In Brief: Exodus Releases Anti-Bullying Statement
We received this today from Alan Chambers, with a promise that it will be placed on their website by tomorrow.
Exodus Position Statement on Bullying and Violence
“Exodus International affirms that gay-identified individuals and those who struggle with same-sex attraction are persons for whom Jesus Christ died and loves equally. Therefore, we strongly oppose bullying, name calling and acts of aggression against any individual or group of individuals for any reason. These actions have no place in our society and we must, instead, affirm behavior that validates the personal worth and dignity God bestows upon every human being.
“In addition, every individual deserves equal protection and every offender should receive equal punishment. We call upon other organizations concerned with preserving the essential equality of all individuals to exhibit impartiality in their policies, rather than singling out some for special treatment.”
In spite of the “gay-identified” descriptor, this would seem to be an important statement. At least they have finally made a statement. I wonder if Peter LaBarbera, Stephen Bennett, Linda Harvey, et al, will agree?
Update: Alan Chambers gives some explanation of this in his blog.
Alan is stereotyping so-called “diversity training.”
He has not named specific problems with specific programs, nor has he named specific policies or programs that he would support.
Alan, I have two questions for you:
Would you support a diversity program that did not discuss whether or not “homosexuality is moral” but instead discussed tolerance and acceptance of gay people.
Second, can you please give us an example of any diversity program that DOES teach about the morality of homosexuality. I’ve not seen any diversity programs that say whether anything is or isn’t “moral” and at XGW we look for substantiation of wild claims.
(Please do not use the example in Montgomery County that criticized certain faiths. That one was rightly shut down.)
Oh, and also please feel free to refute my earlier contention that given the choice between blocking diversity programs and stopping the abuse of kids that you’ll let the kids suffer to stop the program. I really truly WANT to be proven wrong on that.
I don’t know of any specific programs that I would support. I am open to reviewing any ones that are out there. But, I would be most open to ones that have been collaborative effort between those who differ on there beliefs about homosexuality—to my knowledge there is nothing like that out there.
Timothy, I don’t think that there has to be a diversity training program in order for the abuse to stop. I think that a school could institute a zero tolerance stance, alert the parents and the students and then implement it.
However, I do believe that (as someone stated above) more than just punishment is necessary to correct the problem.
Yes.
In 2008 the film “For Such A time As This” which includes Alan Chambers and Michael Bussee. Warren Throckmorton, Robert Gagnon, Kent Philpott, John Evans, Frank and Anita Worthen, Melissa Fryrear, John Smid along with many others from the Ex-Gay ministries Love in Action, Exodus and Focus on the families Love Won Out conference and people who consider themselves ex-ex-gay’s and Christian including most of the people who will be attending Peterson Toscanos Beyond Ex-gay conference on June 29th -July 1st 2007 and then some including Wayne Besen and Billie Jean King are also included in this film which attempts to bring about a healing and reconciliation and attempts to build a bridge between the Evangelical Christian and GLBT communities. All of these issues you are spending countless hours talking about on this blog will be addressed and you will finally see all of these people in one place together . Please go to http://www.hopeunlimitedproductions.com to find out more about this much needed and anticipated Documentary film project.
Alan why don’t we get you and Michael finally together on film and put this thing to rest and get back to what we really need to be doing! Drawing people to Christ ! Michael and I have spoken and he is ready willing and able ….are you? We’ll meet you in Irvine. Just say the word. Don’t you think its time? Your the one who can get this done! Lisa
Warren: bullies bully because they can get away with it. Where there is no social payoff for aggression, much bullying can be eliminated.
Alan,
Can we therefore also have your word that you will:
1) drop Ken Hutcherson as Exodus speaker?
2) cease your coalition with Wellington Boone?
Regardless of how they align with your politics or your religious beliefs, their bullying behaviour is also very well documented. You have even been a witness to it on occasion.
Despite that, Exodus continues to reward them.
Bullying doesn’t only occur in schools, and children aren’t the only victims.
I view every bit of this through the lens of a middle school classroom teacher. I see it, first hand, day in and day out.
