my story publicly it has become evident that many people, including many LGBT folks, aren’t aware of the activity and dangers of the ex-gay industry.

It is more important than ever the LGBT community at-large understands the real threat the ex-gay industry represents to all of us. The US ex-gay industry’ connection to the Ugandan “Kill the Gays Bill” is a stark example of the danger these groups represent. They use the “fact” that sexual orientation can and should be changed to deny basic rights and to actively discriminate against LGBT folks.

In addition the ex-gay industry spreads false and defamatory lies that all gay men are addicted to drugs, alcohol and random sex and that it is impossible to be gay and happy and/or gay and religious. This is what I was led to believe and these false characterizations certainly perpetuate homophobia and discrimination experienced by gay men in particular.

And most obviously, the ex-gay industry continues to rob vulnerable and scared people of their dignity, self-esteem and identity. While in Iowa I got to meet several other survivors of ex-gay therapy and was touched to hear their stories. It was inspiring to meet other survivors who are also finding healing and strength by sharing their experiences and fighting to prevent others from similar abuses. I’m glad to be healing and fighting beside them.

Exodus Dithered While Scandal Raged, Placing Youth at Risk, Says Truth Wins Out

Truth Wins Out (TWO) revealed today that the nation’ largest “ex-gay” organization, Exodus International, officially cut ties with its Lansing affiliate Corduroy Stone after charges were made by an ex-gay survivor that the sessions included harmful and bizarre therapy. In August, Patrick McAlvey made the charges against Corduroy Stone’ Mike Jones in a Truth Wins Out video, yet it took Exodus until December to take action. Exodus’ dithering in the face of scandal cost precious time and may have placed additional youth in harm’ way, according to Truth Wins Out.

“For decades Exodus International has lent this predator some level of credibility,” ex-gay survivor Patrick McAlvey told Truth Wins Out. “Now they have finally realized how dangerous he is, but how many vulnerable folks have already been victimized because of Exodus’ support of this man?”

“Shame on Exodus International for dragging its feet when our children were at risk,” said Truth Wins Out’ Executive Director Wayne Besen. “Exodus was more interested in covering up the scandal than fixing it. This case shows that ex-gay programs lack standards and place vulnerable people in harms way.”

At the age of nineteen, McAlvey, who came from a religious background, was terrified that he might be gay. Feeling vulnerable and desperate to “change”, he placed his trust in Mike Jones and Corduroy Stone.

“He asked how large my penis was,” McAlvey explained of Jones’ therapy. “He asked if I shave my pubic hair. He asked what type of underwear that I wore. He wanted me to describe my sexual fantasies to him and the type of men I’m attracted to. On one occasion, he asked me to take my shirt off and show him how many push-ups I could do, which I did not do.”

“Mike Jones used to be able to say he was an Exodus International affiliate governed by a Board of Directors,” said McAlvey to Truth Wins Out. “Exodus has removed their affiliation and the Board of Directors has dissolved. Now he’s just some guy. He’s not a mental health professional. He’s not a pastor. He’s just some guy with made-up theories and outlandish techniques claiming he can help people change their sexual orientation. He is dangerous and I hope people steer clear of this predator.”

Truth Wins Out called Mike Jones today, but he declined to comment. Exodus’ headquarters in Orlando has not addressed the situation since August. Repeated attempts to reach Alan Chambers, Exodus’ President, have gone unanswered.

Despite accusations that he sexually accosted a young male client and uses public property to promote sectarian religious bigotries, Mike Jones and his Corduroy Stone ex-gay ministry will continue to receive its web hosting from Michigan State University.

The Michigan Messenger reported Friday that David Gift, vice provost for libraries, computing and technology at MSU, said that the university’ hands are tied because Mike Jones is a retired university employee.

We have made systematic progress over the past year at removing public purchased web publishing and e-mail accounts that had been established at MSU. However, retirees have the benefit of continued use of their MSU web space and our existing policies for controlling their use of that space are quite limited and do not permit us to address this particular case. The owner of this site is a retiree, and after we closed his purchased account under our general change of business practices he set up shop in his retiree space. He apparently has arranged for a .com URL, but has that URL redirected to his MSU personal webspace.

Terry Denbow, vice president for university relations, further explained MSU’s policy:

The point is that we do allow retirees to have Web spaces that link to other organizations. The fact that this organization has material that is offensive does not, in and of itself, violate any University policies. We cannot, under the First Amendment, make content based distinctions on what sites we allow and which ones we do not. We are continuing to review and update our acceptable use policies and will take this under advisement as we do so. In the meantime, so long as Mr. Jones is in compliance with U policy, his web space will remain available to him.

Denbow said that while the university was blocked from further action under
current policies, it might be time to revisit those policies.

