One of the founders of the "ex-gay" group Exodus International, Michael Bussee, left the group after falling in love with another "ex-gay." They had a commitment ceremony and were together until his partner died more than a decade later. Bussee said he hadn't "met one who went from gay to straight. Even if you manage to alter someone's sexual behavior, you cannot change their true sexual orientation."
An Exodus spokesperson, John Paulk, was photographed at a Washington DC gay bar. Paulk denied that he visited the bar, but later changed his story and said that he didn't know that it was a gay bar and only entered to use the restroom. Paulk stayed for over an hour and purchased drinks for other bar patrons.
The current president of Exodus, Alan Chambers, said in a June 2007 interview that he has “come to resent the term ‘ex-gay’", "he still struggles at times with homosexual temptation" & "By no means would we ever say change can be sudden or complete.”
2007-06-20 16:26:00 · 18 answers · asked by χριστοφορος ▽ 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
In my misguided youth I went through an ex-gay program. I prayed, fasted, cried, and gained weight, but to no avail. After hating myself for so long I learned to love myself, and am so much happier for it.
I realized that my draw toward men was so much deeper than just sex. I wanted to love a man, and be loved by him (BTW for those of you out there who say I am looking for a father figure, I am not. I have a good and close relationship with my father, that has become stronger with my coming out. He is one of my greatest supporters.) This was down in to my very core. No matter how I tried to fight it, I couldn't change that aspect.
Yes there was a time that I believed that I didn't pray hard enough. I should have fasted for 5 days instead of 4. The day I allowed myself to be happy with myself, was the day I was free. It took me awhile to escape the thinking of the ex-gay movement, and at times I still feel it (good brainwashing), but I am so much happier and satisfied with every aspect of my life. I can love others, and myself. That my friends is the true gift.
2007-06-20 16:39:44 · answer #1 · answered by Paddington Bear 5 · 7⤊ 1⤋
I read on a church website that accepts homosexuality that Jesus cured like 3 people of being gay and they were shortly gay again a few days later. Or something like that if thats what the Exodus thing is about. And no there is no such thing as an ex-gay even if you were tricked into thinking your straight again you'd come out of the closet again.
2007-06-20 16:39:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I was so astonished to read that about Alan Chambers! I mean, I had to blink and re-read, 'cause I thought I was misreading. He's getting a lot of backlash from other conservative Christians, too. It's like the president of Pepsi Cola admitting that he grew up on Coke and sometimes still has a taste for one!
As a bisexual, I'm frequently told I'm lying about myself or don't know who I am, and that pisses me off no end. So I don't want to do that to ex-gays. I'm not in their hearts, minds, or bedrooms. That said, it doesn't seem to work for the majority of people who try it (the same names keep coming up in "testimonies"). It also seems to involve a lot of pseudopsychology and a lot of self-denial.
The worst part, for me, is that "some people can change" tends to become "all you LGBTs *must* change, and you don't deserve any civil rights." Which is stupid because religion is a changeable trait that gets civil rights protections, but I digress. I hope enough people read what Chambers said to understand that, if nothing else, this hope for possible but incomplete change after lots of "struggles" should have no bearing on the lives of all LGBTs.
2007-06-20 17:27:49 · answer #3 · answered by GreenEyedLilo 7 · 8⤊ 1⤋
Sexuality is a complicated issue, but in an overwhelming majority of cases sexuality seems to be static. And it's quite a coincidence that homosexuals always seem to convert to heterosexuality, never the other way around. Either sexuality is flexible or it isn't.
2016-05-21 05:35:33 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey, Ray - religion isn't that easy to change. you'd be surprised what desenstizing can do. of course relapses can occur. but religious behavior is completely changeable.
guitarmas5 - There is no such thing as an ex-religious person because you have to be religious person first. There is no such thing as religious person.... only confused. It's pretty simple... like a puzzle... evolution!
Please visit my profile for links to REAL sources on gay facts. Checkout the Gallup Poll from last month!
2007-06-21 00:07:10 · answer #5 · answered by Tegarst 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Of course there is no such thing ....can a man be an ex-man ....nope not even with a sex change because genetically he is still a man.
A gay is a gay no matter what LIFESTYLE they choose to follow....
I am a bisexual woman - I CHOOSE to live monogamously with my male fiance, but I still have feelings of attraction for women.
Just because these people have chosen to deny the natural feelings they have does not make them anything other than THAT WHICH GOD CREATED!
It is not possible for someone to change what they were created to be - a frog can not become a bird - no matter how much it may try to be one - it can live in a tree, lay eggs, and 'chirp' but it is still a frog (admittedly a tree frog, but still a frog none the less).
2007-06-20 16:35:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
I dont think there is such thing as ex gay-if there is one, chances are he/she is fighting very hard to supress his/her sexuality to be what he/she is not. It's akin to a heterosexual leaving his/her sexuality behind and starting having sex with members of the same sex. I suppose the main question that needs to be answered is: Is homsexuality nurtured or natured? I happen to believe gays are born gays. One doesnt choose one's sexuality.
2007-06-20 17:14:30 · answer #7 · answered by Andrew T 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I don't believe that being an "ex gay" is possible. There are some people who let the hatred of others get to them and decide to deny themselves of being happy.
2007-06-20 16:35:05 · answer #8 · answered by justme 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't honestly think that there is such a thing as an ex gay. I think there are a lot of men who pretend to be straight....but that's another issue altogether.
2007-06-20 16:31:11 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 1⤋
No such thing at all. Just people brainwashed into believing they are something they were not born to be.
2007-06-20 16:50:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