http://www.answers.

com/ex-gay
Wikipedia:

ex-gay
The factual accuracy of this article is disputed.

Ex-gay is a term used by some reparative therapists, religious groups, and others to
describe persons who used to be gay or bisexual, but now consider themselves
heterosexual.

For some ex-gay groups, merely choosing not to act on one's same-sex desires counts as a
"success."[1] For example, some ex-gays in opposite-sex marriages acknowledge that their
sexual attractions remain primarily homosexual, but seek to make their marriages work.[2]
For some, the mere act of adopting the label "ex-gay" is seen as a narrative device
whereby "individuals us[e] language as the primary tool to not only express identity but
also create and transform it."[3] Ex-gays compare this to the coming out process.[3] Other
ex-gays try to distance themselves from the term. Courage International does not consider
itself an ex-gay ministry, but prefers to be thought of as "pro-chastity".[4] Alan Chambers,
president of Exodus International, resents the term and has publically denounced its
usage. Other than Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays, no other major ex-gay
organization has labeled themselves as an ex-gay organization.

Exodus International, National Association for the Research and Therapy of

Homosexuality, Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays, Love in Action, Courage UK, Courage
International, and True Freedom Trust are some of the organizations and groups whose
objectives include helping people attempt to change or control their same-sex attraction.

Some ex-gay organizations consider reparative therapy to be a useful and necessary tool
to treat homosexual desire, [5] The medical and scientific consensus is that reparative
therapy is not effective and is potentially harmful.[6] The American Psychiatric
Association issued a critical statement backed by numerous other mainstream medical
organizations, which stated: "There is simply no sufficiently scientifically sound evidence
that sexual orientation can be changed."[7] The statement went on to say that positions
espoused by ex-gay organizations "are not supported by the science" and that they "create
an environment in which prejudice and discrimination can flourish." Ex-gay groups assert
that the scientific community has taken its stances on homosexuality due to political, and
not scientific, considerations.[8][9]

Ex-gay views
Definition of change
Exodus describes change as "attaining abstinence from homosexual behaviors, lessening
of homosexual temptations, strengthening their sense of masculine or feminine identity,
correcting distorted styles of relating with members of the same and opposite gender."[10]
Some ex-gays advocate entering (or remaining) in a heterosexual marriage as part of the
process. Some ex-gays in opposite-sex marriages acknowledge that their sexual
attractions remain primarily homosexual, but seek to make their marriages work
anyway.[11]

Religion

See also: Religion and homosexuality and Homosexuality and Christianity

PATH organization[clarify]

In a joint coalition, several ex-gay organizations expressed their views that, for those with
same-sex attractions, they support:

• Personal choice in their sexual identity and behavior.

• Right to know of alternatives to living a homosexual life.
• Individual self-determination to seek counseling and determine the direction of
that therapy
• Compassion and respect to live in their choices as they see fit, without
discrimination, ridicule, marginalization, or being the target of hate speech.
• Policy neutrality, especially in the freedom to speak about freely chosen
alternatives to homosexuality.
• Equal access to public forums to raise awareness of alternative responses to a
homosexual identity and lifestyle.[12]

Reparative therapy

Most religious ex-gay organizations support reparative therapy and provide referrals to its
practitioners, though ex-gay organizations often do not practice it themselves.[13] Not all
techniques are approved of by ex-gay organizations. For example, Exodus has
condemned aversion therapy,[14][15] and has expressed concern over the techniques used
by Richard Cohen.[13]

Ex-gay claims concerning ceexa70 12 Tf 83(c)9.54382.(n)-2.9438(c)9.5432.5368(e)43g ecna70u12 Tf 83ac53658(e)43ocgn

otn
While the term "ex-gay" is used almost exclusively to mean gays and lesbians who have
undergone a religious-based conversion, it could also be used to characterize those who at
one time self-identified as gay or lesbian but have since abandoned that identity for one
reason or another, not necessarily related to religious beliefs. Such individuals could
actually be defined as bisexual, though they have chosen to lead their lives as
heterosexuals. Some argue that if heterosexuals can come to terms with homosexual
feelings, come out of the closet, and embrace gay lives, the same can be true in the
reverse.