Warren is right in that kids bully because they can get away with it, but I don’t see that as the motivation for bullying, just part of the cause. Junior high kids don’t typically operate by the golden rule, they seem to be driven (from my antecdotal research, mind you) by some sort of hormonal cocktail that can change within a 50-minute class period. I do believe that teachers hold THE KEYS to all of this. And, it doesn’t have to be complicated and we all only have to agree on ONE thing. That thing is that each individual is valuable and there will be no tolerance of bullying. If we absolutely MUST speak about morality, then let’s just tell them all, across the board, that they don’t need to have sex with each other. (yes, they’ll have sex, but certainly we can agree that none of them NEED to be having it….no?) The right or wrong of it, or the whys of some of them desiring sex with their opposite gender or their same gender is still not a reason to bully.
Excellent. I am overjoyed to hear it.
I am certain that at least a few of us will be both reviewing those that you have opposed in the past to see if they include any reference to morality (I’m sure they will welcome your change of heart) and, if these particular ones actually do talk about morality, to find such programs as do not.
Grant/Dale,
I know what you are referring to with Wellington Boone and have shared my feelings on that with him. As I stated at Warren’s blog, if someone continues to uses inflamitory language after I have confronted them on that I will not share a stage with them or use them again for events.
I don’t want to distance myself (or to seem like I am distancing myself) from Wellington Boone because despite his mistakes in the past, he is a good man. But the coalition that you referenced in a link above is hardly a formal coalition of any significance. The link you provided was to us joining with other ministries encouraging them to take part in the National Day of Prayer.
As for Ken Hutcherson, he is a very dear friend. I do not know to what you are referring with regards to him. Please provide a link or specific instance.
Lastly, for you and everyone here, if you have been offended or hurt by these men then call or write to them. If you don’t hear back, send the email to me and I will forward it on to them directly.
I view every bit of this through the lens of a middle school classroom teacher. I see it, first hand, day in and day out.
Warren is right in that kids bully because they can get away with it, but I don’t see that as the motivation for bullying, just part of the cause. Junior high kids don’t typically operate by the golden rule, they seem to be driven (from my antecdotal research, mind you) by some sort of hormonal cocktail that can change within a 50-minute class period. I do believe that teachers hold THE KEYS to all of this. And, it doesn’t have to be complicated and we all only have to agree on ONE thing. That thing is that each individual is valuable and there will be no tolerance of bullying. If we absolutely MUST speak about morality, then let’s just tell them all, across the board, that they don’t need to have sex with each other. (yes, they’ll have sex, but certainly we can agree that none of them NEED to be having it….no?) The right or wrong of it, or the whys of some of them desiring sex with their opposite gender or their same gender is still not a reason to bully.
And yes, I’m okay with passing out condoms at school and teaching safe sex practices along WITH the abstinence being taught as the best choice. We are just stupid if we don’t.
Maybe some clever marketing genius could come up with condom packaging specific for students that was rigged to sound off an air horn alarm upon opening. Maybe that and a gush of ice water.
Alan,
I am not aware of school diversity programs that require people to believe that homosexuality is moral. This comment of yours comes accross as another lie that Exodus leaders put out as some sort of fig leaf for trying to cover their heartless disregard for bullied gay kids in school.
On this issue of morality, I find the lies that constantly come from Exodus and political Religious Right organizations to be immoral. But it isn’t for me to impose my moral beliefs on others, so Exodus, Focus on the Family, and all of their allied Religious Right groups are free to immorally promote bigotry as long as they don’t commit violence or violate any particular laws. And I am free to exercise my First Ammendment rights by pointing out that I find the behavior immoral.
John,
I’m going to take Alan at his word. I think we should look into these programs and find out which call homosexuality moral and those which don’t discuss morality but talk about respect and diversity.
I’m not going to assume Alan’s lying on this. He may simply have been under the impression that all diversity programs are about morality. And perhaps there is one out there that is.
I’ve not seen one that mentions morality. I do understand what Alan is saying but the ones I’ve seen don’t even declare homosexuality necessarily “good”. They declare unique personhood to be “good” and then go on to explain that some persons, for whatever reason (not clear), are homosexual. I’m very interested in seeing ones that mention morality or even specifically state that orientation in and of itself, one way or the other, is “good”.
