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.
As Exodus International Europe President Jeremy Marks says,
People came to the ex-gay ministry because, like me, they were brought up in a homophobic environment. They believed they had to find an alternative to being gay – either to be able to be content with a celibate life, or even better, to change, become ’normal’ and marry (heterosexually). Like me, they felt there was no alternative if you were to be a true Christian.
The question remains, of course, are ex-gay movements moral. That’s what the American Psychological Association will ask this week as they take a stance on religious reparative therapy.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
As we mentioned in yesterday’s Happy Endings, Focus on the Family and other anti-gay groups are asking the APA to take mercy on their views. The APA’s gay leader, Clinton Anderson insists the group will ignore religious pleads and focus instead on the scientific evidence: “We cannot take into account what are fundamentally negative religious perceptions of homosexuality – they don’t fit into our world view.” Science v. religion – another ancient war. This should prove interesting…
Woof
The look on the fat red headed queen with the “Not gay is also OK” sign is classic. He looks real sure of himself.
nycstudman
good reporting on edge, if infuriating.
cjc
Le sigh. It’s sad that people can be so manipulated by fundamentalist religion. I feel pity for them. And even for Michael. Trapped in the ex-gay mindset.
Paul Raposo
The article from Edge is very good.
Although Michale Glatze is clearly proud of himself for breaking up his relationship and turning his back on his friends and family, if I ever hear him use the word “queer” around me I will cave his head in. He has no right to use that word and he will be treated like I’d treat any other anti-gay prick.
If he and people like him are so addlebrained that they need to leave their family and friends to pursue an invisible cloud being, then let them go, we don’t need them.
Paul Raposo
Hold on! I just realized something.
In the first WND article he wrote:
“I’d developed a growing relationship with God, thanks to a debilitating bout with intestinal cramps caused by the upset stomach-inducing behaviors I’d been engaged in.”
Then in the letter to Edge he wrote:
“I was diagnosed with Celiac disease,” he confides…I was anemic, and my heart was palpitating, and my Dad had died of a heart condition that was genetic, and I thought I had inherited that…When I figured out I just had Celiac disease, I sort of laid back on my bed and stared at the ceiling and said, thank God.”
In the first article he makes it seem like he picked up something from having sex with men, then he states it was celiac disease that made him question his sexuality and become “straight”?
I drove myself to the ER with a racing heart, palpitations, fever and a crushing chest pain. Turns out I wasn’t having a heart attack, I had GERD. I’m still gay. I didn’t blame my reflux on my homosexuality. I didn’t go bellyaching to god to save me.
The only religious experience I had that night, was a dream of walking down the beach with Jesus Christ, who was Jeff Spicoli from “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” who was admonishing me for not calling a guy I had a crush on.
Clearly this guy was a few bricks short of a load and no amount of reality will save him.