Book exposes myth of ex-gay industry

The Detroit News ^ | Monday, November 17, 2003 | Deb Price

[presidio9]

An all-star high school athlete, Wayne Besen couldn't imagine entering adulthood keeping something so significant as his sexual orientation a secret from his mom and dad.

He had successfully navigated the obstacle course many of us confronted as gay teens -- feeling confused and afraid about being gay; getting stuck on a merry-go-round of denial, shame, secrecy and damaging attempts to change; and then slowly embracing your sexual orientation as a treasured part of your identity, as unchangeable as eye color or height.

[jsbankston]

"The religious right loves to show the wedding pictures. But they never show the divorce papers."

I am not quite sure what the divorce rate is among the 'religious right." Anyone?

[madprof98]

Terrified that their only child would contract AIDS, Wayne's parents were devastated. Soon, Besen's mother stumbled upon a cassette tape that promised to change gay people into heterosexuals.

These poor benighted fools. They should have done what Barbara Streisand did in similar circumstances: Let the kid get AIDS and blame Reagan for it.

[sirchtruth]

...feeling confused and afraid about being gay; getting stuck on a merry-go-round of denial, shame, secrecy and damaging attempts to change; and then slowly embracing your sexual orientation as a treasured part of your identity, as unchangeable as eye color or height.

Your supposed to feel SHAME instead of embrasing selfishness and perversion. By doing so gays think they have an excuse because they don't want to feel guilty about something they know is not right...

I really wish these perverts would catch a clue!

[sirchtruth]

Probably higher than it is among other groups...It is quite a huge problem for the religious. But so what?

Accepting homosexuality is wrong no matter what the circumstances.

[presidio9]

Some "ex-gays" fortunately do manage to change, leaving the destructive "ex-gay" world to become self-respecting gay adults.

In this dyke's world, people trying to help confused kids are the bad guys.

[presidio9]

Probably higher than it is among other groups...It is quite a huge problem for the religious.

Wha-chu-talkn-bout Willis?

[AmericanVictory]

But will he make it easier for homosexuals to recruit those who might go straight if not seduced and preyed upon? Somehow we doubt it.

[eastsider]

Men drink Gatorade and call each other "dude."

"That oughta fix you, dude!"

[AmericanVictory]

Whoops. That is, we doubt that he won't participate in preying upon the vulnerable.

[presidio9]

Would have been funnier if it was Aikman...

[johnb838]

I am a heterosexual male. I have not had sex in almost three years. I don't like it, but that's the way it is. I would really rather not have sex again unless or until I find a way to be married. But I have a pretty good life. I run... a lot.

Now, tell me again what these deviants are saying about people who want to leave the "lifestyle" for religious reasons? There is more than homosexuality wrong with these people. They are sex addicts. S-E-X A-D-D-I-C-T-S. They ALL desperately need to recover from their sex addiction one day at a time. Their crazed rantings should get no more attention than those of an alcoholic in his cups or a heroin addict needing a fix.

Abstinence first, fellas. Then you can worry about your orientation later.

[Justa]

Book exposes myth of ex-gay industry.

The chrome-vanadium toolset cartel?

[Map Kernow]

My! My! For a bunch that yammers ceaselessly about "tolerance" and "acceptance," these gay fascists and their media acolytes sure can't "tolerate", let alone "accept," that someone might not want to be "gay."

[eastsider]

[gedeon3]

There is no such myth; many gays do change for good. Marriages fail all the time. As for 'ex-gays' going back to their perverted life style; well so do many 'ex-alcoholics' and 'ex-drug users' go back to their addictions.

[N3WBI3]

"Prayer partners sometimes turn into guilt-ridden sex buddies."

Its a foolish man who builds his house on the sand. Why would I want a prayer partner with the same sinful thoughts as I have? It would be like putting two sex addicts as prayer partners, its not going to work. I know AA does it but that is quite different as If I amtempted to drink I will likely not include anyone else let alone my accountability partner. A church support group should pair a homosexual man and a heterosexual man (or woman) as a prayer partner. Maybe if there is an alcholic who needs a prayer partner he or she can pair off with someone fighting a different sin.

Homosexuality is a sin, that being said its their sin to make I have my own sin to conted with but I do not celebrate it.

[LiteKeeper]

Talk to Focus on the Family. There ministry to gays has been very successful.

Please go to Love Won Out

[johnb838]

If they really want out they usually get back out. We have to expose the lie about this being a normal lifestyle. We have to expose it for the sickness & denial that it is.

[jsbankston]

So what you are saying is a sex addict can be gay or straight and their sexual orientation is irrelevant. Much like a drug addict. It does not matter if he is hooked on crack, heroin or prescription dugs he is still an addict?