Timothy,
Chambers has not specified a single program that calls homosexuality moral. It is not our responsibility, or anyone else’s, to follow his effort to send other people on wild goose chases and unfocused witch hunts while he thinks up new unsubstantiated accusations about innocent people.
It is Chambers’s responsibility to substantiate his accusation via specific training efforts — and also to rescind his overgeneralization with apologies to those diversity-training efforts whom Chambers falsely accused.
Lisa,
I commend the attempt at the documentary “For Such a Time as This”, but to be honest, until the ex-gay movement removes itself from politics, until it stops calling for equal treatment and then turning around and fighting to undermine the rights of gay people to marry, adopt, or have kids, then there can be no bridge built. We are all hypocrites, to be sure, but the ex-gay movement’s spiritual message is squelched by the political playing of many of its members and supporters.
If the ex-gay movement were ever to take and stand and say we ALL deserve the same rights: the right to marry the adult we love, and to have all the protections afforded those who are married, then I would rethink my position as a Christian regarding supporting them – but if they cannot support us, there is absolutely no reason we should support them. Why have gay people had to fight with conservative Christians for decades just to get to this point where they are finally saying – yes, gay people are people too and shouldn’t be bullied. After 4 decades you’d think we’d have made more progress.
That doesn’t mean people can’t make an individual choice about what to do with their lives, or what therapy – religious or otherwise they want to seek, but I’m going to make sure that they understand ALL the facts surrounding Reparative Therapy, that they hear from Ex-Ex gay people as well, and that they understand the political and conservative religious agenda behind the ex-gay movement.
Jason
I’m not going to try and put thoughts or words in Alan’s head or mouth. But, after pondering this diversity thing for a bit…..I’m pretty sure that what most folks on the right side of the issue worry most about is not that the programs say that homosexuality is “good” but that it is “normal”. They don’t want school teachers encouraging students who are thinking of “coming out” to go ahead and do it because the teachers told them it was perfectly “normal” and okay to be gay. This is more of the crux of this debate, as I’ve seen it played out in other forums.
Well, let me just say….and this is just ALL my opinion as a teacher and a parent. If one of my boys is going to “come out” then I’d so much rather he do it while he’s still at home with me. And, I’m certainly not afraid that diversity training will make him gay. If he is indeed gay, the last message I’m going to send him is that he is not “normal”. I want him to still be with me where I can love him and remind him of what an awesome person he is…..cause Lord knows he’s got a tough row to hoe as he continues to navigate his journey. I would hope that my love would point him toward Christ and I’ll leave the rest of it up to God. EVEN back when I was fully in ex-gay land (and I think this is documented somewhere on my blog) I used to tell Tdub…..”honey, you ARE normal. Good grief. with all that you’ve been through, the fact that you struggle is SO NORMAL.” Okay….now, I know that makes it sound like I’m a Nicolosi convert, but at the time, it was all I knew, AND….as I’ve said before, Tdub could be the poster boy for those “factors” of becoming gay they talk about.
Please grant me some grace as you read these thoughts. As I discovered when writing that “series”, I have a habit of sometimes offending inadvertantly when I use my personal experiences in dicussion.
Pam,
I think your postings are compassionate and well thought out!
What the people on the right won’t concede to is that homosexuality IS normal – at least according to all mainstream medical and psychological institutions – the problem only exists with conservative religious groups!
Alan:
I went to a school made up of a very large percentage of catholic kids, or at least, kids who came from catholic families. It was a public school – a very GOOD public school, in fact – and it taught what I thought was a fair sex-ed program. One of the things taught in sex-ed is the different methods of birth control. I think from 8th until 10th grade we were taught in Health class about the different kinds, the risks, the benefits, the flaws, the stats… we were NOT taught that sex before marriage or sex without procreation is right/wrong; moral/immoral. however, by YOUR logic, every single kid from a catholic household was being disrespected by being taught about birth control, because according to your way of thinking, being taught that use of birth control or having sex before marriage is “normal” is the same thing as being taught that it is “morally right.” Not so. We were simply told what was out in the world – and we were told to take it or leave it; it’s our choice. I think most importantly the power of individual affirmation was taught. Don’t wanna have sex? Tell your partner how you feel. Need him to use a condom? Be clear about your needs. The strictest Jews believe condoms are wrong (b/c they destroy the “seed”) but The Pill is absolutely fine, because nothing gets destroyed in the process. Are the more orthodox Jews being disrespected because they are being taught about condoms? America – and by association, the American Public School – is about freedom. Freedom of choice is included in that. What exactly is your plan of action here? prevent education about certain choices because it might offend some students? Take surveys to see which students come from households that believe certain things in the program are immoral to be taught? Build a stilted program based on the results?? All of the facts need to be out there: some ppl have sex with the same sex. Some people masturbate. Or use sex toys. Or use The Pill. Or use the Patch. Or condoms. Or diaphragms. Some people don’t have sex. And it’s all a matter of personal choice.
