Once the face of the ex-gay movement, ex-ex-gay Alan Chambers is finally opening up about his dark past as president of the now defunct Exodus International, an organization that aimed to turn gay people straight.
Chambers recently sat down with The Atlantic to plug his new book, My Exodus. He began by talking about his current sexual orientation, which he understatedly describes as “complicated,” admitting that he is still very much attracted to men, but that he also maintains a “good” sex life with his wife, Leslie.
“While many relationships are built on sex, ours just includes sex,” Chambers said. “We love it and value it because we worked hard for it.”
Related: WATCH: Alan Chambers Explains Why Exodus International Didn’t Work
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He also talked about his antigay past, both as the leader of Exodus International and as a lobbyist.
In 2006, Chambers campaigned for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. And in 2008, he lobbied in support of Prop. 8, which re-banned same-sex marriage in California after it had already been made legal. But over time he says his thinking “evolved.”
“As I heard more stories and evaluated my own realities,” Chambers said, “I realized change in orientation was not possible or happening.”
In 2013, Chambers abruptly announced that Exodus would be closing its doors for good.
Related: Alan Chambers Says He’s Haunted By Harm He’s Caused Gay People
“Shutting down Exodus dealt a fatal blow to the whole idea that orientation can be changed and that God somehow loves you more because of the choices you make,” he recalled. “Some ministries still promote this idea, but they are not going to achieve the same level of success that Exodus had. That position is more of a minority than it has ever been.”
Today, Chambers has a much different message for people struggling with their sexual orientations than he did just a few years ago.
“For those who cannot reconcile their faith and sexuality, they can be affirmed in their choice of celibacy and devote their lives to causes more life giving than ‘ridding themselves of the demon homosexuality,’” he said. “And the gay Christian community can be affirmed in who they already are: beloved.”
Related: It’s “Ex-Gay” Awareness Month! Here Are Five Former Homos And What They’ve Been Up To Lately
Brian
Many men can be sexually attracted to both men and women in various proportions. It is up to each individual to weigh his values and then make a choice as to what he wishes to do with his attractions. If he is opposed morally to homosexual behavior, he has a right to choose to refrain from it.
Xzamilio
Fuck all of this crap
http://shallowvoices.blogspot.com/2015/03/short-rant-ex-gay.html
http://shallowvoices.blogspot.com/2014/02/okay-to-be-ex-gay.html
He can’t peddle the same harmful BS but just pushes for a gentler way of repressing your sexuality. Just another shining example of the ones pushing so hard to deny gay people of their rights are really the ones with their own internal struggle.
Xzamilio
@Brian: You’re talking about bisexual men, so spare me the tautology of “moral choices” because this is narrowed to GAY men (and women), so men who are attracted to both sexes is irrelevant to the topic at hand.
Sweetie Pie
I like ass and dick…now and then I like pussy…
Brian
@Xzamilio: Bisexual is a phony word which suggests equal attraction to both sexes. Equal attraction rarely exists.
I would say this about Alan Chambers: he provides a very important insight into the nature of male sexuality and the values that enable men to make choices as to how they will behave.
Values and choices are things that are very important. Gay-identifying men need to take note.
Desert Boy
Buy my book! I need $$$. I say wait until this tome is on the $1 book pile if you must read it.
Brian
I would highly recommend Alan Chambers’ new book. All men should read it, including you.
Bisexual-Transwoman
@Brian: Who wants to read BS from some hypocritical ex gay who it’s obvious is gay since he has gay face.
There are churches and Christian people who are accepting of LGBT people and do not try to change us but this guy is not one of them.
etseq
@Brian: Oh piss off you troll – your name links to a non-existent facebook page – christian morals indeed.
His book is just another attempt for him to make himself the victim and refuse to take responsibility for the damage he has done. See review in the Advocate http://www.advocate.com/religion/2015/10/02/new-book-ex-ex-gay-alan-chambers-missing-something
Giancarlo85
@Brian: You’re a phony idiot that doesn’t know anything about sexuality. Yes, piss off. You don’t know what you’re talking about. Sexuality is something you have no clue about. Bisexual men are attracted to both genders. It isn’t a phony word because some clueless half wit like you thinks so.
And what the fuck is a “gay identifying” man? A GAY MAN. Values and choices? What on earth are you talking about?
Alan Chambers refused to take responsibility for all the catastrophic immoral damage he has done to our community. Values my ass.
Giancarlo85
BRIAN = JASON SMEDS.
Long time trolling tool who gets banned and comes back with a new name… same old stupid antics.
NoCagada
@Brian: By any chance…are you going to be doing the interracial lesbian porn with Kim Davis?
