The web site of Victory Fellowship Church in Council Bluffs, Iowa, has much in common with conservative evangelical churches that host fraudulent “ex-gay” ministries:
It sells “sexual purity” to people who have been trained to feel “broken.”
It preaches an emotion-driven pentecostal outlook which is not held accountable to history, science, or the constitutional rights and freedoms of minorities.
Its leaders and school have few apparent credentials or certifications.
Victory Fellowship’s pentecostal good feelings, its disinclination toward accreditation and accountability, its desire to harm LGBT couples, and its obliviousness to the consequences of its political actions, all made the church ripe for exploitation by an antigay sexual predator whose idea of curing homosexual men was to molest them, much like other antigay thugs practice corrective rape to “cure” lesbians.
In the wake of the arrest of Brent Girouex, 31, on 60 counts of suspected sexual exploitation by a counselor or therapist, the church’s confession leaves much unsaid: (Read More)
Since George Alan Rekers, NARTH, and Exodus International continue to sidestep the Rentboy sex scandal that has consumed Rekers this week, Truth Wins Out wants journalists and activists to know the questions that George Alan Rekers and his allies haven’t answered – and what Rekers must do to either absolve himself or make amends for the wrongs that he has committed against the worlds of science, sexuality, and conservative Christianity.
The Questions for Rekers
1. Did you visit rentboy.com? Please provide independent journalists with unfettered access to your computers’ browser caches and e-mail records.
2. Did you receive massages, embraces, or other physical touches from your travel assistant?
3. Have you hired young male travel assistants in the past?
4. Are young men physically or sexually attractive to you?
5. Why did you hire a professionally inexperienced gay man, close in age to your adopted son — instead of a qualified assistant possessing experience with disabilities and travel, and instead of traveling with your wife?
6. Since you have repeatedly injected yourself into the private family life of thousands of gay couples in order to mischaracterize them and deny them legal equality, the next question is absolutely pertinent and justified: How often do you have sexual intercourse with your wife? Please make your wife available to the media so that they may confirm independently of your claims.
7. Do you have any biological children? If not, why not? If pertinent, please provide independent medical documentation.
8. Have you had physical contact of any kind with your adopted son? Please detail the specific contacts: Handshake, hug, upper body clothed, full body clothed, or other. At any time were you in the presence of your adopted son in a partially clothed or unclothed state? Please certify that you have listed all types of contact that occurred and omitted mention of none.
Rekers’ To-Do List
Since Baptists pride themselves on the notion of redemption, here are the steps required for penance:
1. Admit that you are attracted to young men
2. Admit that reparative therapy has not worked for you
3. Admit that, according to your own standards, you should not have been allowed to adopt
4. Admit that you should not have collected taxpayer money to lie about your orientation and about your failed therapies
5. Admit that you have corrupted the churches of North America and Europe with falsehoods about the nature and treatment of sexual attraction, aka orientation.
6. Admit what judges and other scientists have already said: That you have committed fraud with the legitimate research of other scientists
7. Admit that you have harmed thousands of people by promoting the same ineffective and counterproductive therapy which condemned you to an entire life of self-delusion and public denial.
8. Pay for the college education of Lucien at a school of his choice.
These lists are not comprehensive and are subject to expansion.
Prof. George Alan Rekers has issued another public sidestep of the allegations that he hired a gay escort to provide nude sensual massage and assist with luggage throughout a 10-day trip to Europe. Since his original statement implied that he had deliberately hired the escort in order to evangelize him, Rekers’ subsequent rationalizations have become even more stupefying.
In an e-mail received this afternoon by Miami journalist Steve Rothaus of The Miami Herald, Rekers said: (Read More)
NARTH and Family Research Council co-founder George Alan Rekers responded today to accusations that he vacationed with a gay escort. He communicated with Joe.My.God:
I have spent much time as a mental health professional and as a Christian minister helping and lovingly caring for people identifying themselves as “gay.” My hero is Jesus Christ who loves even the culturally despised people, including sexual sinners and prostitutes. Like Jesus Christ, I deliberately spend time with sinners with the loving goal to try to help them. Mark 2:16-17 reads, “16When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 17On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” In fact, in a dialogue with hypocritical religious leaders, Jesus even stated to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. ” (Matthew 21:31).
