Wayne Besen and his homo homies over at Truth Wins Out have produced a new video aimed at exposing the ex-gay movement. While certainly it's intriguing to hear an ex-gayer talking about how he and his pious peers lurked about malls drooling over men, we're entirely distracted by the announcer's wavering, yet always sensational tone.

Is this the trailer to a horror movie, an action flick or a non-profit dedicated to exposing the controversial conversion therapists?? We're confused...

The Hate Crimes Bill has a new enemy: ex-gay country singer Dennis Jernigan. Like so many conservatives, Jernigan that the bill threatens his free speech:

I was able to come to a level of freedom the homosexual community never told me was possible. Yet, through faith in God, I successfully walked out of that way of thinking and have met thousands of other men and women who have done the same. What about our civil liberties? To pass such a bill as H.R. 1592 is to invoke fear that I could be prosecuted for my religious beliefs and speech.

The father of nine (!) goes on to claim that H.R. 1592 discriminates against him and his ex-gay brethren:

If this bill passes, Congress is telling me that I and countless others who have discovered they don't have to be homosexual are of less value now than when we were living as homosexuals. If we look down the road of this slippery slope, this legislation would actually pave the way to make it a criminal offense to think differently than someone else or to have religious convictions that are opposed to this politically correct ideology. Do we really want such thoughts to be illegal?

Oh Jernigan - when will you and your ilk learn that violent crime and political stance are not the same thing? Although we suspect he doesn't care: his politically-minded press release reminds readers that Jernigan has a new album on the way.

Venus Magazine publisher Charlene Cothran may have incensed her readers when she denounced her lesbianism, but she's earned some friends in homo-hater Peter LaBarbera and his brethren. The Americans For "Truth" leader recently posted Cothran's renunciation and asked his readers to support her unholy cause by subscribing to the former fag rag.

Meanwhile, as Ex-Gay Watch reports, ex-gayer Amy Tracy recently sat down with Cothran for a little heart-to-heart. Not only does Cothran eschew questions about her sexuality by claiming to be celibate, she gives us a little insight into her own conversion:

I always knew that homosexuality was wrong. The seed of truth was planted long ago. But the sin in my life squashed it. I'd go to church if it was Christmas, but I never allowed myself to get to the point where I felt conviction. I hardened my heart over and over against the Word.

So she always considered herself a sinner, yet spent years and thousands of dollars publishing a magazine for black lesbians? Curious.

CONTINUED »

Montel Williams - a man who will continue hosting his show until the end of time - recently hosted Exodus International leader Alan Chambers for a little heart-to-heart about the ex-gay movement and it's deceptive, dangerous tendencies.

The best part of this superb clip, in our opinion, comes when Williams and Alicia Slazer, the medical doctor who produced Abomination: Homosexuality and the Ex-Gay Movement, express their astonishment over Chambers' tardiness in consummating his marriage. Priceless!

(Thanks to Dan for passing this along.)

There's no shortage of criticism for reparative therapy: the so-called conversion therapy employed by ex-gayers in their efforts to cleanse the world of the homosexual scourge. While a number of psychologists have come out against the controversial treatment - the same treatment used on Ted Haggard - the American Psychological Association's upping the ante by establishing a five-person task force to examine the method's potentially hazardous repercussions.

Though the head-shrinking group's yet to select members for this task force, they are considering including at least one person who claims to have been successfully transformed. One doctor, Grove City College's Dr. Warren Throckmorton worries that if the APA comes out against reparative therapy, "homosexuals who are discontented with their lifestyle will have fewer options," according to The Christian Post. Throckmorton tells them:

What we're talking about is the right of clients who are unhappy with their feeling (of same-sex attraction). Those people have the right to seek therapy to help them live the way they want to live - the way they value.

Well, yes, they have the right to seek therapy, but do therapists have the right to pursue methods that have been called harmful and, even worse, ineffective? We think not...

Tim Hardaway's seemingly endless apology campaign may not win him any votes with a fellow named Bryan Jones. As an eagle-eyed reader pointed out, if you google Hardaway's name, you'll find an ad for a website Tim Hardaway 4 President on which Jones lauds Hardaway's homophobic revelations. But don't worry, Jones isn't completely deranged, the stunt's just his way of fighting against the Maryland's Montgomery County Public Schools.

Tim Hardaway is my new hero. It is not easy to speak your mind when others (the liberal media) may not like it.

Understand that I am using this website to get your attention about an issue that I feel is important. Hate speach is not something I support.

I don't hate gay people but I do hate how Maryland's Montgomery County Public Schools are trying to teach that people can be born gay. There is no conclusive scientific evidence to support this.

No, there isn't. Then again, there's no scientific evidence to prove Jones is an asshole, but there's certainly enough empirical evidence.

He also apparently doesn't know how to pick his battles. While Montgomery County schools may teach about homosexuality, they've also agreed (however begrudgingly) to distribute pamphlets from pro-ex-gayers, PFOX. So, really, the school isn't only teaching about gay people, but how to get rid of gay people. You'd think Jones would be thrilled...

When Pastor Christopher Beard stepped down from Ted Haggard's former stomping ground, the Colorado Springs based New Life Church, associate pastor and potential king Rob Brendle said "there will be increased scrutiny of our church in the wake of the scandal". We took that not as a statement of fact, but as a directive.

