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'''Ex-gay''' is a term used by some reparative therapists, religious groups, and others to describe persons who used to be gay or bisexual, but now consider themselves heterosexual. Ex-gay organizations consider reparative therapy to be a useful and necessary tool to treat homosexual desire.[1]
For some ex-gay groups, merely choosing not to act on one's same-sex desires counts as a "success."[2] For example, some ex-gays in opposite-sex marriages acknowledge that their sexual attractions remain primarily homosexual, but seek to make their marriages work.[3] For some, the mere act of adopting the label "ex-gay" is seen as a narrative device whereby "individuals us[e] language as the primary tool to not only express identity but also create and transform it."[4] Ex-gays compare this to the coming out process.4 Other ex-gays try to distance themselves from the term. Courage International does not consider itself an ex-gay ministry, but prefers to be thought of as "pro-chastity".[5] Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International, resents the term and has publically denounced its usage. Other than Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays, no other major ex-gay organization has labeled themselves as an ex-gay organization.
The medical and scientific consensus is that reparative therapy is not effective and is potentially harmful.[6] The American Psychiatric Association issued a critical statement backed by numerous other mainstream medical organizations, which stated: "There is simply no sufficiently scientifically sound evidence that sexual orientation can be changed."[7] The statement went on to say that positions espoused by ex-gay organizations "are not supported by the science" and that they "create an environment in which prejudice and discrimination can flourish." Ex-gay groups assert that the scientific community has taken its stances on homosexuality due to political, and not scientific, considerations.[8][9]
Notable organizations tied to the ex-gay movement include Exodus International, National Association for the Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays, Love in Action, Courage UK, Courage International, and True Freedom Trust.
Ex-gay views
Definition of change
Exodus describes ''change'' as "attaining abstinence from homosexual behaviors, lessening of homosexual temptations, strengthening their sense of masculine or feminine identity, correcting distorted styles of relating with members of the same and opposite gender." What's your "success rate" in changing gays into straights? Some ex-gays advocate entering (or remaining) in a heterosexual marriage as part of the process. Some ex-gays in opposite-sex marriages acknowledge that their sexual attractions remain primarily homosexual, but seek to make their marriages work anyway.[3]
Religion
PATH organization
In a joint coalition, several ex-gay organizations expressed their views that, for those with same-sex attractions, they support:
★ 'Personal choice' in their sexual identity and behavior.
★ 'Right to know' of alternatives to living a homosexual life.
★ 'Individual self-determination' to seek counseling and determine the direction of that therapy
★ 'Compassion and respect' to live in their choices as they see fit, without discrimination, ridicule, marginalization, or being the target of hate speech.
★ 'Policy neutrality', especially in the freedom to speak about freely chosen alternatives to homosexuality.
★ 'Equal access to public forums' to raise awareness of alternative responses to a homosexual identity and lifestyle.PATH: Positive Alternatives To Homosexuality
Reparative therapy
Most religious ex-gay organizations support reparative therapy and provide referrals to its practitioners, though ex-gay organizations often do not practice it themselves.[11] Not all techniques are approved of by ex-gay organizations. For example, Exodus has condemned aversion therapy,[12][13] and has expressed concern over the techniques used by Richard Cohen.
Ex-gay claims concerning changes in sexual orientation
Ex-gay groups rely heavily on testimonials, and the scientific evidence they cite are generally survey results of reported change among ex-gays.[14][15][16]
Non-religious ex-gays
While the term "ex-gay" is used almost exclusively to mean gays and lesbians who have undergone a religious-based conversion, it could also be used to characterize those who at one time self-identified as gay or lesbian but have since abandoned that identity for one reason or another, not necessarily related to religious beliefs. Such individuals could actually be defined as bisexual, though they have chosen to lead their lives as heterosexuals. Some argue that if heterosexuals can come to terms with homosexual feelings, come out of the closet, and embrace gay lives, the same can be true in the reverse.
