Ex-Gay Watch

The recent hateful rant by Representative Sally Kern hit home with me, not because of the more widespread comparison she made between gay folks and terrorists, disgusting as it is, but because of her continued rant about the public schools “indoctrinating” children as young as two years old with “the homosexual lifestyle is an acceptable lifestyle.” As a 19-year veteran public school teacher, and an Oklahoma educator at that, where do I begin?

First of all, I’d like to let Representative Kern know that even though I contribute voluntarily to a pro-gay site, I’ve yet to receive my official copy of “the homosexual agenda.” Does that thing come in the mail? If so, mine is lost and I can scarcely think or conduct myself regarding these issues without such a document. In all seriousness, I’m not naive enough to say that I don’t operate from an agenda. Anyone with a couple of synapses making connections does, in fact, function based on one. I like to think of mine as a “love your neighbor as yourself” agenda. I do not base my agenda on sexuality, gay or straight, and the educators I know, even the ones who teach two-year-olds, are with me on that.

I’d venture to say that every public school in our country, and likely some private schools, are now teaching some form of character education. This has to be what Representative Kern is referring to in her rant because I know of no other curriculum that is widespread and could even begin to hint at the “indoctrination” to which she repeatedly refers. A simple search reveals that character ed programs are as prevalent in today’s schools as the soybean burger, though hopefully more tastefully produced. Read more…

Exodus president Alan Chambers heralded that organization’s “countercultural revolution” at LifeSiteNews.com, echoing a previous claim of dramatic increase in first-time attendees during the Exodus International Annual Freedom Conference 2007 in Los Angeles (50%) and the Exodus’ Regional Freedom Conference in Nashville, Tennessee (60%).

People are hungry for a hopeful message about homosexuality that encompasses God’s truth as well as His compassionate heart. We are thrilled to be a small part of what God is doing to reach a new generation with His liberating truth.

The identities of the first-timers (and the regular participants) who are hungry for the ex-gay doctrines presented at these conferences are never mentioned.

From the Exodus website:

Each year, over 1,000 men, women, youth, pastors, therapists, spouses, parents and other interested persons come together for a unique gathering of instruction and celebration.”

So where are the homosexuals?

The following is a quote from a major ex-gay ministry leader:

The Homosexual Agenda…Myth.

Yes, I believe there are many people with many agendas.

However, I do not believe there is an American-wide gay conspiracy that is played up in by Coral Ridge and some other conservative Christian organizations to generate fear.

What I *do* believe is that in the spiritual realm, there are demonic spirits who have an evil agenda of destruction and hate, and they are the ones deceiving and manipulating both gays and straights to achieve THEIR agenda.

In decrying the way gay people are portrayed by many churches and other organizations, this leader went on to call for an “honest portrayal”:

Instead of showing gays cavorting in the streets why not show the ones who are actively seeking to make positive contributions to society? For example, most of the best AIDS Outreach programs in America are secular organizations staffed or directed by openly gay individuals. The Church could tremendously benefit from the knowledge these secular agencies have obtained in trying to help PWA’s deal with HIV and Aids. The point is, the rest of the world knows that there is more to homosexuality than what is being presented. Be honest. It is not simply about a sex act, it is about a community, identity and feelings.

And out of frustration with the political involvement of so many ministries, they said:

This politically fixated speech has to stop and the gospel must be put into action. I want to see the Coral Ridge leaders start serving the gay community instead of fighting them. I want to see them lay down their own agendas and start picking up God’s, which is salvation, not the next election. Our future does not lie in Washington D.C.; it lies in the palm of God’s hand and I want to bring as many with me as I can.

Some longtime readers may recognize this leader. Wendy Gritter? No, these quotes and more are from Randy Thomas, VP of Exodus International. They are taken from a letter he wrote ten years ago, protesting the use of his story by Coral Ridge Ministries (Dr. James Kennedy). At the time, he was co-director of Living Hope Ministries, an Exodus member. The letter appeared on the website of Justice & Respect until 2002 when it was removed for reasons unknown. XGW mentioned it in 2003.

I encourage you to read the entire thing, then ask with me the obvious question; what happened to Randy Thomas?

• XGW Founding Editor Mike Airhart blogging daily for Wayne Besen at relaunched Truth Wins Out website

• UK anti-gay activist Stephen Green (Christian Voice) hints at opening ex-gay “clinic” in Wales

• Canadian television to broadcast hour-long documentary examining ex-gay movement

• Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins: environmentalism joins same-sex relations as threat to traditional family

• Gays & Muslims unite to oppose OK rep Sally Kern’s remarks; Kern’s son denies gay rumours; Sally finds sympathetic ear in company of notoriously homophobic Matt Barber & Peter LaBarbera

Not content with predicting the future, Citizenlink now wants to change history by rewriting a controversial article – and saying nothing.