Thus, we found ourselves poking around the Evangelical church's website and came across a section for kids. We knew there'd be something good in there, but little did we know we'd find Weird and Gross Bible Stuff, a book we think should be entitled, Queer Bible Shit. Seriously, that cover screams gay erotic art. Who the fuck is that? Daniel? Whoever it is, he looks like he's about to get a mouthful...of locust, of course.

As if that's not enough, read the accompanying description:

DO NOT OPEN THIS BOOK if you don't have the stomach for the bizarre and absolute gross. It's only for boys with an appetite for learning about weird-even grotesque-facts in the Bible. Only a real boy could appreciate it and want to tell about it.

It's action and adventure straight from the pages of the Bible! As part of the 2:52 Soul Gear? collection these high-energy, fast-paced stories will encourage boys in their quest to be smarter, stronger, deeper, and cooler as they develop into young men of God.

This reads like the back of a fucking porn! Or, at the very least, some gay pulp novel. New Life Church may be the gayest place ever!

But, what of the women? Don't worry, they get their place in the church's bibliographical canon...

CONTINUED »

Today's New York Times has an article on reparative therapy. There's really nothing new offered - the same old rundown of how people can't cope with their homosexuality, go to a therapist to rid themselves of their faggot burden and the connection between ex-gays and religious movements - there are two things that we'd like to point out.

The first is a quote from Dr. Jack Drescher, who once headed the American Psychiastric Associations' Committee of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Issues (what, no trannies?). Speaking of repartative therapy, Drescher notes:

There’s not a debate in the profession on this issue. This is like creationism. You create the impression to the public as if there was a debate in the profession, which there is not.

His words, we think, fit quite nicely with what we were saying this morning with regard to pro ex-gay group PFOX and proponents of intelligent design.

Our second selection speaks for itself:

Robert Schaeffer, 44...is a former pastor who spent years secretly having sex with hundreds of men. After he discovered he was H.I.V.-positive, he divulged his secret to his Pennsylvania church and his denomination sent him to LIFE [Living in Freedom Eternally] Ministry. He began dating a woman after two years of counseling and eventually married her. He now proclaims himself to be completely free of homosexual desires.

“This ministry pointed me toward the emotional roots of homosexual desire,” he said. “The ungodly reactions to pain in my early formative years are really what I had to look at to get free of this.”

Hmm, we wonder if they have sex. If so, do you think they use a condom? We certainly hope so. Also, do you think his wife's a lesbian or just really wanted to get married?

Ex-gay watchdog Truth Wins Out has filed a complaint of fraud again sworn enemy Americans for Truth: the "national organization devoted exclusively to exposing and countering the homosexual activist agenda". (Translation: religious right-wingers who believe homosexuality can be cured through prayer.)

TWO insists AFT's video, It's Not Gay fraudulently portrays ex-gay proselytizer Michael Johnston's conversion as a complete success. After "converting" in 1998, Johnston's became one of the shrillest voices in the controversial and equally cunty movement. His bubble burst in 2003 when two men claimed to have had unprotected sex with the HIV+ Johnston.

CONTINUED »

The National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuals (NARTH) is encouraging parents to allow their gender-confused children to go to school wearing whatever clothes they feel. This may seem odd coming from an ex-gay organization: a seemingly-tolerant message that promotes.

Actually, NARTH believes these children should be beaten up by their peers to set them back on the straight and narrow, and what better place to have that happen than at school? We don't think getting beat up has ever made anyone less gay or trans, and certainly getting bullied at school is not good for a young child's psyche.

Gay conversion groups encouraging "child abuse" [Pink News]

We wrote about ex-gay Christian activist James Hartline for the first time earlier this year, when he made the public proclamation that Starbucks was so gay he was afraid to go inside for fear of getting a boner.

Now San Diego Pride is causing another stir in his loins, and he is none too happy about it:

Christian activist James Hartline, a former homosexual who has been transformed by his relationship with Jesus Christ, offers a unique perspective of the parade. Because of his "insider's knowledge," Hartline spoke passionately to the City Council about the dark side of the parade. He detailed segments of the event that feature graphic pornography, nudity, sadomasochism, and other activities too offensive to describe in print.

We can practically see his forehead sweating. It's okay James, you can get out the leather you've been hiding in your closet just for this one little day.

City Council Ignores Conservative Christians' Pleas, Honors 'Gay Pride' Festival [Agape Press via Pam's House Blend]

Activist author blogger Wayne Besen has taken his longstanding quarrel with the ex-gay movement to new heights this week by starting Truth Wins Out, a new non-profit organization focused at countering right-wing, ex-gay propaganda and also "educating America About Gay Life." That seems ambitious to us, but it must be working because Mr. Besen has already been painted as a Jewish Hitler by some crackpot ex-gay "preacher" named DL Foster.

Despite the sound of progress, a part of us is sad that some day, thanks to the efforts of Mr. Besen and other activists, there will be no more crackpots trying to cure homosexuality by beating a pillow with a tennis racquet.

Website compares community leader Wayne Besen to Adolph Hitler [PageOneQ]
Truth Wins Out [Official Site]
Wayne Besen Blog [Official Site]