Do you realize the founders of the ex-gay group, Exodus International...divorced their wives and married each?

Question

other....

Why do fundies try to make people be something that they are not?

Why are you trying to change the way God made someone?

Do you not understand that homosexuality is about more than sex...it is about love, commitment, connection...not just sexual acts.

The Bible speaks about homosexual acts...but, it does not speak about homosexuals of today...that have loving, monogamous, committed relationships...

Sodom and Gomorrah was about inhospitality and rape.

It was important for people of Biblical days to procreate...so of course, homosexuality would not be encouraged....

The word homosexual was not even part of our vernacular until 1865...so, the Bible does not really address at all.

So, the question is...Why are fundies so hung up about homosexuality...there is a Bible full of sins...you could rail against...divorce, gluttony, bankruptcy...why do you focus on homosexuality?

Here is a link about them...yes they were founders of the group

http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2005/01/subjective-view/

Answer 1

The two founders of Exodus were mislead into thinking that they could or needed to change their sexual orientation. I'm gay, but I'm sure if you're convinced by heterosexuals that you are evil, bad, sick, degenerate and hated by God, then you are going to do whatever you can to try and "fix" that. There are always going to be people who will listen to others and try to please them and tell them what they want to hear, no matter what the motives of the others may be. The reality is that the "change" was not permanent and the two men accepted the truth: That God created them as gay men and they do not need to change that to please a group of anti-gay humans.

Mental health organizations tell us "ex-gay" therapy does not work, thousands of ex-ex-gays tell us it does not work and God knew each of us in the wombs of our mothers and He knew we were gay before we were even born. God would not send gay people here just to be mistreated and reviled by the anti-gay movement who seeks to normalize homophobia. He had a reason for creating me gay and I'm not going to question God just because some anti-gay individuals misinterpret Scripture.

My question is how much money do anti-gay, pro-bigotry organizations make off of the suffering of gay men and lesbians when they create and support "ex-gay" groups? Why are these groups sponsored and pushed by anti-gay heterosexuals? What are their real motives?

Answer 2

Today's online edition of The Advocate has an article about how Southern Baptists are now changing their beliefs. It's hard to believe, but they obviously can no longer deny that being gay is genetic. Here is the story.

Answer 3

First off, you're way off. The bible doesn't need to say the word homosexual, it says,: "when a man lies with another man as they would with a woman". Regardless, I'm not a fundie, and I frankly don't care. I have my own sins to worry about.

Answer 4

So what....did you get tired of ripping wings off of flies...if you are using terms like "fundies" you spend to much time squawking and not enough time actually doing anything


Soddom and Gomorrah was not about being inhospitable.....it was about disregarding God's law in favor of earthly desires

Answer 5

The founders of Exodus International are alive and well with their families....they are happy normal men and women....


do not blame God for the evil that satan has done...

Answer 6

Are these claims accurate? Let me cut to the chase. Mostly, they are not true. In fact, after investigating the matter, I found that of the original board members of Exodus International, only one reverted to homosexuality. Furthermore, one of the two men referred to by Mr. Besen was never in leadership with Exodus. Here are the details.


Exodus International is a distinctly religious organization offering services and referrals to people who are in conflict with their sexual feelings and Christian beliefs. However, detractors often say that the message of Exodus is compromised due to the failure of the co-founders of the organization to remain heterosexual. In a recent Cleveland Plain Dealer article, also on the subject of sexual orientation change, Mr. Besen claimed that Michael Bussee and Gary Cooper were the co-founders of Exodus International. He noted again that the men became gay partners.


The second claim is true. As documented in the 1992 film One Nation Under God, the two men did indeed leave their families in 1979 and engaged in a commitment ceremony in 1982.


However, the first claim is false. Mr. Cooper and Mr. Bussee were not the co-founders of Exodus International.


Why do Mr. Besen and others (including the above-mentioned film, One Nation Under God) claim they were? While I cannot judge motivation, it appears to be a deliberate effort to discredit the concept of sexual orientation change. In no way can Gary Cooper be considered a founder of the organization. Mr. Cooper, who died of complications from HIV/AIDS in 1989, was a volunteer with Mr. Bussee’s ministry, called Exit (Ex-gay Intervention Team) based in Anaheim, California. By all accounts, he was never on the Exodus board.


Mr. Bussee however, did help arrange a meeting of ex-gay leaders that eventually came to be considered the first Exodus conference. According to Exodus incorporator, Ron Dennis, Mr. Bussee was one of the people who saw the need for a collegial relationship between independent ex-gay ministries.


The original board of Exodus included five formerly gay-identified people, including Mr. Bussee. The incorporators of the group included Frank Worthen, Ron Dennis and Greg Reid. None of these men have returned to homosexuality and two of the three are still in ex-gay ministry. One other original board member, although still straight, requested his name not be included in this article. Let’s do the math: Four out of five of the original board members have not returned to a gay identity.


The truth is that some people who were ex-gay ministry leaders or participants have reverted to a gay or lesbian identity. Ex-ex-gays exist. However, the majority of people who began with Exodus have not returned to a gay identity. Speaking of Exodus, Mr. Besen and those detractors who say all ex-gay leaders are “extraordinary failures” are simply ignoring the whole truth.


Just so this is clear, let’s re-cap. Gary Cooper was not one of the co-founders of Exodus. Michael Bussee was on the original board. The men were involved in an ex-gay ministry in Anaheim, were married, left their wives and children and returned to a public gay identity. Of the five formerly gay men on the original board of Exodus International, four have not reverted to homosexuality. Frank Worthen and Ron Dennis continue to lead ex-gay organizations. The other two original board members were rumored to have returned to a gay identity but, according to both men, this is not true. Thus, 80 percent of the original Exodus board members are still ex-gay after 30 years.

Answer 7

Is that true?
Oh man...that's hilarious!

Answer 8

Ironic, isn't it?