People in the ex-gay movement

Ex-gay people

Dennis Jernigan in concert, Woodland, California, June 2006

• Alan Chambers is the president of Exodus International. He shares his story at

several ex-gay events and has written several books. He is politically active, and
promotes legislation against same-sex marriage.[19]
• Richard Cohen is the former president of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and
Gays and was the subject of an infamous interview by Jason Jones on the March
19, 2007 episode of The Daily Show. After this appearance, NARTH and Parents
and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays systematically removed all references to Cohen
from their website[20] and Exodus International issued a position statement
distancing themselves from him.[21]

• Charlene Cothran was the editor of Venus, a magazine for African-American

lesbians. Following a Christian conversion in 2006, she changed the editorial
policy of the magazine to support the ex-gay movement.[22][23]

• Dennis Jernigan is a singer-songwriter of contemporary Christian music. He

describes his experience of "deliverance from homosexuality" during his
concerts.[24]

• Michael Johnston was the chair of the National Coming Out of Homosexuality
Day and founder of Kerusso Ministries. Johnston is featured in the film It's Not
Gay, promoted by the American Family Association. He was subsequently found
 out to be engaging in drug fueled gay orgies while promoting himself as an ex-
gay.[25]

• Ted Haggard is a former American evangelical preacher who engaged in

homosexual sex with prostitute Mike Jones. Haggard entered three weeks of
intensive counseling, overseen by four ministers. On February 6, 2007 one of
those ministers, Tim Ralph, stated that Haggard "is completely heterosexual."[26]
Ralph later said he meant to say that therapy "gave Ted the tools to help to
embrace his heterosexual side."[27]

People who "relapsed"

Main article: Reparative therapy#People who "relapsed"

People who left the ex-gay movement

Main article: Ex-ex-gay

The term ex-ex-gay refers to people, once involved with the ex-gay movement, who have
ended the attempt to change their orientation, and who now identify as gay or bisexual.
The Ex Gay Watch website is a notable resource regarding people who have been
involved with the ex-gay movement and later left. Wayne Besen was not personally
involved with the ex-gay movement, but he denounced it in his book, Anything but
Straight. Notable people who left the movement include:

• Günter Baum originally founded an ex-gay ministry in Germany. Ultimately, he

formed another ministry, Zwischenraum, which helps gay Christians to accept
their sexuality and to reconcile it with their beliefs.

• In 1979, Exodus International's co-founder Michael Bussee and his partner Gary
Cooper quit the group and held a life commitment ceremony together.[28]

• Peterson Toscano is an actor who was involved in the ex-gay movement for 20
years. He performs a related one-man satire titled Doin' Time in the Homo No Mo
Halfway House, and with Christine Bakke co-runs a support website for people
coming out of ex-gay experiences; Beyond Ex-Gay.

Scandals involving minors

One of the most controversial aspects of the ex-gay movement has been the focus on gay
teenagers, including occasions where teenagers have been forcibly treated in ex-gay
camps. A 2006 report outlined evidence that ex-gay and conversion therapy groups are
increasingly focusing on children.[29] Several legal researchers have responded to these
events by arguing that parents who force their children into aggressive conversion
therapy programs are committing child abuse under various state statutes.[30][31]
 • In 1991 14-year-old Lyn Duff came out publicly as a lesbian. Reportedly
concerned about her daughter's sexual orientation, Lyn Duff's mother had her
taken by force from her grandparents' home to Rivendell Psychiatric Center, a
residential treatment center near Salt Lake City. Duff's placement was paid for by
the State of California through special education funds on the basis of her
diagnosis with "Gender Identity Disorder". Her treatment reportedly included
shock therapy, aversion therapy, psychotropic drugs, hypnosis, and behavioral
counseling (for instance, being told to wear dresses and make up, etc). After 168
days in Rivendell, Duff escaped. In 1992, she initiated legal action against the
facility and her mother. In 1993, Duff's therapist at Rivendell, R. Mark Hinckley,
left Rivendell to start Turnabout, a similar camp to treat gay youth in Salt Lake
City.