People in the ex-gay movement
Ex-gay people
Dennis Jernigan in concert, Woodland, California, June 2006
★ Alan Chambers is the president of Exodus International. He shares his story at several ex-gay events and has written several books. He is politically active, and promotes legislation against same-sex marriage.[17]
★ Richard Cohen is the former president of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays and was the subject of an infamous interview by Jason Jones on the March 19, 2007 episode of The Daily Show. After this appearance, NARTH and Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays systematically removed all references to Cohen from their website[18] and Exodus International issued a position statement distancing themselves from him.[19]
★ Charlene Cothran was the editor of ''Venus'', a magazine for African-American lesbians. Following a Christian conversion in 2006, she changed the editorial policy of the magazine to support the ex-gay movement.[20][21]
★ Dennis Jernigan is a singer-songwriter of contemporary Christian music. He describes his experience of "deliverance from homosexuality" during his concerts.[22]
★ Michael Johnston was the chair of the National Coming Out of Homosexuality Day and founder of Kerusso Ministries. Johnston is featured in the film It's Not Gay, promoted by the American Family Association. He was subsequently found out to be engaging in drug fueled gay orgies while promoting himself as an ex-gay.[23]
People who "relapsed"
People who left the ex-gay movement
The term ''ex-ex-gay'' refers to people, once involved with the ex-gay movement, who have ended the attempt to change their orientation, and who now identify as gay or bisexual. The Ex Gay Watch website is a notable resource regarding people who have been involved with the ex-gay movement and later left. Wayne Besen was not personally involved with the ex-gay movement, but he denounced it in his book, ''Anything but Straight''. Notable people who left the movement include:
★ Günter Baum originally founded an ex-gay ministry in Germany. Ultimately, he formed another ministry, Zwischenraum, which helps gay Christians to accept their sexuality and to reconcile it with their beliefs.
★ In 1979, Exodus International's co-founder Michael Bussee and his partner Gary Cooper quit the group and held a life commitment ceremony together.[24]
★ Peterson Toscano is an actor who was involved in the ex-gay movement for 20 years. He performs a related one-man satire titled ''Doin' Time in the Homo No Mo Halfway House'', and with Christine Bakke co-runs a support website for people coming out of ex-gay experiences; Beyond Ex-Gay.
Ex-gay organizations
Ex-gay organizations began in the U.S. with Evangelical Christians, but has since spread to include Catholic, LDS, Jewish, Muslim and non-religious groups in several countries across the world.
North America
The first ex-gay ministry was formed in 1973, called Love in Action.[25] Three years later, they joined with other ex-gay organizations to form Exodus International. Exodus is the largest ex-gay organization, and has grown to include over 120 local ministries in the U.S. and Canada.[26] Exodus International is the largest organization under the Exodus Global Alliance. Many other ex-gay organizations have been formed to cater to a specific religious group, such as Courage for Catholics, Evergreen International for Mormons (LDS), OneByOne for Presbyterians, Transformation Congregations[27] for Methodists and JONAH for Jews.
Other organizations have formed to meet specific needs. Witness Freedom Ministries caters to people of color with same-sex attractions.[28] Exodus Youth is a group specifically designed for youth,[29] and the NEA Ex-Gay Educators Caucus is a group formed to help ex-gay teachers and students.[30] Others form after a specific technique, such as Homosexuals Anonymous[31] which was modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous' 12 step program and International Healing Foundation was modeled after Richard Cohen's methods. PeopleCanChange[32] and PFOX are two other ex-gay organizations in North America.
Europe
In 1975, Johan van de Sluis began EHAH (in English: Evangelical Counseling for Homosexuals) in Holland.http://www.exodusglobalalliance.org/ourhistoryc87.php After visiting an Exodus conference in America, he combined his organization with others to form Exodus Europe in 1982. Exodus Europe included True Freedom Trust in the UK, Medvandrarna[33] in Sweden, Til Helhet[34] in Norway, Basis[35] in Denmark, Aslan[36] in Finland, Different (the old EHAH)[37] in Belgium and Onze Weg[38] in Holland. In April 2007, Exodus Europe decided to break away from the Global Exodus Alliance because it was too affected by American thinking.[39] The United Kingdom also has Encourage [40] for Catholics and StraightWay Foundation[41] for Muslims.
Other
In 1978, Peter Lane began the first ex-gay group in Australia, which is called Liberty Ministry. In 1987, it joined with other ministries to form Exodus Asia Pacific.[42] In 1990 Frank Worthen went to the Philippines and formed Bagong Pag-asa.[43] Other significant ex-gay groups under Exodus Asia Pacific include Liberty Christian Ministries[44] in Australia, Rainbow 7[45] in Taiwan, Liberty League[46] in Singapore and Pursuing Liberty Under Christ [47] in Malaysia.
In 1994, Esly Carvalho began Exodus Latino America.[48] In 2002, Exodus Brasil[49] separated as a separate organization under Global Exodus Alliance. Other groups in Latin America include Courage Latino[50] for Catholics, Elías S.O.S[51] in Argentina, and Camino de Salida[52] in Ecuador. Es Posible el Cambio[53] is an interdenominational group that advocates reparative therapy.
