Noé Gutierrez sure has had his homosexual ups and downs. Gutierrez previously had the queers cheering when he appeared in It's Elementary, which discussed the importance of same-sex teachings in education.

Then came a turnaround: tired of being light in the loafers, Gutierrez signed on with the ex-gay movement and even appeared in one of their videos, “I Do Exist.”

Three years later, however, Gutierrez released a statement denouncing the ex-gay population, calling it "divisive." And now he's taking an even harder stand against the reparative movement, especially their claims of "compassion."

Via Box Turtle Bulletin:

As I began to sever ties to ex-gay ministry I was shocked to see how quickly people turned away their friendship and camaraderie.

It was as if overnight my name had been erased from the hearts and minds of all those who supported and “cared” for me. There was no outreach and no attempts at reconciliation. I was for all intents and purposes “disowned”.

We've got a feeling you're better off, Gutierrez

Former pro baseballer Billy Bean teamed up with Truth Wins Out to combat homophobic reparative therapy. Says Bean:

I am proud to work with TruthWinsOut.org to challenge the harmful myths and misconceptions spread by the ‘ex-gay’ industry. The notion that playing sports makes one heterosexual is patently absurd and I am happy to dispute this bizarre notion. It is unfortunate that ‘ex-gay’ organizations continue to cynically prey on the vulnerabilities of desperate and insecure people.

Bean's video helps start the countdown to Truth Wins Out's new website, which activist Wayne Besen promises will become integral to fighting the ex-gay movement.

"Anti-gay" Barack Obama endorser Kirbyjon Caldwell denies knowing that his congregation was linked to an ex-gay program: "I was surprised and embarrassed by it. I’m embarrassed from the standpoint that I should have known."

Yesterday we informed you that Bush's "spiritual adviser" Kirbyjon Caldwell endorsed Democrat Barack Obama. We also informed you that Caldwell's got an anti-gay history: he corroborated with ex-gay congregation Metanoia Ministry.

While Caldwell's Kingdom Builders website mysteriously deleted his congregation's alliance with Metanoia, a reader sent us a screen grab.

See it and weep, after the jump.

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There's a battle brewing in Italy. And health minister Livia Turco may be caught in the crossfire.

The drama began when a journalist went undercover as a gay man and investigated "reparative therapist" Tonino Cantelmi, the head of the Association of Catholic Italian Psychologists and Psychiatrists.

The journalist's report raised a lot of eyebrows in Italy, particularly among enthusiastic conservatives:

Paola Binetti, a neurophsychiatrist and Democratic party lawmaker associated with the Teodem movement, praised Cantelmi for his "excellent work."

Binetti argued: “Until the 1980s, homosexuality was classified as a pathology. While the homosexual lobby succeeded in changing this, clinical evidence supports the previous classification.”

Gay group Aricay disagrees and have called on Turco to come out against reparative therapy. Turco has yet to do so, but her opposition may garner her some political enemies. Parliamentarian Mauro Fabris calls anti-Cantelmi criticism a "hateful attempt to accuse the Catholic Church of homophobia.” Um, okay…

There's another, far less liberatory "exodus" out of Egypt. An enterprising "good" doctor decided to import some good old fashioned anti-gay reparative therapy:

An Egyptian doctor is facing strong criticism from liberals and conservatives alike for opening a clinic to treat homosexuals, with some charging the clinic has become a meeting place for gays, and others accusing the doctor himself of being gay.

Dr. Awsam Wasfi, 42, offers a "treatment program" for gays that focuses on boosting their self-esteem and enhancing their communication skills, as well as encouraging them to play sports and work on their religious beliefs.

Sports and religion: two things no queer knows about…

The doctor defended his irresponsible practice, saying, "Lots of them want to be treated… When society rejects them, they feel desperate and lose hope in changing their situation." Well, perhaps Egyptian society needs therapy, not the gays. That, of course, would be too much work.

Whether or not you believe controversial gospel star Donnie McClurkin is sincere in his assertion that he was "delivered" from a his homosexuality by the power of God's graces, his performance last night in Columbia, South Carolina had "drama queen" written all over it.

McClurkin has been a hot potato for Prez hopeful Barack Obama in recent weeks, splitting his Democratic supporters along lines that usually differentiate the Democratic Party from the GOP. And according to The New York Times, McClurkin's contribution to Sunday's gospel rally and concert in support of Obama didn't do much to mend fences. At the close of the three-hour show, McClurkin took center stage to give the crowd a finale that included some of his greatest pulpit hits to date, including:

Don’t call me a bigot or anti-gay when I have suffered the same feelings!"

God delivered me from homosexuality!"

The greatest change a person can have is not in politics!"

and the sure-to-be-hit…

Believe the Bible over the blogs!"

"Obama's Gospel Concert Tour" [New York Times Caucus]

Oh how the mighty fall! Chris Austin made a name for himself and his Renew Ministries as an ex-gay activist. Unfortunately, it seems Austin himself couldn't stay "ex-gay". The Texas-based preacher's just been sentenced to ten years in prison for sexually assaulting a client. Truth Wins Out reports:

Truth Wins Out expressed relief today that Christopher Austin, an ‘ex-gay’ counselor in Irving, Texas, was convicted of sexually assaulting a client. Austin was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but received seven years probation, had to register as a sex offender and was ordered to pay a $2,500 fine.

The abuse apparently involved a bit of unwanted penetration.

Perhaps Austin thought he could fuck the gay away?

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Ex-gays will no longer hide in the closet. Religious treatment of homosexuality's grown to unprecedented levels.

According to Boston's Edge, there are over 150 Exodus ministries in 70 counties. The ex-gay movement proves to a formidable enemy in the protracted war for gay survival.

In the aftermath of "former" gay editor Michael Glatze's so-called conversion, Edge has launched a four part series examining the ins and outs - or, not outs - of the ex-gay movement. One of the key aspects of the movement stems from the tension between religious ideology and personal salvation.

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Peter LaBarbera and his Americans for "Truth" may have found a new messiah: former Young Gay America editor, Michael Glatze.

Glatze, of course, recently rejected his gay ways and found religion. And trust that Cheney-baby-hating LaBarbera's ready to drop down and worship…

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Ex-Gay Survivors gathered in California this weekend to confer on how they escaped Exodus and others' dastardly clutches. Above you'll see one man, Sean, explaining his ten-years trying to pray the gay away. It didn't work.

Box Turtle Bulletin shot six interviews in total - watch them all (oh, come on, what else are you going to do with your day?).

Paris Hilton wasn't the only big draw last night on CNN.

Paula Zahn and her lisp spent an hour exploring the ins and outs of homosexuality on last night's Paula Zahn Now. Like any good journo, Zahn took some time to explore that old nature v. nurture debate, changing opinion on the gays and scientific and moralistic missions to "cure" those who are bit bent.

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It's a meeting of the mindless this weekend as ex-gay movement Exodus head to California's Concordia University for its annual Exodus Freedom Conference.

As an act of protest, Exodus founder and reformed ex-gay Michael Bussee released a number of videos explaining his evolution from gay to ex-gay and back again.

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