• In Tennessee in 1995, a 16-year-old gay male sought legal emancipation from his
parents because they were forcing him to attend reorientation counseling with a
Memphis psychologist, Dr. Duff Wright. They intended to send him to either
Love in Action, or another similar program. The Memphis Circuit Court judge
agreed that the boy would be harmed by this treatment and indicated that he
would sign the emancipation order. In a settlement agreement, the parents
abandoned their plans to send the boy to treatment.[32] In April 2005, Wright lost
his license to practice as a psychologist, due to a get-rich-quick scheme that
resulted in a $81,000 loss to a client.[33]

• In July 2005, the New York Times ran a feature story about 16-year-old Zachary
Stark, whose parents forced him to attend an ex-gay camp run by Love in
Action.[34] In May 2005, Zachary posted on his blog:

Well today, my mother, father, and I had a very long 'talk' in my room where they
let me know I am to apply for a fundamentalist Christian program for gays. They
tell me that there is something psychologically wrong with me, and they "raised
me wrong." I'm a big screw up to them, who isn't on the path God wants me to be
on. So I'm sitting here in tears, joing [sic] the rest of those kids who complain
about their parents on blogs - and I can't help it.[35]

In July 2005, Stark was released from the ex-gay camp.[35] Stark's blog prompted an
investigation of the camp: the investigation did not uncover signs of child abuse, but in
September 2005, the camp was shut down when Tennessee authorities discovered that
unlicensed staff had been administering prescription drugs to the people attending the
camp.[36]

• In October 2005, the father of 17-year old DJ Butler drove him to the camp in
handcuffs.[37] In February 2006, Tennessee authorities, unwilling to pursue further
actions against Love in Action, closed the case.[37]

Ex-gay organizations
Ex-gay organizations began in the U.S. with Evangelical Christians, but has since spread
to include Catholic, LDS, Jewish, Muslim and non-religious groups in several countries
across the world.

North America

The first ex-gay ministry was formed in 1973, called Love in Action.[38] Three years later,
they joined with other ex-gay organizations to form Exodus International. Exodus is the
largest ex-gay organization, and has grown to include over 120 local ministries in the
U.S. and Canada.[39] Exodus International is the largest organization under the Exodus
Global Alliance. Many other ex-gay organizations have been formed to cater to a specific
religious group, such as Courage for Catholics, Evergreen International for Mormons
(LDS), OneByOne for Presbyterians, Transformation Congregations[40] for Methodists
and JONAH for Jews.

Other organizations have formed to meet specific needs. Witness Freedom Ministries
caters to people of color with same-sex attractions.[41] Exodus Youth is a group
specifically designed for youth,[42] and the NEA Ex-Gay Educators Caucus is a group
formed to help ex-gay teachers and students.[43] Others form after a specific technique,
such as Homosexuals Anonymous[44] which was modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous'
12 step program and International Healing Foundation was modeled after Richard
Cohen's methods. People Can Change[45] and PFOX are two other ex-gay organizations in
North America.

Europe

In 1975, Johan van de Sluis began EHAH (in English: Evangelical Counseling for
Homosexuals) in the Netherlands.[46] After visiting an Exodus conference in America, he
combined his organization with others to form Exodus Europe in 1982.[46] Exodus Europe
included True Freedom Trust in the UK, Medvandrarna[47] in Sweden, Til Helhet[48] in
Norway, Basis[49] in Denmark, Aslan[50] in Finland, Different (the old EHAH)[51] in
Belgium and Onze Weg[52] in the Netherlands. In April 2007, Exodus Europe decided to
break away from the Global Exodus Alliance because it was too affected by American
thinking.[53] The United Kingdom also has Encourage [54] for Catholics and StraightWay
Foundation[55] for Muslims.

