"Former Leaders Of Ex-Gay Ministry Apologize For Bringing Harm." Are you now convinced it doesn't work?

Question

Three former leaders of a ministry that counsels gays to change their sexual orientation apologized, saying although they acted sincerely, their message had caused isolation, shame and fear.

The former leaders of the interdenominational Christian organization Exodus International said Wednesday they had become disillusioned with promoting gay conversion.

"Some who heard our message were compelled to try to change an integral part of themselves, bringing harm to themselves and their families," the three said in a statement released outside the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center.

http://www.wjxx.com/news/usworld/news-article.aspx?storyid=85377

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PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER


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Answer 1

You are free to Love anyone you want.
I love my father, my brother, my male friends.

However,

Homosexuality, whether by choice or not by choice, is a sin.

However it is no better or worse than the sins of any other man. So let he without sin cast the first stone....

The problem is that people want to "celebrate" this sin.

Would you celebrate that you are a liar? Would you celebrate murdering someone? Would you celebrate blaspheming? Would you celebrate any birth defect that compels you to sin?

Well then why would you celebrate using G-ds temple in a way other than which it was intended by the creator himself?

That is even a bigger perversion than the sin itself.

Answer 2

There was once a time when the Church thought that Left-handedness was a sin. There was even a time when red hair, or blue eyes were seen as signs of Evil. Homosexuality is not a choice. There is an ever increasing body of evidence that it has a biological cause, either genetic or hormonal. Either way, it happens in the womb. People are born either Gay or Straight, and there's no changing them. You are who you are, and you won't be happy unless you are free to be who you are.

Now, evidence of a biological cause of Homosexuality is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, proof that it is not a choice can help the Gay Rights movement, as it takes the teeth out of the "it's just a sinful behavior, and you can stop it if you really want to" argument. The problem is, there will be those who will see it as a "disorder," and will start looking for a medical prevention or cure.

And what if Homosexuality can be cured? Or prevented before birth by hormone shots into the womb? Would this be a bad thing? Look at it this way (and I think this is Dan Savage's opinion as well) -- if a mother doesn't want a Gay son or daughter strongly enough to want to prevent it pre-birth, then it will only save that child the pain and suffering caused by growing up with a parent who doesn't want a Gay son or daughter. But not every parent would want the "cure." Some would, no doubt, choose to allow the child to be born Gay, and these will be the parents who will love and support their children no matter what. If I found out that the child my wife/girlfriend is carrying will be born Gay, I would not choose the "cure." I would let that kid be Gay. And I would support my child.

It is very telling that some of the leaders of the Ex-Gay movement are realizing the error of their way of thinking. This is one of the things that is destroying Christianity. Hopefully, the healing can begin, now that it's being discredited.

Another thought -- if there's a biological cause, then maybe there's an evolutionary reason for it? Maybe having a certain percentage of homosexuality in the population benefits the species some how? As an answer to overpopulation, or something like that?

Answer 3

This is not the first time that someone associated with the 'ex-gay' group Exodus has instead shown that sexual orientation cannot be changed. The comments by the current Exodus president saying that change cannot be "sudden or complete" make the 'ex-gay' movement sound more like brainwashing.

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.”

Answer 4

I've been convinced. The people who will need convincing probably will think they didn't try hard enough, weren't committed enough, decided to leave Jesus for sin, etc. But undoubtedly some people will be on the fence, and next time they hear of ex-gays, maybe they'll think of these former leaders.

Answer 5

I have always been convinced homosexuality is not a choice, homosexuality just is..

Glad to see a few Christians admitting it finally..

Kudos to the former leaders for admitting their mistake and the damage it has caused others.. If more people would do so, then try and make restitution for the damage the world would be a far better place..

Answer 6

I have never believed in changing a persons sexual preference. I believe it is part of genetics and not choice.

Answer 7

ROCK ON TO THE GAYS!

Its amazing what the rest of the world has to deal with due to the Christians, Islamic, and Jewish nations of the world.
If you don't want to be gay, don't be gay, but don't spread hate to the rest.

Answer 8

Trying to change someone's sexuality involves reprogramming the brain, which would change who YOU are. If you can't love yourself as you are, who can you love? Besides if someone wanted to change their sexuality, it would probably happen subconcously and gradualy. Which means the people trying to change them are probably forcing it upon them, which is a violation of freedom :/

Answer 9

Some will never be convinced...atleast not until one of thier folk has a sit down with God in order to find out what group they should refocus thier hate on.

Answer 10

He isn't the one that did the research that found that therapy did help. It was Dr Spitzer. Go look up his research and then come back and discuss it.

Answer 11

No, I am not "now convinced it doesn't work." That's because I never thought it worked in the first place. I am glad these charlatans are through with their, at best, ridiculous scam, but an apology seems very inadequate.