[MineralMan]

I believe the other poster is assuming that I'm somehow mocking this organization. While I feel that it fails more often than it succeeds, It doesn't bother me that some gay people turn to such organizations in an attempt to change their orientation.

I'm not mocking. I'm just pointing out that randomly assigning roommates at such an event seems to me to be a mistake. Perhaps they have some sort of vetting process, but it sure doesn't appear in their housing statement.

[dcnd9]

You said; "While I feel that it fails more often than it succeeds."

What are you basing this assumption on?

[SoulMan]

I believe the other poster is assuming that I'm somehow mocking this organization. While I feel that it fails more often than it succeeds, It doesn't bother me that some gay people turn to such organizations in an attempt to change their orientation.

I'm not mocking. I'm just pointing out that randomly assigning roommates at such an event seems to me to be a mistake. Perhaps they have some sort of vetting process, but it sure doesn't appear in their housing statement.

Ugh, I wasn't going to make any more comments, but this post got my blood boiling. As a man who spent decades struggling with issues around homosexuality, I have to speak up.

First of all, as to the discouraging remark that change fails more often then it succeeds, I say nonsense. It's corny but it's true: the program works if you work it. My life was saved by the few mental health professionals and some others who believe change is possible. Believe me, if one person, one human being, one soul is saved from the hell of homosexuality, it's worth all the effort. But the poor statistics about recovery from homosexuality or drug addiction or depression or any other mental health problem have more to do with the sad sate of mental health care than anything else. These statistics are in no ways a comment on whether the condition itself (homosexuality or any mental health disorder) is "curable" or amenable to treatment.

As to the incredibly heartless discussion about the risks of randomly assigning roommates, I almost don't know what to say. We are talking about an organization that is trying to help people who are deeply wounded and traumatized, whose lives may be a living hell, and the people on this discussion board are concerned about roommates "screwing around". Please tell me this isn't true.

Let me ask a question: Does anyone see a different possibility. Perhaps two people, who have both experienced a lot of hurt and rejection in their lives, will meet be assigned as roommates at the conference and become FRIENDS, not screw around, but actual friends ad help each throughout their lives, coping with the incredible struggles and hurdles they will have to overcome. Does that possibility occur to anyone?