Other

In 1978, Peter Lane began the first ex-gay group in Australia, which is called Liberty
Ministry.[46] In 1987, it joined with other ministries to form Exodus Asia Pacific.[56] In
1990 Frank Worthen went to the Philippines and formed Bagong Pag-asa.[57] Other
significant ex-gay groups under Exodus Asia Pacific include Liberty Christian
Ministries[58] in Australia, Rainbow 7[59] in Taiwan, Liberty League[60] in Singapore and
Pursuing Liberty Under Christ [61] in Malaysia.
In 1994, Esly Carvalho began Exodus Latino America.[62] In 2002, Exodus Brasil[63]
separated as a separate organization under Global Exodus Alliance. Other groups in Latin
America include Courage Latino[64] for Catholics, Elías S.O.S[65] in Argentina, and
Camino de Salida[66] in Ecuador. Es Posible el Cambio[67] is an interdenominational
group that advocates reparative therapy.

Ex-gay organizations in the Middle East include Atzat Nefesh[68] for Jews and Al-
Tawbah[69] for Muslims.

Medical view of attempts to change sexual orientation

Main article: Reparative therapy#Mainstream medical view on changing sexual
orientation

Controversies, criticisms, and scandals

Main article: Reparative therapy#Controversies, criticisms, and scandals

Ex-gay movement in popular culture

Main article: Reparative therapy#Reparative therapy and ex-gays in popular
culture