Kangol
After helping to destroy others’ lives he’s telling us his destructive ideology was BS?
NO SH!T, SHERLOCK! Get a life!
Xzamilio
@Brian: Bisexual is a phony word, huh? Aaaaaaaand that is the green light to ignore you.
Giancarlo85
@Xzamilio: Brian is a fking idiot. I’ve seen him call straight men… straight men. And he calls gay men… “gay identifying men”. He’s a freaking right wing loser who is trying to act smarter than he is.
Billy Budd
This guy is an idiot, is clearly our enemy and he still wants to grab a buck from us by selling his idiotic book. No way.
enlightenone
@Brian: “…If he is opposed morally to homosexual behavior, he has a right to choose to refrain from it.”
But NOT guilt and shame impressionable young males and misguided/disturbed parents to get “treatment” that NEVER existed in order to make millions, leading many young males to commit suicide or live REAL damaged lives!
How much did you make off these damaged lives?
enlightenone
@Giancarlo85: “BRIAN = JASON SMEDS”
Thanks for the head’s up!
Louis
In 2006, Chambers campaigned for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. And in 2008, he lobbied in support of Prop. 8, which re-banned same-sex marriage in California after it had already been made legal. But over time he says his thinking “evolved.”
“As I heard more stories and evaluated my own realities,” Chambers said, “I realized change in orientation was not possible or happening.”
In 2013, Chambers abruptly announced that Exodus would be closing its doors for good.
Related: Alan Chambers Says He’s Haunted By Harm He’s Caused Gay People
“Shutting down Exodus dealt a fatal blow to the whole idea that orientation can be changed and that God somehow loves you more because of the choices you make,” he recalled. “Some ministries still promote this idea, but they are not going to achieve the same level of success that Exodus had. That position is more of a minority than it has ever been.”
Today, Chambers has a much different message for people struggling with their sexual orientations than he did just a few years ago.
“For those who cannot reconcile their faith and sexuality, they can be affirmed in their choice of celibacy and devote their lives to causes more life giving than ‘ridding themselves of the demon homosexuality,’” he said. “And the gay Christian community can be affirmed in who they already are: beloved.”
Let me be frank I do not want to hear this and quite frankly im tired and sick of hearing these people who ARE gay always claiming they have EVOLVED when they are nothing more then closeted self loathing hypocrites who destroyed other peoples happiness in order to seek their own severely deluded sense of happiness in order to make themselves feel better about their own LIES.
So many LGBT kids have killed themselves due to people like this self righteous hypocrite so no I am not about to say oh its okay you are forgiven for standing in the way of loving human beings rights to marry the one they love or making LGBT children feel that there was something wrong with them and they needed to be scarred mentally emotionally and physically in order to CHANGE or be CURED of their being gay.
This conversion therapy has destroyed so many peoples lives including costing people their lives who felt that they had to live a fake and untrue life in order to satisfy self hating self loathing hypocrites like this man.
Who gives a shit if he has EVOLVED?
How the hell does that make up for all the people self righteous asses like this have destroyed?
This man like every other EX GAY who has preached , condemned , and persecuted their own community have nothing but innocent blood upon their hands.
They might as well as put the bullet in the chamber and pulled the trigger with these poor kids who were struggling enough as it was.
Forgiveness is for those who make mistakes that are honest and understandable this however is neither of those 2 things this destroyed lives and caused plenty of people to take their own lives hating themselves and feeling as if they were an anomaly or aberration as human beings.
So to this man this is an example of being way too little and beyond too late.
Im glad you EVOLVED though that really made a difference to all these LGBT kids and teens and even adults who took their own lives all over this country for years and years.
I despise people like this and their excuses are even more sad if you hate yourself that much then get professional help and surround yourself with people who will love you as you are and accept you as you are.
If you hate yourself that you feel the need to destroy other peoples lives in order to make your life feel fulfilling and worthwhile then you are a sociopath plain and simple.
Its one thing when one feels scared that they will be rejected by their loved ones when they come out its another when one actively votes against their own community and condemns them living in a delusional lie that makes them feel happy about themselves.
Those are wretched people period.
Why should we show them empathy and compassion when they openly gleefully and actively condemn persecute and discriminate against us then years later claim they were WRONG or misguided?
Forgiveness is for those who possess a conscience people like this know full good and well what they are doing and who they are damaging at the same time.
Take several seats sir and as far as RELIGION its supposed to be about LOVE and idiots like you continue to give it a piss poor name using it in a twisted and cruel way.
Even his response to this still comes across as self righteous and superior .