Like John the Baptist and Jesus, I have a loving Christian ministry to homosexuals and prostitutes in which I share the Good News of Jesus Christ with them (see I Corinthians 6:8-11). Contrary to false gossip, innuendo, and slander about me, I do not in any way “hate” homosexuals, but I seek to lovingly share two types of messages to them, as I did with the young man called “Lucien” in the news story: [1] It is possible to cease homosexual practices to avoid the unacceptable health risks associated with that behavior, and [2] the most important decision one can make is to establish a relationship with God for all eternity by trusting in Jesus Christ’ sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins, including homosexual sins. If you talk with my travel assistant that the story called “Lucien,” you will find I spent a great deal of time sharing scientific information on the desirability of abandoning homosexual intercourse, and I shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him in great detail.
Soooo… ex-gay “science” experts are now curing gay people by hiring expensive prostitutes to accompany them on sunny vacations with the hope of casting an ex-gay spell of salvation upon them.
I thought I had already heard every possible excuse from ex-gay scam artists. But that’s a new one.
George Alan Rekers has a distinguished history in the LGBT community. A colorful record as lively and prudent as felon Scott Lively himself.
While it is colorful, it is anything from bright and cheery. Rekers, a very outspoken and proud Baptist minister, who is a discredited psychologist, has published many papers and two books on what he feels homosexuality and gender identity is and what it isn’t. I quote again “what he feels” because his data is anything but science.
In his one online publication Summary of Expert Opinions on How Parenting by Homosexuality-Behaving Parent Figures Affects Child Adjustment and Well-Being (PDF document), he makes several references to work used on abusive parents and single parents and then labels them as proof that same-sex couples are detriments to children. He uses a plethora of religious sources– rather than use sources from the American Psychological Association, the National Association of Social Workers, or the American Academy of Pediatrics — to come to his conclusion that children only do well, and should only be raised, by a mother and a father, and that homosexual parents are dangerous to children (Summary, page 1-2). (Read More)
A Springfield, Mass.-area Roman Catholic priest has publicly called for Pope Benedict XVI (a.k.a. Joseph Ratzinger) to resign.
According to today’s Boston Globe, Rev. James Scahill of St. Michael’ Parish said the pope’s untruthfulness constituted a violation of an important tenet of Catholicism. The Globe added that Scahill “has long been outspoken on the need for accountability among church leaders.”
Unfortunately, his superiors are far less courageous.
Mark Dupont, a spokesman for the Diocese of Springfield, was quick to distance the diocesan leadership from the comments made by Scahill.
“It in no way represents the position of the bishop,” Dupont said. “We find his statements to be unfortunate.”
Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, two of the world’s most prominent atheist intellectuals, are seeking means to try the pope for crimes against humanity, their lawyers confirmed this weekend.
The pair are said to be working with British lawyers to see if the pope can be arrested for his part in the alleged cover-up of widespread sexual abuse in the Catholic Church during a visit to the United Kingdom in September
The Vatican has suggested that the pope is immune to prosecution as he is a head of state – Dawkins and Hitchens suggest that he is not immune as the Vatican is not represented at the United Nations.
Hitchens told the Sunday Times of London: “This man is not above or outside the law. The institutionalized concealment of child rape is a crime under any law and demands not private ceremonies of repentance or church-funded payoffs, but justice and punishment.”
Dawkins and Hitchens are correct to assert that the Pope is not above or outside the law. Anyone connected to covering-up child rape ought to pay the societal consequences.
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)
Exodus Should Immediately Shut Down Scandalized ‘Ex-Gay’ Group Desert Stream, Says TWO
Truth Wins Out today called on Exodus International to shut down Desert Stream Ministries (DSM) following new revelations of sexual abuse with at least one minor. The admissions were made last week on the blog of DSM’ leader, Andy Comiskey (pictured), who is also the creator of the ex-gay program Living Waters.
“Exodus should swiftly move to shutter Desert Stream Ministries to protect young people from the sordid and tawdry atmosphere revealed by Andy Comiskey,” said Truth Wins Out’ Executive Director Wayne Besen. “Exodus has a history of turning the other cheek when confronted with inappropriate behavior in its affiliates.”
On March 8, 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.”
Comiskey alleges that he was a victim of seven-figure blackmail from the relative of one of the abused boys. This led to, “a scourging of our entire ministry through police interrogations, the naked bulb of insurance agents and their lawyers, and Vineyard elders who for good reason wanted to know what was really going on in Desert Stream Ministries.”
As a result of the investigation, Comiskey says DSM was “torn in two” and that “we the righteous became the scum of the earth–not only the defender of victims, but the predators.”
In his post, Comiskey seemed to care little for those harmed by DSM and tried to come across as a victim saying, “News of our tragedy, now official on police and court records, attracted our accusers like vultures: “Do they change homosexuals or create them?’”
