The ex-gay or exodus movement believes that homosexuals can become heterosexual or otherwise "leave homosexuality behind" through counselling, prayer, and other, often questioned, therapies if they choose to do so. It is primarily based in the United States and largely led by Christian fundamentalists (see also Christian views of homosexuality).
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2 1998 campaign 3 Gay rights response 4 External links |
Love in Action, or LIA, was founded in 1973 by John Evans, who claimed to be a former homosexual, and Rev. Kent Philpott, a heterosexual. It was the first group to publicize cases of homosexuals who had allegedly been converted or learned to abstain from their homosexual ways, which were perceived as sinful and in violation of biblical moral code. After Evans' friend Jack McIntyre committed suicide out of despair concerning his inability to change, Evans left the project and denounced it as dangerous. He was quoted by the Wall Street Journal (April 21, 1993) as saying: "They're destroying people's lives. If you don't do their thing, you're not of God, you'll go to hell. They're living in a fantasy world."
Exodus International is probably the largest ex-gay group. Founded in 1976, it is an interdenominational organization which, according to its own description, "has grown to include over 100 local ministries in the USA and Canada" and is "linked with other Exodus world regions outside of North America, totaling over 135 ministries in 17 countries." Exodus International had its biggest scandal in 1979 when prominent founding members Bussee (who had organized the 1976 conference that led to Exodus' inception) and Cooper left the group and held a homosexual commitment ceremony. Their story was turned into the documentary One Nation Under God (1993), directed by Teodoro Maniaci and Francine Rzeznik.
Like Love In Action, Exodus recovered from the scandal. Their website and literature today contains testimonials such as this one by Bob Davies:
Seventh Day Adventist Colin Cook (who had been dismissed as a minister in 1974 for having gay sex) founded the groups Quest Learning Center and Homosexuals Anonymous in 1979 and 1980 respectively, both ex-gay organizations. In 1985, he wrote two books, Homosexuality, and Homosexuality: An Open Door. In 1986, he engaged in sexual acts with his Quest patients. He claimed that the nude massages of other men should desensitize them against homosexual desires.
In 1987, he was ousted for sexual activity from Homosexuals Anonymous, and in 1995 a similar scandal happened with his newly founded group FaithQuest Colorado (according to the Denver Post, Cook had engaged in phone sex, practiced long and grinding hugs, and asked patients to bring homosexual pornography to sessions so that he could help "desensitize" them against it). The Seventh Day Adventist church finally severed all ties with Cook. Homosexuals Anonymous survived without Cook.
The largest ex-gay campaign to date happened in 1998, when several ministries funded commercials and advertisements to inform people that they could "walk away from homosexuality". Prominent ex-gays have later resumed homosexual behavior. John Paulk, who was featured in 1998 advertisements and on the cover of Newsweek with his "ex-lesbian" wife Anne, was photographed in a gay bar in Washington, DC in September 2000. Michael Johnston, another ex-gay, who is HIV positive, was said to have engaged in unprotected homosexual acts without disclosing his disease.
Most gay rights groups and some scientists sharply dispute the movement's claims, and see sexual orientation as immutable and sexual attitudes as being largely formed before adulthood. Many medical groups have stated that there are no scientifically rigorous studies to evaluate whether ex-gay treatments are beneficial and that no studies substantiate their claims of sexual orientation change. Some of these groups have also stated that it is potentially harmful.
Some critics of the movement also believe that sexuality is changeable in later life, but that homosexuality is not sinful (see homosexuality and morality) and condemn the ex-gay movement on the grounds that it is unnecessary, promotes hatred of homosexuals and internalized homophobia, or both.
Because of several failures of the ex-gay movement, some quite spectacular, it has been extensively ridiculed by gay rights activists, who charge that the suppression of homosexuality only leads to inappropriate outbursts thereof and contributes to fear and suffering. Author and former Human Rights Campaign spokesman Wayne R. Besen has extensively covered the ex-gay movement and describes it in his book Anything But Straight: Unmasking The Scandals and Lies Behind the 'Ex-Gay' Myth, which also deals with so-called reparative therapy of homosexuality. It was Besen who photographed John Paulk in a gay bar and who investigated witnesses in the case of Michael Johnston.
Activists also refer to statements by medical and psychological organizations such as the following statement by the American Psychological Association: "Clinical experience suggests that any person who seeks conversion therapy may be doing so because of social bias that has resulted in internalized homophobia, and that gay men and lesbians who have accepted their sexual orientation positively are better adjusted than those who have not done so."
Ex-gay Groups
Love In Action
Exodus International
Davies says he has found comfort in the warm hugs from heterosexual men -- this kind of male hugging has been perceived by some as a substitute for homosexual activity among self-described ex-gays (see below). Finally, Davies describes how he meets a female member of his church and becomes married to her. While he fears that "many more battles" are ahead, he believes that he can overcome these battles with the help of God. This story is typical for many ex-gays.
Homosexuals Anonymous, Quest Learning Center
1998 campaign
Gay rights response
External links
Parody