One doesn’t need a GOD in order to be a decent human being apparently people like this man never had a fighting chance in that regard their lack of compassion humanity and conscience says it all in that regard .
Alan David Smith
my biggest beef is everyone is running around saying no its this way. and the funny thing is gays are just as bad if not worse. my sexuality is not the alphabit. and the truth is when you put it in terms of sex alone. it is probably #8 of the 10 things that create me. truth is the fact that i am epileptic. probably has more affect on me then being gay ever could.
Brian
Alan Chambers’ new book gives an important insight into male sexuality and the strong forces that are placed upon it by various interest groups – ie the church, gay-identifying men, women etc etc. It provides a far more educational lesson than anything one might experience in a gay bar.
Going to a gay bar is an act of tremendous selfishness. It’s all about “me, me, me”. Alan Chambers’ new book is about the breadth and depth of the male experience as it may apply to anyone. Writing it was an act of tremendous charity. Please read it.
Ogre Magi
@Brian: You are him aren’t you?
Brian
@Alan David Smith: You are so right. Gay-identifying men can be the most intolerant people out there.
1EqualityUSA
Mr. Chambers looks Ken doll-like. Imagine the accessories. Tiny Bibles. Leather. A mousy wife with no mouth. The only thing not provided is batteries and an imagination. This is where you come in. Alan dolls and clothing sold separately. On Antiques Roadshow, one hundred years from now, the Alan doll’s glasses will be the most rare, as they were easily lost or broken. Broken like a young man’s dreams. He set out to change the world. Alan, with one L and two A’s. Doll, two L’s.
enfilmigult
@Xzamilio: In fairness that’s only advice “for those who cannot reconcile their faith and sexuality.” It’s still shit advice compared to “reevaluate what you have faith in, maybe,” but he’s not encouraging all gay men to be celibate.
Bisexual-Transwoman
@Brian: How is going to a gay/LGBT bar an act of selfishness? I don’t even go to any type of bar (gay/LGBT or non-LGBT) that often anymore unless friends want to go.
AtticusBennett
sorry, it’s just not good enough.
this might have been impressive in 1950, but it’s certainly not today.
sexuality is a big part of your being. even SUGGESTING that gay males should be celibate continues to give credence to the BS lie that same-sex sexual expressions are an evil, dangerous SIN. it’s pathetic.
this is simply not good enough.
you wanna be miserable self-censoring wimp? do it, SILENTLY. the second you evangelize your ignorance you continue to harm other LGBT people.
this guy is pathetic.
AtticusBennett
and ignore “Brian” – he’s one more broken wimp of a boy who lives each day trying to please his bigoted mommy and daddy.
GTT
Brian,
Going to a gay bar is selfish?
What about all the young heterosexuals that go to straight, pick-up bars?
LOL
People are born with their sexual orientation – and a small % are born with an homosexual sexual orientation – an even smaller % are born bisexual. It is a scientific issue – not a religious one. That is Chambers’ mistake – he made it a religious issue. It is no more a religious issue than the age of the earth is a religious issue. When are these fools going to get it?
GTT
Who says it is wrong to be gay? The bible? LOL
The bible says you should be put to death for eating shellfish or wearing mixed fabrics.
LOL
They did not understand the concept of sexual orientation when the bible or koran were written – they didn’t even now where the sun went at night.
How sad some people are beholden to the bible and koran on some of these issues.
We should pity them – seriously. And someday people will laugh about them.
Billy Budd
The bible was written by ancient ignorant people who feared everything that unknown to them. This book should be burned, or at least the first testment should be ripped off the book.
John Kuehnle
I don’t know why conversion therapy is even legal.
Billy Budd
Not people. ancient TRIBES wrote the bible.
Brian
@GTT: I don’t remember being born with a sexual orientation. So, please, don’t spout this nonsense about people being born with a sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is innate, yes, but that is totally different from saying that one is born with it.
And same-sex feelings in men are not minority. They are MAJORITY. Most men have same-sex feelings. The degree to which these feelings are repressed depends on one’s values. Values come from upbringing, religious influence, peer pressure etc etc.
I’m continually amazed by the number of liberals who keep claiming that only a small number of men have same-sex feelings. It’s not a coincidence that this view corresponds with the conservative view. Liberals and conservatives are basically the same.
enlightenone
@Brian: “I don’t remember being born with a sexual orientation.”
That’s because NO ONE, even you, remembers being born!
Too bad there aren’t ball-gags for hands so you couldn’t peck on a keyboard!
GTT
Brian,
People are born with their sexual orientation predetermined – just like their height and left or right-handedness. It is innate/inborn. Study it – I have.