Truth Wins Out executive director Wayne Besen and Jones’s victimized client, who is no longer ex-gay, reacted here.

It is frankly alarming that MSU policy allows alleged predators to host websites on public property simply because they are retirees. MSU’s see-no-evil policy may serve as an open invitation for other retirees to launch sites inciting prejudice and sexual violence against ethnic and religious constituencies.

A true “conservative,” small-government, or libertarian policy would demand that no personal or private sectarian sites of any kind be hosted on taxpayer-supported government property. Instead, taxpayers are being forced to host the work of a predatory ex-gay who inflicts his failures upon students.

Truth Wins Out has sought comment from Corduroy Stone and from Exodus International regarding the accusation of sexual abuse; both have refused to comment.

Michigan Messenger:

After assuring LGBT activists and leaders for two years that a controversial website would be removed from its computer servers, Michigan State University said last week it will continue to host the website of the ex-gay ministry Corduroy Stone.

In an email, David Gift, vice provost for libraries, computing and technology at MSU, told Michigan Messenger that the university’ hands are tied because Mike Jones, who runs the site that promotes therapy as a way to convert gay individuals to a straight lifestyle, is a retired university employee.

Wayne Besen, executive director of the national organization Truth Wins Out, which opposes the ex-gay movement, also called on the university to remove the website:

“Michigan State should cancel Jones’ e-mail address and immediately stop hosting his site. It gives the false impression that the university endorses a dangerous form of therapy that was just condemned by the American Psychological Association.”

Besen is particularly familiar with Corduroy Stone because when he was in Grand Rapids earlier this year to speak at an event at Grand Valley State University aimed at countering the national ex-gay conference held locally. While there, he met Patrick McAlvey, 24, of Lansing, who says he was victimized by Jones and the Corduroy Stone programs. He even went so far as to do a video interview with Besen, which was posted last month on YouTube. And Besen features McAlvey’ story on his website.

“As both a graduate of Michigan State University and a recovering victim of Mr. Jones’ “ex-gay” therapy I find it sickening that the Corduroy Stone website continues to be supported by MSU. It is horrifying to think that taxpayer money, including my own, is supporting Mr. Jones and his strange and dangerous “work” with Corduroy Stone,” said McAlvey in an email to Michigan Messenger. “I am disturbed that this use of MSU server space could be be mistakenly interpreted as lending Corduroy Stone some sort of credibility it certainly doesn’t deserve and in reality does not enjoy.”

On August 5, Michigan resident Patrick McAlvey (left) revealed in a Truth Wins Out video the bizarre “therapy” he received from Exodus International counselor Mike Jones, who runs the group’ Lansing affiliate, Corduroy Stone. More than a month later, Exodus continues to shelter and support Jones, while offering silence in the face of scandal. The group has made no effort to investigate McAlvey’ charges, nor has it apologized for practicing touch therapy, a controversial practice it supposedly is against.

At the age of nineteen, McAlvey, who came from a religious background, was terrified that he might be gay. Feeling vulnerable and desperate to “change”, he placed his trust in Jones. Michigan’ GLBT newspaper, Between the Lines, interviewed McAlvey, now 24, where he elaborated on his therapy sessions with Jones in vivid detail.

“He asked how large my penis was,” McAlvey explained. “He asked if I shave my pubic hair. He asked what type of underwear that I wore. He wanted me to describe my sexual fantasies to him and the type of men I’m attracted to. On one occasion, he asked me to take my shirt off and show him how many push-ups I could do, which I did not do.”

Exodus may call this “therapy”, but where I come from (the real world) this is called foreplay. This is just not acceptable behavior and is predatory when it comes from an authority figure.

In sessions, Jones would also have McAlvey lie in his arms for hour-long intervals — a technique known as “touch therapy”. This method would be questionable in any circumstance, but even more so when the counselor who is caressing the client still admits to struggling with his homosexuality.

On his website, Jones acknowledges that he is still having “areas of sexual temptations”, is “sexually attracted to other men” and is “still not sexually attracted to women.” If this is the case, how is he qualified to help other people change their sexual orientation? And, if Exodus’ defines Jones as a success story, why would people waste their time and money on this failed program?

Most important, why is a sexually repressed gay man allowed to place young men in his lap under the auspices of therapy? Imagine the uproar if an older heterosexual therapist was “helping” straight teenagers or young women with such exploitative and quack-like techniques!

Interestingly, Exodus International has a policy statement saying it “is opposed to the therapeutic practice commonly referred to as “holding/touch therapy’” and that it “does not endorse any individual or organization that is known to use that method.”

If this is the case, then why has Exodus failed to launch a probe or discipline Jones, an actual Exodus counselor facing a direct charge that he flagrantly violated the organization’ policy? (Read More)