Ex-Gay Watch

Focus on the Family recently claimed gay activists (NGLTF and PFLAG) have “pressured” the APA to re-examine it’s position on allowing members to practice gay conversion or reparative therapy. Given Focus’ recent history of distorting science and reality to fit their worldview, I contacted the NGLTF, PFLAG, and the APA myself and spoke respectivly with Jason Cianciotto, Ron Schlittler, and Clinton Anderson. What I learned was that in an informal meeting Schlittler (PFLAG) expressed concerns to Anderson (APA) over: (in Schlittler’s words)

“aggressive promotion of “reparative therapy” by right wing groups.”

Given that the APA’s position statement on reparative therapy is 8-years old Anderson issued a formal memo in September of 2005 to NGLTF and PFLAG seeking formal opinions from both organizations. To be clear, NGLTF never even gave their opinion to the APA until asked for it. I hardly consider that “pressure.”

Focus did not report the primary reason for the formation of the investigative task-force, which is because: (in Cianciotto’s words)

[since 1997 a] “growing body of new research has been published on conversion therapy and a number of other medical and mental health professional associations have released new statements and policies on the issue.”

All three sources I spoke with, the APA, NGLTF, and PFLAG indicated this was the primary reason for the formation of a task-force. Focus neglected to report this.

Focus on the Family took in 143 million dollars in revenue in 2005.

Focus has contributed nothing to the body of research on conversion therapy but rather spent vast sums of money erecting billboards asking people to “question homosexuality.” The only evidence of “successful” conversion therapy Focus has offered is a troupe of career professional ex-gays, and and even Focus would have to agree that for the APA to base their professional scientific standards and methods on that would be akin to malpractice.

It’s no wonder Focus doesn’t want to report the primary reason the APA is reevaluating its position. They could have contacted these same people for the facts but apparently did not. Either this is incredibly sloppy journalism or they were trying to spin a story that wasn’t there.

Anderson (APA) also reported the formation of a task-force has been authorized and nominations will be accepted in March.

Exodus sent out a press release encouraging people to “tune-in” to the Montel Williams show today to see guest Alan Chambers.  This may confuse those who tune in because today’s show is actually about “Murder and Mystery with Sylvia Browne.”

The show with Alan is being taped today with the broadcast probably a week or so later.  You can always see Montel’s schedule for the final word.

Earlier this month Alan was on Anderson Cooper 360 and made some very interesting statements about “change” in three weeks, gay Christians, and his own reasons for leaving homosexuality. Rest assured I’ve done my homework and found Alan and Exodus’ track record on these things don’t match up. Most dramatic is Melissa Fryrear’s claim she’s met exgays who changed instantaneously. Oh yes… we have audio of her saying that at Love Won Out Phoenix. Just watch the video.

Video on YouTube / Google Video

Transcript after the jump.

Read more…

Peterson Toscano and Lance Carroll — both survivors of Exodus’ flagship live-in boot camp, called Love In Action — were on Montel yesterday (02/20/07) each briefly discussing their experiences with the ex-gay movement.

There’s a two page article on ex-gay stuff in the current issue of People Magazine which hit newsstands today (Friday) and will arrive in mailboxes on Tuesday. I was interviewed for the article but they didn’t run any of that, instead deciding to go with a half page photo. Ex-gay survivor Peterson Toscano is also interviewed in the story.

I can be contacted at daniel@exgaywatch.com.

I was interviewed Thursday night (before flying to Phoenix) for American Public Media’s “Weekend America” which was broadcast on many NPR stations across the nation today. Full audio of the segment here.

Every local news station in Phoenix came to the press conference today in opposition to Love Won Out. Video of the entire press conference will be posted soon.

Update: And here’s the video.

And the Q&A.

The satire website/newspaper The Onion takes on Haggard’s 3-week “cure.”

Hat tip Scott H.

Hopefully I’ll have video up by this weekend at the latest. Here’s a link to the transcript. Alan Chambers appeared opposite Mark Shields of HRC. (Since when does HRC care or know anything about ex-gays? Shields admits he never even went through an ex-gay program.)

Of note, Alan even seemed a bit surprised by Haggard’s 3-week transformation to full heterosexuality:

COOPER: Alan, you believe it is possible to stop being gay. Ted Haggard, though, says that he — this is something he wrestled with his entire life. Does it make sense to you that he was able to stop this allegedly in three weeks of counseling?

ALAN CHAMBERS, PRESIDENT, EXODUS INTERNATIONAL: Well, the truth is that’s not my story, and it’s not the story of anyone I’ve ever met. I don’t know Ted Haggard’s journey over the last three weeks, but like Mark, I would say that it’s something that — it doesn’t seem like something that is really the case.

And of course Alan dances around semantics when asked if he’s still attracted to men:

COOPER: So you entered the counseling. Do you still have attraction to men? You’re just choosing not to act on it?

CHAMBERS: My attraction greatly diminished over the course of many years. Sixteen years into it, my life isn’t even remotely the same as it once was, but I often say that I will never be as though I never was.

And the truth is that I’m a human being. And for me to say that I could never be attracted to men again, or that I couldn’t be tempted would mean that I’m not human, and that’s just not the case.

Then Mark Shields from says something truly brilliant and obvious we need to hear more of in the mainstream press:

You know, I wonder if Ted Haggard had been told as a child that it was OK to be gay and that he could have a rich, full life, if his life story wouldn’t have been less painful and contorted.

Alan Chambers then acknowledged some gay people reconcile their faith and sexuality. This is a pretty radical departure from Focus’ position, which it had begun to appear was calling the shots at Exodus.

COOPER: And is that based on a belief that you cannot be Christian and gay? I mean, is the wonderful life you’re talking about a religious life which you feel was not accessible to you as an openly, proud, happy gay man?

CHAMBERS: Not at all. I think that there are plenty of gay people out there who are Christians, as well, but for me, homosexuality wasn’t compatible with my faith, and my faith was much more important than that.

The plot summary of tonight’s Boston Legal:

 “Selling Sickness”
Tuesday, February 6 @ 10/9c

Alan Shore, Denny Crane and Bethany Horowitz are hired to represent a judge who is suing a company for not delivering on its promise to cure him of his homosexuality. Meanwhile, Shirley Schmidt takes on a case involving the use of a controversial new drug that can dull traumatic memories, and Denise is shocked to discover she’s pregnant — but doesn’t know whether the father is Brad Chase or Jeffrey Coho.

Hat tip Scott H