Ex-gay organizations in the Middle East include Atzat Nefesh[54] for Jews and Al-Tawbah[55] for Muslims.
Medical view of attempts to change sexual orientation
Controversies, criticisms, and scandals
Ex-gay movement in popular culture
References
1. Exodus International Policy Statements, Exodus International. Retrieved 04-07-2007.
2. See, e.g., Sexual Identity Institute FAQ. Retrieved 04-07-2007.
3. No easy victory. Retrieved on 2006-03-26.
4. Peebles, A. "It’s Not Coming Out, So Then What Is It? Sexual Identity and the Ex-Gay Narrative".
5. http://couragerc.net/FAQs.html
6. Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation & Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators and School Personnel, American Psychological Association, et al., 1999. Retrieved 2007-02-23.
7. APA Discredits 'Ex-Gay' Movement, 365Gay Newscenter, 8-11-2006. Retrieved on 04-14-2007.
8. USA - Gay Conversion. Retrieved on 2006-06-22.
9. Satinover, Jeff. Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth (1996) Baker
10. No easy victory. Retrieved on 2006-03-26.
11. http://exodus.to/content/view/34/118
12. http://www.exodus.to/content/view/157/56
13. http://www.evergreeninternational.org/aversion_therapy.htm
14. Spitzer, Robert L. Archives of Sexual Behavior, Vol. 32, No. 5, October 2003, pp. 403-417.
15. Throckmorton, Warren. (1998) Efforts to modify sexual orientation: A review of the outcome literature and ethical issues. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 20, 283-304
16. Peer Commentaries on Spitzer in Archives of Sexual Behavior, 32(5), 419-468, October 2003
17. http://www.alanchambers.org/
18. NARTH and PFOX Quietly Rid Themselves of Richard Cohen (blog entry), Ex-Gay Watch, 03-31-2007. Retrieved on 04-07-2007.
19. Exodus International Policy Statements, Exodus International. Retrieved on 04-07-2007.
20. Interview with ChristianityToday
21. Interview with Clay Cane
22. http://www.dennisjernigan.com/
23. http://www.sovo.com/2003/8-1/news/breaking/exgay.cfm
24. Their story is one of the foci of the documentary ''One Nation Under God'' (1993), directed by Teodoro Maniaci and Francine Rzeznik.
25. History retrieved April 14, 2007
26. Who we areRetrieved April 14, 2007
27. http://www.transformingcong.org
28. http://www.witnessfortheworld.org/enter.html
29. http://exodusyouth.net
30. http://www.nea-exgay.org
31. http://www.ha-fs.org
32. http://www.peoplecanchange.com
33. http://www.medvandrarna.se
34. http://www.tilhelhet.no
35. http://www.basis.nu
36. http://www.aslan.fi
37. http://www.totheildesvolks.nl/engels/ehah.htm
38. http://www.onzeweg.nl/
39. http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2006/12/exodus-european/
40. http://www.encouragetrust.org.uk
41. http://straightway.sinfree.net/
42. http://www.exodusasiapacific.org
43. http://www.bagongpagasa.org
44. http://www.libertychristianministries.org.au
45. http://www.rainbow-7.org.tw/
46. Non-profit group gets grant to promote 'healthy gender identity'
47. http://www.asianbeacon.org/articles.php?aid=137
48. http://www.exoduslatinoamerica.org
49. http://www.exodus.org.br/
50. http://www.courage-latino.org
51. Elías S.O.S Homepage
52. http://www.geocities.com/caminodesalida
53. http://www.esposibleelcambio.org
54. [http://www.atzat-nefesh.org
55. http://www.al-tawbah.faithweb.com
External links
★ Christian Anthropology and Homosexuality
★ "Homosexuality & Hope Catholic Medical Association
★ "National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality"
★ "People Can Change"
★ "Same Sex Attraction Morality League"
★ "Exodus International"
★ "Courage"
★ "Evergreen International"
★ OutStraight
Criticism of ex-gay movement
★ "Ex-Gay Watch" - A watchdog group tracking reparative therapy and the ex-gay movement
★ "Truth Wins Out" - A non-profit organization, founded by Wayne Besen, to oppose the ex-gay movement.
★ Beyond Ex-Gay, a support website co-run by Peterson Toscano and Christine Bakke, for people coming out of ex-gay experiences
★ GLAAD on Ex-gays - Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) resources on ex-gays
★ PFLAG responds to ex-gay movement - Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays fact sheet about the reparative therapy movement
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