reveling over what must feel like a victory beyond their wildest dreams to prove that people affected by same-sex attraction cannot and should not do anything but embrace a narrow view of their same-sex attractions, by adopting and celebrating a gay identity.

My, what a “Grace”-filled sentence. Tell me, what exactly is a “gay identity?” Because I identify as Jewish and human, but being gay? well, that’s just something that IS, not something I have to MAKE a part of me. Interesting he even took the time at ALL to post on this “gay-identified” blog, since we are counted among–

The carnivorous gay bloggers and their followers seem most concerned with the downfall of a man, a marriage and a movement; not to mention the titillating photos and full bodily description of this boy barely out of high school.

Ah yes, it’s important to point out this kid’s age because it “proves” how quickly gay men revert to their natural predatory/pederastic tendencies when a shirtless barely-not-teenage twink is pictured on a blog post! And since we’re reporting on what happened instead of making self-righteous blog entries about “grace” and “faith,” or voicing judgments about a person’s lifestyle, that makes Alan confused:

I cannot understand the gay communities’ lack of regard for this 20 year-old boy who has been prostituting himself to anyone who “asks” and “pays”.

It’s not “lack of regard” to show what a person does for a living. People do have the freedom to choose their own lifestyle. Just like they can choose to smoke cigarettes or choose to go vegan. But Alan is furious.

While the gay community seems hell-bent on forcing everyone to be tolerant of their “just like everyone else” lives they seem completely incapable of showing Jo-Vanni Roman any compassion or care. This kid is so desperate for love or money or care that he stoops to dehumanize himself with anyone who can afford to use and abuse him.

“Hell bent?” really, Alan? We want to be left alone. Seems to me that you’re bitter people are all too quickly realizing how obsolete your ex-gay lifestyle and worldview is. This “kid” is 20 – so he is technically not a “kid” in the eyes of the law. He makes his own choices. And if you asked him yourself, he would probably tell you “I get by just fine.” He probably would disagree that he is being “dehumanized” – it’s his lifestyle. We might not agree but we can’t force him to “humanize” himself in the way we see fit.

And, Jo-Vanni, if you or anyone like you is reading this, call us. We will listen because we care. The one thing we absolutely know is that there is a God who loves, redeems and restores completely.

Crimony, he spent 10 straight days (in europe) with a top-tier evangelical minister (who was “evangelizing to him” according to his website) and that didn’t convert him one iota. I doubt all your “care” would convert him either.

This “Jo” character might be a gay prostitute – he might have self esteem issues, he might have been abused, or maybe he just likes to hook-up – but one thing is for certain, he knows who he is and what he is. He doesn’t need Exodus to try and fix his “identity.” The only one with identity issues here is Rekers. He can’t decide who he was in Europe – a physically lame traveler, a same-sex attracted “struggler,” or a brave “on fire” evangelist.

Hey Alan,

Thanks for taking the time to respond on here, but I think I understand why you choose to do so now: it’s simply good for business, as this scandal is giving you some free advertising to peddle more snake oil.

I guess business is down nowadays (no pun intended), but you should be ashamed at using this unfortunate (yet elating) revelation in order to drum up more business. You should be posting your smut on RentBoy so you can “minister to gay people with the loving goal” of helping them.

When you’re brave enough to do that, and pay money to do so, maybe you’ll be taken seriously. Until then, my congratulations on keeping up appearances as you not only drum up business, but demonstrate that you are still under the control and watchful eye of your parent group, Focus on the Family.

Let me ask you, Alan, when you will Focus on the WHOLE Family…..including those who are GLBT?

I feel bad for Jo-vanni. Here is a kid young adult pushed into the limelight.

I wrote on the Exodus page (probably won’t be approved): “Mr. Rekers is vehemently opposed to gay behavior and lifestyle. He has spoken and worked so hard against it for decades. So, if he can’t cure himself and overcome his homosexual desires, what hope is there for anyone else?”

I’m sure there is a wide range of diversity on the sexual orientation scale. It’s not all black-and-white. I’m sure some people who only have a slight same-sex attraction who don’t want this orientation can be ‘cured’. But a lot of people can’t be ‘cured’. Here is a perfect example. Rekers spent his life denouncing homosexuality. He studied and argued that homosexuality was bad. But in the end, he wasn’t able to overcome those desires himself. What does that say about ordinary people’s ability to change? Here was a man dedicating his life to eliminating homosexuality. How much work does it take to stop being gay? And is all that work worth it? I was very miserable and guilty and lonely for the first 28 years of my life, until I admitted that I was gay. (I didn’t even experiment sexually–so I was not “caught up in the gay lifestyle”. I lived a Christian life, went to a fundamentalist college). But now I don’t have that big burden of guilt and shame that followed me for so many years.

I do have sympathy for Jo-vanni Roman (or “Lucian”, as he prefers). But my sympathy extends beyond a moment of faux-care about him based on a desire to hush the story.

Unlike Exodus, our community funds youth services, outreach, and other efforts to get kids off the streets. We also know that the full force campaign of condemnation and legal inequalities – a campaign which is actively supported by Exodus, incidentally, even years after promises to be ‘non-political’ – leads to more children being cut off from family and resources and forced to rely on means they otherwise would avoid.

You see, we really do care. These are “our kids”.

But we also know that Lucian is not a street kid. He is someone who has chosen a particular occupation, one which can lead to quick easy money but can also come with certain risks and social consequences. He’s a bright guy, he weighed the risks and went for it.

When the story broke and his identity was rapidly revealed, Lucian felt victimized by circumstances. And, like many in his profession, he also felt an obligation to his clients. But it appears that he has now seen his responsibilities and is opting to add further clarity to the situation.

You see, Lucian may work in the oldest profession, but he does not support discrimination. He may not be a college professor or start any national political organizations, but he knows that it is wrong to try and ban good and decent gay couples and individuals from providing a loving home to needy children.

And our community respects Lucian’s decision to clarify. But I wonder if your concern for how badly Lucian is being treated will continue once he spills all.

That said, I agree with Dave Rattigan, your analogy is flawed. There is no doubt that coverage on some blogs has been excessive and tacky in my opinion, but the world is not a church, and stuff like this plays out in all sorts of ways. I also agree that XGW has been more than fair, to the point of my making a correction to some misinformation already out there.

These are the facts, and they concern a man who has been paid tens of thousands of dollars to spew psuedo-science from the witness stand in an attempt to deny gays and lesbians the right to adopt or take in foster children — only due to their sexual orientation. But then that makes perfect sense to you, doesn’t it. When such a person is exposed as a classic hypocrite you might forgive people for reacting strongly. It is a much more tangible injustice than your constant whining about an imaginary loss of religious liberty.

You need to work on your own house first, Alan. More and more people recognize Exodus, et al as the “counterfeit” every day. And you really are a single organization, unlike the nebulous “gay community” which is a slice across all demographics. You do much worse than throw stones, you create situations like this. And to this day you do not take responsibility for it, you simply get someone to type up a post under the “Who, me?” category.

Those moderate, bridge building clothes might look better on you if you didn’t wear them just for special occasions.

As always, none of the blame will go to the folly of expecting gay people to have to change, to change…or that they are better off living openly and encouraged to be in monogamous marriages with other gay people.

That boy he was with isn’t on a good path either, sadly. He’s a pretty thing.