(Sigh: for the XGW record)
Alan,
I would appreciate a link to the apology made by Wellington Boone.
What, he actually hasn’t made one? But you forgave him anyway. All just water under the bridge, right? Let’s not mention it again, and it’ll all vanish.
And come on — you can say it. Boone used “faggots” to incite the crowd. That was 22 Sept 2006. [eg 1]
One month later, and now you are on stage with him. On that occassion he’s 1) not in the slightest bit repentant for 22 Sept. 2) yelling out “sodomites” continually and 3) making positive comments about anti-gay criminal laws. [2]
Far from being “in the past” — Boone has behaved like this for many years, and unsurisingly, therefore, you can still download the horrendous tract he referred to in the rally you shared: “The Rape Of The Civil Rights Movement”. [3]
In this he continuely refers to “sodomites” in lurid language; and even suggests that one of the “positive steps to take” includes “the historical laws of this country dealing with sodomy” and “how they could apply today.”
In case anyone wonders what laws he’s refering to, Boone tells you: those that made “sodomy a capital offense”. Wow, executing gay people.
Does this meet your definition of “inflamitory” language? Could anything be more bullying than threatening to gaol or even execute someone? Is this the type of person Exodus wishes to associate with?
Alan, you have a very strange idea of what a “good man” is.
(Nice try with the distancing too. Unfortunately your Exodus press release says otherwise. Oh, I’ve just realised: this is the same tactic you used when you denied Exodus’ relationship with Richard Cohen.)
Speaking of good men:
If Ken Hutcherson is, as you say, “a very dear friend”, it will be very easy for you to ask him about his activities in Latvia earlier this year.
Ask him who accompanied him. Ask him what groups he associated with while he was there. Ask if these groups are affiliated with Latvian neo-nazis. Ask him what activities he “work shopped” with them (clue: it parallels Boone’s ideas). And ask him why he claimed he was an official envoy of the United States government. (yeah, a doozy that one.)
(here’s but one report. Thought you’d enjoy this one because of the tshirt worn by one of Hutcherson’s Baltic friends. You’ll also wish to read — badly translated — the opinions of Hutcherson’s new best buddy http://www.eagleforumofsacramento.com/?p=25)
While you’ve got him on the phone: also ask “Hutch” about his current domestic political involvement. Just say “Initiative 963″, and see where that leads you. [5]. (Ken Hutcherson is the sponsor, in case you’re wondering).
That’s correct — a “very dear friend” of Alan Chambers is currently campaigning to remove employment, housing, and public services protections for gay men and women; and at the very time he’s about to appear as a special guest speaker at the Exodus conference.
As we said — a man is known by the company he keeps.
Your friends stink. They are extremely offensive, and dangerous bullies.
We have no wish to contact or question them. That’s your responsibility.
So, Grant/Dale, Do you just spew your bitterness and anger on blogs all day or do you ever go directly to the people you are mad at?
Alan,
What’s your issue with answering questions about your unpleasant friends or the deceitful activities of Exodus under your leadership? You have a real problem with honesty.
We’re not selling anything here. Nobody is accusing us of running a fraud.
Now, back to the topic of Wellington Boone, Ken Hutcherson and Exodus.
(But you are more than welcome to fly to Melbourne. Australia. Anytime. You might then be in a position to make other than ignorant guesses about us.)
Alan -
My dad (actually both parents) is a pastor on the conservative end of the scale (probably closely in line with what you are affiliated with). Through him, I’m well acquainted with Wellington Boone. To feign ignorance regarding his, using your own definition of, bullying of gay people would seem to be a stretch. He has, on many occasions, said things that are downright hateful. Perhaps he’s apologized to you personally. But that doesn’t really cut the mustard since a personal apology about very public statements is no real apology at all.