Comiskey claims that, “At the end of 3 years, the case was settled. Our insurance covered most of the costs.” He rightfully thanks the media for not covering the story and allowing his ministry to continue. “Not one story was printed about the tragedy,” writes Comiskey. “God spared us. His mercy leveled and sustained DSM.”
“Comiskey is mocking the mainstream media for not serving as the public’ trusted watchdog,” said Besen. “I hope news outlets understand that inaction has allowed this ministry to continue its operations. Given these revelations, it would be an optimum time for the media to investigate this story.”
For reasons possibly related to this scandal, Comiskey moved Desert Stream from Anaheim to Kansas City, Mo., several years ago, where it currently remains in operation.
This is not the first time Desert Stream has been in trouble. In 1998, The Los Angeles Times reported that one family sued Desert Stream alleging that a minister had sexually abused a teenager while the youth was undergoing therapy to turn him heterosexual. Besen’ book, “Anything But Straight”, discusses a newsletter that says:
“At the end of 2000, we faced an unusual number of Desert Stream-related leaders who fell into sexual sin, or who at least demonstrated a colossal lack of wisdom in their social choices…several were placed on different plans of discipline and restoration.”
In February 2008, Truth Wins Out produced a video featuring “ex-gay’ survivor Jaylen Braiden, who claims an Exodus team leader at Desert Stream took him advantage of him.
Comiskey is one of the most influential ex-gay activists and groups use his curriculum, “Living Waters”, across the globe. Comiskey is the author of “” and calls homosexuality “spiritual disfigurement.” His book also indulges in “spiritual warfare”, calling homosexuality satanic.
“Satan delights in homosexual perversion because it not only exists outside of marriage, but it also defiles God’ very image reflected as male and female….Another related source of demonization is the homosexual relationship itself….that attachment and communion are indeed inspired, but the source is demonic.”
So far, Exodus has failed to comment on Desert Stream’ troubles, nor has it moved to either suspend or close down DSM. After stonewalling for more than six months, Exodus finally cut ties with Lansing-based Corduroy Stone last after charges of impropriety were made last year by Patrick McAlvey in a Truth Wins Out video.
“It sends the wrong message when Exodus remains silent on issues of such gravity,” said TWO’ Besen. “We urge Exodus to investigate and take proper action against one of its key ministries so more people are not harmed in the future. We also can’t fathom how Comiskey has kept his job in light of this scandal. It is truly mind boggling.”
Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that defends the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community against anti-gay misinformation campaigns, counters the so-called “ex-gay” industry and educates about the lives of LGBT people. Our goal is to help individuals be true to themselves and lead genuine lives of honesty and integrity.
A singer in an elite Vatican choir and a jailed Italian public works executive who served as a papal usher were let go by the Vatican this week amid allegations that they were involved in what prosecutors believe was an organized network of gay prostitution, Italian news media reported.
Ghinedu Ehiem, a Nigerian who sang in a choir that performs at St. Peter’ Basilica, was dismissed after the center-left daily newspaper La Repubblica reported Wednesday that he had procured men, including seminarians, for Angelo Balducci, a former member of the board of Italy’ public works department who was arrested and jailed last month on corruption charges.
After his arrest, Mr. Balducci was removed from his Vatican post in The Gentlemen of His Holiness, an elite group of ushers who serve at the Apostolic Palace when visiting dignitaries meet the pope, the ANSA news agency reported Thursday, citing Vatican sources.
Well, there’s not much I can really add to this. We have a rabidly homophobic Pope hell-bent on imposing his anti-gay views. Under his leadership there has been an upswing, particularly in America, of political activism in an effort to “purify” the church and keep discrimination against LGBT people legal.
Yet, the Pope’s lovely home is turned in to a red light district by staffers when he presumably is not looking. This is what you can sometimes expect with Vatican sexual values – which are often based on repression, the closet, secrecy, hypocrisy and dishonesty.
It is time Rome reevaluates its stringent rule book and stops living in Medieval times. They should join the modern age by:
1) Allowing openly gay priests
2) Allowing female priests
3) Allowing priests to marry
Until these common-sense changes are made, expect more tawdry headlines and shocking scandals, of all kinds, to flow from the musty chambers of the Vatican.
According to today’s 
As a result of the investigation, Comiskey says DSM was “torn in two” and that “we the righteous became the scum of the earth–not only the defender of victims, but the predators.”
For reasons possibly related to this scandal, Comiskey moved Desert Stream from Anaheim to Kansas City, Mo., several years ago, where it currently remains in operation.
From 