It is not a religious or political issue. It is scientific. Sexual attraction is determined in a certain part of the brain and in gay men that part of the brain is physiologically structured similarly to the way it is in heterosexual women. The same goes for gay women and straight men – similar brain structures.
Welcome to the science of sexual orientation 101 – and to the year 2015 and to the 21st century. Never a friend of religion, right?
GTT
And no Brian – straight men do not, by definition, have same-sex attraction.
You are confused – and maybe in denial??
Then straight guys I know are not at all sexually or romantically attracted to men – and the gay men I know are not at all attracted to women sexually or romantically.
Is there something that you are hiding or “struggling” with??
GTT
The straight guys I now are repulsed by the idea of having sex with another guy.
Who told Brian otherwise?? Some ex-gay quacks??
This is where he gets his crazy ideas of “choice” from.
Sounds like a repressed gay man or a bisexual. And yes – bisexuality is very much a real sexual orientation, not common, around 1% of the population – but real.
GTT
Brian,
Your saying “gay identifying” man – is like saying “white identifying” people – or “tall identifying” men. It is not an identity – it is a biological and scientific FACT about someone.
Religion has never been too keen on science.
Science tends to challenge the religious belief system and cause panic among “believers”.
So sad.
GTT
Hey brian,
Put down the Koran or the bible – here is even more science for you re: sexual orientation:
Researchers Claim 70% Success Rate In Predicting Sexual Orientation Using Epigenetic Algorithm
?October 8, 2015 ?
Researchers at the UCLA School of Medicine today issued a press release in which they claim to be able to predict sexual orientation about 70% of the time using an “algorithm using epigenetic information from just nine regions of the human genome.” From the press release:
“To our knowledge, this is the first example of a predictive model for sexual orientation based on molecular markers,” said Tuck C. Ngun, PhD, first author on the study and a postdoctoral researcher at the David Geffen School of Medicine of the University of California, Los Angeles.
Beyond the genetic information contained in DNA, the researchers examined patterns of DNA methylation – a molecular modification to DNA that affects when and how strongly a gene is expressed – across the genome in pairs of identical male twins. While identical twins have exactly the same genetic sequence, environmental factors lead to differences in how their DNA is methylated. Thus, by studying twins, the researchers could control for genetic differences and tease out the effect of methylation. In all, the study involved 37 pairs of twins in which one twin was homosexual and the other was heterosexual, and 10 pairs in which both twins were homosexual.
“A challenge was that because we studied twins, their DNA methylation patterns were highly correlated,” Dr. Ngun explained. Even after some initial analysis, the researchers were left with over 400,000 data points to sort through. “The high correlation and large data set made it difficult to identify differences between twins, determine which ones were relevant to sexual orientation, and determine which of those could be used predictively,” he added.
Other genetic researchers are reacting:
“Without validation of the result in an independent data set it is not really possible to know whether there is any substance in this claim,” said Gil McVean, a statistical geneticist at Britain’s University of Oxford. “My gut feeling it that, as the complete story unfolds, the association may not be quite as simple as the summary (abstract) and press release suggest. The important thing to note however is the mounting evidence that homosexuality is a perfectly normal trait segregating in human populations,” added genetics professor Darren Griffin of the University of Kent. But Dr. Margaret McCarthy, who studies the developing brain at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, said epigenetic changes could happen while a fetus is developing. “Developing male fetuses produce very high quantities of testosterone during the second trimester and this directs psychosexual development along masculine lines, a component of which is preference for females as sexual partners,” McCarthy said in a statement.
Giancarlo85
@Brian: More nonsensical bullshit from the biggest bullshit artist on here. Again, you don’t know anything about sexual orientation. You are a total buffoon. We all know you think straight men are superior to gay men because you don’t like that some gay men are out and open.
How is going to a gay bar selfish? Tell us how!
@Brian: “I don’t remember being born with a sexual orientation.”
Do you remember being born an idiot? That’s the biggest question I have for you.
“And same-sex feelings in men are not minority. They are MAJORITY.”
No they aren’t. Same sex feelings are a minority only shown in 3-5% percentage of men.
“I’m continually amazed by the number of liberals who keep claiming that only a small number of men have same-sex feelings. It’s not a coincidence that this view corresponds with the conservative view. Liberals and conservatives are basically the same.”
You missed the whole fucking point why they say that. This has nothing to do with it being wrong, but leftists like me know the facts and scientific evidence. And even 3-5% minority needs to be treated equally under the law. I am part of that 3-5% minority (and also an ethnic minority). You, however, are a right wing dingbat who subscribes to calling GAY MEN as “gay identifying men”. You’re a f-king vapid idiot in every regard.