I’ve got to tell you (and want to say this in the nicest way possible), I was absolutely shocked to hear that you consider Ken Hutcherson a close friend. I had opportunity to sit in a service where he preached not that long ago and have to say that I walked out heart-sick at the level of viotrol he let forth regarding gay people. No he didn’t use words like “faggot”, but the words he used could only be described as completely hurtful to anyone who is gay or, even those who feel they are just struggling with SSA’s.
I remember one time after church sitting in a restaurant . Around the table were several of the pastoral staff, including my father who was serving as the Senior Pastor. The mood was jovial as it had been a very good service. Soon jokes were being made. The Worship Pastor then told a joke that was incredibly degrading to gay people. The entire table laughed. I happened to look up at our server who was one of those people you just “knew” were gay. His faced turned three colors of red. I told my dad later that our church had lost the ability to ever minister to this guy or his friends. And probably not just our church but the church world at large.
I probably won’t change your mind about Ken Hutcherson. Heck, I don’t even know that I’m trying. I think enough has been reported about him to give gay people pause. Would a gay person feel welcome in his church? I’d say not. And that is the saddest thing of all because if the church really has a message that can change the lives of gay people, but totally put gay people off because of their words and actions, then what good is the message?
j.
Now that a statement has been issued, I would like to suggest the following steps:
(1) That EXODUS put in place (if it has not already) some sort of policy and procedure to evaluate past performance and current attitudes of an affiliate, associate or friend — to see if the person or organization is living up to the intent and spirit of the new policy statement. This should be SELF-policing. Along these lines, EXODUS ought to do a complete internet search to see what these folks have actually been saying about gays — not wait until we point it out.
Fo example, why did EXODUS (until very recently) cite “research” by Cameron without first examining Cameron’s hateful statements (referring to gays as “parasitic”) and “abhorrent solutions” (tatooing, extermination, etc.)? How come we could find that information and EXODUS either could not or did not? And now that even Dr. Throckmorton has voiced disgust regarding Cameron’s “disturbing” views, why hasn’t EXODUS followed suit?
(2) That EXODUS develop some formal channels of communication so that we could alert EXODUS to EXODUS-connected persons or groups who are in violation? We need something like a grievance procedure — a way to express or concerns and get specific feedback about what EXODUS has done to resolve the issue. These steps would give the new policy some “teeth” and insure that it’s not just a nice sentiment. Are these things possible, Alan?
It seems to me that the wording of “identified” was a specific qualifier by Exodus to literally “single out some for special treatment.”
In short, anyone can “identify” with anything. In that sense, we are all equal. So to protect something that we all have equal access to, would indeed “single out some for special treatment.” And that truly would not be fair.
As I read it, it’s nothing more than code for “being gay is a choice — but I don’t want you to see that that’s what I’m saying.”
A loverly sentiment, except that fat kids don’t “identify” as fat, they’re just fat — as though that was in dispute.
But it makes sense of this statement:
That hypothetical 50% being those who think that teaching that some people are just homosexual, as opposed to “identified” as such, would indeed teach it as moral and good, because it would teach it as being fully human, as opposed to “sexually broken” and inherently “sinful.”
But that’s not the worst of it, this is:
You asked for specific examples, he gave more than enough — with links — and instead of refuting them or promising to follow up on them, you attacked him.
I would be MORTIFIED if anyone thought I condoned such despicable behavior as the examples that were given.
This is one reason why people like me can’t take people like you seriously when you say you are sincere. Because I, as an “unrepentant sinner,” know that it is MORALLY WRONG to bear false witness and harm others, and you don’t.
___
PS, Here’s another example of your “dear friend” ken’s Hutcherson’s “Christian” witness: http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2007/06/01/261#comment-55
And you wonder why we don’t contact them directly?
1. Isn’t it ironic that Exodus’ conference theme this year is about radical change in the church’s ability to minister to homosexuals, and then they have Ken Hutcherson as a speaker.
2. Michael Bussee believes that there is no problem at Exodus which can’t be faced head on with a new policy statement.