In 2007, Citizenlink, the official news service of Focus on the Family, suffered embarrassment after reporting attendance figures for an ex-gay survivor conference before they could possibly be known. Associate Editor Jennifer Mesko protested her innocence (in an article that has since disappeared from the web), but failed to explain why she felt able to accurately forecast the future.

At that time, Mesko wrote:

As Christian journalists, we adhere as best we can to truth and accuracy. But many of those on the other side of the issues we fight – particularly bloggers – aren’t guided by those principles.

Bloggers can post whatever they want, whenever they want. I admit, it often seems credible. They seem like real journalists. Only without the degree. Without the editors. Without the accountability.

Now it appears the ideals of truth, accuracy and accountability have been discarded once again, as it is revealed that an article written in early March was totally rewritten over 10 days later, without explanation. Although the views expressed were attributed to FotF’s Glenn Stanton, neither version credited the writer of the article, a curious omission that appears to be standard on Citizenlink.

The original article (top, click to enlarge) made the bold claim that anthropologists were agreed on the “traditional definition of marriage.” Box Turtle Bulletin did an excellent job of gathering the views of two anthropologists (including XGW contributor Patrick Chapman), as well as those of the American Anthropological Association – all of whom sharply disputed the claim.

There was no response from Citizenlink; yet by March 14th, an entirely different article (bottom) had appeared, retaining the same date, and available at the same URL, yet softening the original claims in what was, frankly, a very weasely manner.

For the record, we maintain high journalistic standards at Ex-Gay Watch. We will always make it clear when text has been significantly altered, and we will never make a major change without indicating so. Contrary to Ms Mesko’s dismissal, we at XGW submit everything we post to a thorough process of review and edit before it becomes public. There is nothing amateur about the standard we maintain.

Citizenlink shames itself with such unprofessional practices, and makes a mockery of its claims to accuracy and accountability.

More at sallykerntribute.blogspot.com

Hat Tip: greatamericanpatriot

• Warren Throckmorton proposes an alternative way conservative Christian families can respond to the Day of Silence

• Ford denies American Family Association claims of pro-family victory following boycott

• The Wittenburg Door speculates on how James Dobson might respond to The Newest Threat to American Families

• Focus on the Family supports homophobic Oklahoma rep Sally Kern, describes controversy over gays/terrorists comparison as “quibbling”; Kern claim to have received death threats unsubstantiated; thankfully, Kern doesn’t represent all Oklahoma Christians

Frank Schaeffer was a key player in the early days of the Religious Right. Along with his father, the evangelical apologist Francis Schaeffer (pictured), he successfully mobilized millions of American Christians to pursue an aggressive political agenda based on a handful of conservative causes – abortion and homosexuality being top priorities.

His memoir, Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back, has polarized opinion. In the book, he is scathing about his parents’ fundamentalism, as well as their personal failings (although contrary to some of the fiercest criticism, he is as forthcoming in showing them genuine affection as he is in exposing their flaws), and even more scathing of the Christian Right he helped to create. Read more…

• Oklahoma Representative Sally Kern speech provokes hostile reaction, remains unrepentant over anti-gay remarks (original story here)

• Queerty finds evidence that Rep. Kern disowned gay son

• James Dobson laments the passing of the Religious Right’s old guard

• Openly gay Episcopalian bishop Gene Robinson declines invitation to Anglican Church’s 10-yearly Lambeth Conference, says it’s a “non-offer” (previous XGW story on Bishop Gene here)

After XGW discovered information indicating that Exodus International is a member of the prominent religious conservative political organization, The Arlington Group (AG), we asked President Alan Chambers to respond on the record. He replied that Exodus was indeed a member, and they planned on maintaining that membership.

Co-founded by Donald Wildmon of the American Family Association, AG is an attempt to unify the efforts of religious conservative political groups. It is politics and policy in overdrive, and when you hear powerful religious conservatives speak in unison, it probably started in a huddle at AG.

Now the obvious question; how does this fit in with Chamber’s recent announcement that Exodus has “decided to back out of policy issues,” concerned that they “might be alienating people that simply wouldn’t call [them] for help because of the perception that [they] were becoming a partisan and political organization rather than a ministry for all”? If anything, this will guarantee just that – and it will be true.

XGW has tried to be reasonable about the difficulties surrounding such a major change. We understand, for instance, that one can’t always disassociate from a board member immediately, depending on the issues. There may be contracts to be fulfilled, etc. However, membership in a group like AG is not a gray area, and not only are they still members, but Chambers has says they will remain so.

This really is an intolerable situation if Chambers is to ever be believed in the future. We call on him as president of Exodus International to stand by his pledge and cancel Exodus’ membership in this purely partisan, political group.

Addendum: The Arlington Group website was taken off-line in early 2007. See comments below for more info.

Hat Tip: Emily for finding the membership info.