Colorado-based homo Dan Gonzales once tried to "turn straight" through ex-gay therapy. It didn't work.

Now, in response to Sarah Palin's ridiculous assumption that being gay is a choice, Gonzalez released this video emphasizing how all mainstream medical organizations agree that being gay is not a choice. The fact that she disagrees with trained doctors makes him question her judgement, he says.

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Upon hearing news that the ex-gays were coming their way, the parental figures of Alaska's PFLAG today came out against this weekend's Love Won Out conference.

And, realizing that Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin's former church endorsed the event, PFLAG used the opportunity to ask the politico for a little compassion:

"It is unfair, at this point, to assume that Governor Palin endorses so-called 'ex-gay' therapy like that espoused by Love Won Out," but that "Saturday's event in Anchorage provides an important opportunity for the first GOP mom on the party's presidential ticket to make clear that she, as a mother and a public servant, will not condone, either explicitly or implicitly, such attempts at dividing our families and hurting our kids."

"Palin, and lawmakers of both parties, should seize that opportunity," the group said, "and stand up as boldly and outspokenly for all of our kids as much as they do for their own."

So, how much money do you guys want to bet that the ever-silent Palin ignores PFLAG's pleas?

Alaska Governor and potential vice-president Sarah Palin's religious bellicosity may be scarier than we thought.

In addition to featuring a preacher who claims President Bush's critics will head to hell, Palin's church, the Wasilla Assembly of God, has close ties with Love Won Out, an ex-gay organization claim gays can be cured through Jesus Christ.

From Time:

"We like to call this the Bible Belt of Alaska," says Cheryl Metiva, head of the local chamber of commerce. Churches proliferate in Wasilla today, and among the largest and most influential is the Wasilla Bible Church, where the Palins worship.

At the 11:15 a.m. Sunday service, hundreds sit in folding chairs, listening to a 20-minute sermon about the Book of Malachi and singing along to alt-rock praise songs. The only sign of culture warring in the whole production is an insert in the day's program advertising an upcoming Focus on the Family conference on homosexuality in Anchorage called Love Won Out. The group promises to teach attendees how to "respond to misinformation in our culture" and help them "overcome" homosexuality.

We've just put a call into the McCain campaign asking two questions: One, does Governor Palin believe homosexuality can be "overcome" through religion? And, two, does Palin believe homosexuality's innate, as in you're born gay, or a choice?

We'll keep you posted if they actually get back to us. You know how moody McCain can be with the press!

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.