Giancarlo85
@GTT: He doesn’t consider GAY MEN real men and he considers them to be making a choice. Brian.. I mean Jason is nothing more than a pseudo-intellectual. He’s a failure in life and constantly puts down gay men on here. He calls them “gay identifying”… as if it is some kind of choice.
This man is the worst kind of idiot. He is an idiot that tries to make himself sound smarter by choosing big words.
youarekiddingme
@Brian: Brian…I mean JASON SMEDS, as a GAY MAN I can assure you that you and your bullsh!t are 100% wrong!
I am not gay-identifying. I am 100% GAY MAN! Never had vagina…never will (except at birth of course).
There are straight men in the world, same thing. Never had penis…never will (except their own of course).
There’s a whole compendium of “experimentation, bisexual, transgender and others” who fall in between those two ends of the spectrum. F@ckin DEAL with it!
Btw, never made a choice…liked what I liked. Got aroused by what aroused me. Period. When you’re young (when I was young) I wanted to be like everyone else (straight–like girls). No matter how hard I tried to look at the girls in the porn magazines, I always ended up looking at the GUYS having sex with them. SO MUCH FOR YOUR THEORY ON CHOICE!
I was raised in a strict Catholic Family with very conservative values…SO MUCH FOR YOUR THEORY ON VALUES!
You need to see somebody (Psychiatrist) to get you over your self-loathing, anti-gay feelings. I hate to see anyone (even you) driven toward suicide. You seriously need to see someone. Your posts are becoming more and more delusional.
GET HELP!! If you need a number, let us know, one of us will refer you to a suicide hot-line.
Giancarlo85
But… according to our great sex ed theorist… there is no such thing as a gay man. Only gay identifying… our great theorist also thinks sexuality is a choice and straight men are superior in everyway.
Blah blah blah blah lol.
I think the reality is Jason Smeds wants to get a straight man in bed with him. I guess it comes to that because no GAY MAN would EVER sleep with him.
Brian
I would say that 95% of all straight-identifying men are capable of homosexual activity. I would also say that 30-50% of all gay-identifying men are capable of opposite-sex activity. Why the different figures? Let me explain.
Identifying as gay is a harder road to hoe. You have to overcome the great stigma that society places on male homosexuality. In order to de-stigmatize yourself sufficiently to reach the point of declaring “I’m gay”, you have to be quite sure that that is what you wish to conclude about yourself.
Identifying as straight, however, is easy. There is no stigma on male heterosexuality. In fact, society glorifies it. You receive the approval of women who benefit from the fact that you will inject your sperm into her. You receive the approval of the church which benefits from its relationship to the institution of heterosexual marriage.
In order to continue to receive the approval of women and the church, as a man you must identify totally as straight, and thus hide any same-sex desire or behavior. You learn to hate that side of yourself, and do everything in your power to hide it.
It is much easier to hide than it is to de-stigmatize, hence the difference in the percentages I cited in my first paragraph to this post. Take-home message: the vast majority of straight-identifying hide their same-sex desires because it’s easy to do.
Giancarlo85
@Brian: I would say that 97.657% of everything you say is made up. The other remaining percentaged is grossly exaggerated. See I can pull numbers out of thin air too. We all know you make up 100% of the bullshit you write on here.
And stop using the word identifying to discuss sexual orientation. That infers choice. You are a delusional idiot. You do not know anything about human sexuality. Please smeds, stop embarrassing yourself. We all know you are a right wing bigot.
GTT
Giancarlo85,
I would assume that Brian is getting his info. from ex-gay quacks – who sell their program on these theories – which, of course, are false.
youarekiddingme
@Brian: Brian, Brian “I would say” does not equal scientific proof. Nothing you are saying makes any sense.
You are becoming more and more delusional. Really.
Are you ok?
You do need to see that doctor.
We can send paramedics for you…I know you’re suicidal at this point. You’re posts indicate that (by your self hate). Let someone here help you. Give us your information and we will send help for you!
Ladbrook
@Brian: When you say “If he is opposed morally to homosexual behavior, he has a right to choose to refrain from it” you imply that same-sex attraction is, in itself, immoral. I’ll agree that SOME gay men behave in a way that is generally immoral, but some straight men do so as well. Sexual identity is never immoral… bad choices, however, can be.
Your comments on this site prove again and again that you are one of two things: 1) a hate-filled bigot who sees it as his role to guilt GLBTs into becoming straight (an impossibility I might add) or 2) a self-hating gay man or bisexual who can’t accept what is innate within your own psyche.
Either way, you need to seek professional help, and you need to stop wasting your time trolling well-adjusted LGBTs online. We aren’t buying what you’re selling.