References
1. ^ See, e.g., Sexual Identity Institute FAQ. Retrieved 04-07-2007.
2. ^ No easy victory. Retrieved on 2006-03-26.
3. ^ a b Peebles, A. "It’s Not Coming Out, So Then What Is It? Sexual Identity and
the Ex-Gay Narrative".
4. ^ http://couragerc.net/FAQs.html
5. ^ Exodus International Policy Statements, Exodus International. Retrieved 04-07-
2007.
6. ^ Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation & Youth: A Primer for Principals,
Educators and School Personnel, American Psychological Association, et al.,
1999. Retrieved 2007-02-23.
7. ^ APA Discredits 'Ex-Gay' Movement, 365Gay Newscenter, 8-11-2006.
Retrieved on 04-14-2007.
8. ^ USA - Gay Conversion. Retrieved on 2006-06-22.
9. ^ Satinover, Jeff. Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth (1996) Baker
10. ^ What's your "success rate" in changing gays into straights?. Retrieved on 2007-
03-27.
11. ^ No easy victory. Retrieved on 2006-03-26.
12. ^ PATH: Positive Alternatives To Homosexuality
13. ^ a b http://exodus.to/content/view/34/118
14. ^ http://www.exodus.to/content/view/157/56
15. ^ http://www.evergreeninternational.org/aversion_therapy.htm
16. ^ Spitzer, Robert L. Archives of Sexual Behavior, Vol. 32, No. 5, October 2003,
pp. 403-417.
17. ^ Throckmorton, Warren. (1998) Efforts to modify sexual orientation: A review
of the outcome literature and ethical issues. Journal of Mental Health Counseling,
20, 283-304
18. ^ Peer Commentaries on Spitzer in Archives of Sexual Behavior, 32(5), 419-468,
October 2003
19. ^ http://www.alanchambers.org/
20. ^ NARTH and PFOX Quietly Rid Themselves of Richard Cohen (blog entry),
Ex-Gay Watch, 03-31-2007. Retrieved on 04-07-2007.
21. ^ Exodus International Policy Statements, Exodus International. Retrieved on 04-
07-2007.
22. ^ Interview with ChristianityToday
23. ^ Interview with Clay Cane
24. ^ http://www.dennisjernigan.com/
25. ^ http://www.sovo.com/2003/8-1/news/breaking/exgay.cfm
26. ^ "Haggard Pronounced ‘Completely Heterosexual’", Associated Press, 2007-02-
06, pp. 1. Retrieved on 2007-02-06.
27. ^ "More Haggard details emerge", North Jersey Record and Herald News, 2007-
02-21, pp. 1. Retrieved on 2007-02-22.
28. ^ Their story is one of the foci of the documentary One Nation Under God
(1993), directed by Teodoro Maniaci and Francine Rzeznik.
29. ^ Cianciotto, J.; Cahill, S. (2006). Youth in the crosshairs: the third wave of ex-
gay activism (pdf). National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Retrieved on 2007-08-
29.
30. ^ Talbot, T. Reparative therapy for homosexual teens: the choice of the teen
should be the only choice discussed, 27 J. Juv. L. 33. 2006.
31. ^ Cohan, J. Parental Duties and the Right of Homosexual Minors to Refuse
"Reparative" Therapy, 11 Buff. Women's L.J. 67, 2002.
32. ^ Melzer, Eartha. "Tenn. opens new probe of ‘ex-gay’ facility: Experts say
children should not be forced into counseling", Washington Blade, 2005-07-01.
Retrieved on 2007-08-28.
33. ^ Consent Order (In the matter of Duff R. Wright, Ph.D., Respondant). State of
Tennessee, Department of Health (2005-04-13). Retrieved on 2007-08-28.
34. ^ Williams, Alex. "Gay Teenager Stirs a Storm", New York Times, 2005-07-17.
Retrieved on 2007-10-06.
35. ^ a b Zach's Release from "Love in Action" Imminent
36. ^ Tennessee closes down Christian ex-gay camp for treating mental illness
without a license, WikiNews, 09-21-2005. Retrieved on 2007-02-08.
37. ^ a b Popper, Ben. "Love in Court: Gay-to-straight ministry and the state go to
court", Memphis Flyer, 2006-02-10. Retrieved on 2007-08-28.
38. ^ History retrieved April 14, 2007
39. ^ Who we areRetrieved April 14, 2007
40. ^ http://www.transformingcong.org
 41. ^ http://www.witnessfortheworld.org/enter.html
42. ^ http://exodusyouth.net
43. ^ http://www.nea-exgay.org
44. ^ http://www.ha-fs.org
45. ^ http://www.peoplecanchange.com
46. ^ a b c http://www.exodusglobalalliance.org/ourhistoryc87.php
47. ^ http://www.medvandrarna.se
48. ^ http://www.tilhelhet.no
49. ^ http://www.basis.nu
50. ^ http://www.aslan.fi
51. ^ http://www.totheildesvolks.nl/engels/ehah.htm
52. ^ http://www.onzeweg.nl/
53. ^ http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2006/12/exodus-european/
54. ^ http://www.encouragetrust.org.uk
55. ^ http://straightway.sinfree.net/
56. ^ http://www.exodusasiapacific.org
57. ^ http://www.bagongpagasa.org
58. ^ http://www.libertychristianministries.org.au
59. ^ http://www.rainbow-7.org.tw/
60. ^ Non-profit group gets grant to promote 'healthy gender identity'
61. ^ http://www.asianbeacon.org/articles.php?aid=137
62. ^ http://www.exoduslatinoamerica.org
63. ^ http://www.exodus.org.br/
64. ^ http://www.courage-latino.org
65. ^ Elías S.O.S Homepage
66. ^ http://www.geocities.com/caminodesalida
67. ^ http://www.esposibleelcambio.org
68. ^ [http://www.atzat-nefesh.org
69. ^ http://www.al-tawbah.faithweb.com

External links
• Christian Anthropology and Homosexuality
• "Homosexuality & Hope Catholic Medical Association
• "National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality"
• "People Can Change"
• "Same Sex Attraction Morality League"
• "Exodus International"
• "Courage"
• "Evergreen International"
• OutStraight

Criticism of ex-gay movement

• "Ex-Gay Watch" - A watchdog group tracking reparative therapy and the ex-gay
movement
 • "Truth Wins Out" - A non-profit organization, founded by Wayne Besen, to
oppose the ex-gay movement.
• Beyond Ex-Gay, a support website co-run by Peterson Toscano and Christine
Bakke, for people coming out of ex-gay experiences
• GLAAD on Ex-gays - Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
resources on ex-gays
• PFLAG responds to ex-gay movement - Parents and Friends of Lesbians and
Gays fact sheet about the reparative therapy movement

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