The headline is a direct quote from well-known former ex-gay Peterson Toscano. And I think there’s a lot of truth to his statement.

Change is possible — but the changes that happen are not what Exodus International intended.

Discuss.

A British evangelical group called “Church Society for Bible, Church and Nation” — an oxymoron, to be sure — warns that former ex-gay Peterson Toscano is “promoting immorality” by teaching what the Bible says about gender.

The Society, which opposes an allowance of privacy for Christians, says of Toscano and his “Transfigurations” play about transgender issues in the Bible:

Toscano is someone who has apparently trawled the Bible and attempted to find in it references to people who ‘do not fit the gender binary’.   This sort of argument is  not uncommon and anyone who had encountered it will know just how the desire to find such leads to a twisted and selective reading into the text of Scripture, yet sadly many who dismiss the plain teaching of Scripture seem enthralled by such perverse handling of the text.

To “trawl” means to dig deeply; apparently the Society prefers a superficial approach to the Bible, instead. Hence its rejection of the Bible when its stories deviate from strict gender roles policed by self-righteous evangelicals.

But Toscano doesn’t need us to defend him; he ably discusses Transfigurations right here:

The roadside billboards of the ex-gay movement tell passing motorists — who often just wanted to drink their coffee and drive in peace — to “Question Homosexuality.”

Those who are familiar with the ex-gays who are spotlighted in the billboards know that Exodus International does not truly “question” sexual orientation; the organization merely pretends that it does not exist. Journalists who are unfamiliar with ex-gay ideology and the journeys of former ex-gays frequently ask questions that bypass substantive examination of the ex-gay movement.

Former ex-gay Peterson Toscano examines some of these questions :

Is change possible? Can someone change from gay to straight?

Most people on any side of the ex-gay issue who know about the lives of ex-gays and the various ex-gay treatments involved understand that these sort of closed-ended questions fall flat in light of the intricacies we’re talking about here and in particular when we consider the people most directly affected. None of us really became heterosexual. This is evidenced in one of the most challenging dilemmas many of us faced in trying to name ourselves. Even those of us who married people of the opposite sex could not honestly call ourselves straight. As Marvin Bloom used to say say when he was still ex-gay, “I’m a former homosexual. I’m not exactly straight. I’m growing into heterosexuality, slowly.”

Another popular question from journalists is,

What is the most outrageous treatment you experienced in an ex-gay program?

This “sexy” question exploits everyone involved. Yes, crazy, outrageous things happen in many ex-gay programs, but by focusing on these wacky practices, we overlook more important issues. One could too easily discount the whole thing and say, “Man, look at those crazy people!” without getting to the heart of the matter or to any useful analysis. (But then again, much of the news is about entertainment and not information.)

Toscano asks readers to supply additional questions and answers — and so do we.

While ex-gay activist Mike Ensley insults gay Christian singer Ray Boltz, former ex-gay Peterson Toscano points to a much more graceful and life-affirming attitude by Boltz’s ex-wife, Carol Boltz.

Carol struggled as many spouses do when their loved one realizes the necessity of sexual honesty and integrity. Their private struggle was made tougher by the need for Ray to eventually go public and be honest with his Christian fans.

Toscano says:

Recently Carol launched her own blog, My Heart Goes Out. Please take a moment to visit the blog and share with Carol a word of support, a word of encouragement, a word of affirmation. She is a courageous and beautiful woman.

Well said.