PrideCoach.com is the brand new homepage of Dr. Reece W. Manley, whose press release describes him as a “spirituality expert and progressive Christian writer, providing pastoral counseling services especially tailored for the gay and lesbian community. The new site is to encourage Spiritual Recovery for gay and lesbian persons.” Ya know what’s scary? That’s the same boilerplate language conversion therapists often use!
But Dr. Manley claims to be the exact opposite — he’s a counsel and spiritual guide for gays looking to improve their mental health while remaining gay. No switcharoos here, supposedly.
The site appears to be selling some sort of Spirituality Switch-Flip package; there’s an 800-number that’ll put you directly in touch with Manley, though I’m afraid to call it, because I learned my lesson about calling middle aged men I meet on the Internet. Or you can buy his book.
While I’ll accept that Dr. Manley, who is seen here in a photo originally titled “reecegoodpic.jpg” on his website, is putting himself out there for purposes of good (he does gay weddings, after all), it’s sites like these that could easily be fronts for ex-gay therapists. And ‘mos won’t know until they’re suckered in.
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.
And what’s with Manley’s video introduction that looks like an ad for Cymbalta?
Ogre Magi
Gays need to stay away from christianity
BillySaint
People need to stay away from Christianity.
gilber
my goodness when will the gays understand that the reason there is so much suffering for transgenders and homosexuals in this world is due to a “downgrade” that we received on purpose,such as the capacity of changing sex and form by our own will,even some creepy fishes can do this, imagine what the spirits can do.many christian don’t have a clue how “GAY” the ethereal world is, and how empowered we are there,but i will no longer talk about these things here cuz people think i’m preaching. this is one of the reasons why transgenders people have a very high potential developing real and authentic spirituality.there is a lot to be learned from them because they are able to transcend the boundaries imposed by forces that DO NOT wish us good and interpret, when rightly trained by our MAXIMUN, certain mysteries i won’t mention here.in the spiritual(energy-thought)realm masculinity and femininity or neither, is “thought” and generated by same-sex coupling.they are double bonds these energies have, that only homosexuals can pass them.this is a mystery.i always say to the homosexuals not to fear,there will be no hell for us, we are actually going to be maximized and empowered in many aspects once our consciousnesses return to the ethereal world from this realm of evil.we shall return very purified and full of truthfulness,we have being doing this from dimensions to dimension as a chromatography process.
VaJeena
ooooookay then…
Jack E. Jett
I wouldn’t trust a spiritual advisor if he/she crawled up my ass and farted.
It is all rosewater on turds.
Sceth
Haven’t we each written at least one where one of the characters was a deceptive, happy, hobbyist murderer? Well scroll back up to the top of the article, and look your character in the face.
Sceth
@Sceth: At east one -Story-
Samwise
Jeez, you’re cynical. Do you also think Soulforce is a front for conversion therapists? What about the Metropolitan Community Church?
Not all Christians are hateful bigots. And this guy looks like he’s providing an important service to the community. A lot of us were raised in conservative Christian households and told that God hated us. Not all of us want to respond to that by leaving our faith behind. There are a lot of gay people for whom Christianity is central to their lives, and they really don’t need to hear other gay people telling them “You’re dumb for believing in a myth.” That REALLY drives people to conversion therapy. No, they need to hear, “God loves you just as you are.” Which is exactly what this guy is saying.
Okay, granted, a therapist with his own trailer is kind of… weird and maybe a little cult-like. But still.
Matt
I dream of a world where bullshit such as conversion therapy, spiritual counselors, and nonsense comments about maximizing consciousness in the ethereal world (I’m so happy these people know what consciousness is as philopsophy and cognitive psychology struggle so hard to define it) is never on my computer at 9 AM in the morning.
Matt
That should read “philosophy”.
Jesse Helms
Be Fruitful? As soon as he starts quoting the Bible, we know what that leads to: reparative therapy. Sorry, but the christers use their religion to demonize the ghayz. It’s lovely when someone finds a nice imaginary friend named Jésus until someone realizes that the followers of Jésus want us to be “fruitful” and multiply. My sexual orientation is not going to be prayed away. Nor would I want it to be.
DR (the real one, not the guy who made post #12)
Sam has a point. Every time someone mentions “Christians” on this site, everyone immediately jumps to the image of the hateful preacher telling us how we’re all going to burn in hell. That does not represent all Christians. When will you people learn to stop painting with the same broad and bigoted brush our opponents use on us? And alienate those of us who don’t agree with the religion-bashing?
As for this guy specifically, he sounds like a twelve-stepper turning it into a business. While I personally wouldn’t use his services, if they help someone reconcile his/her spiritual life with the LGB life, why is that a bad thing?
gilber
god is LOVE, god is LOVE ,god is LOVE, so he loved the Cro-magnons and the Neanderthals.many homosexuals have been lost because of the love of this serial killer.
Ogre Magi
@gilber: Right On Brother!
Dan
Christianity is fine; it is the hypocrisy of so-many purported “followers” that is the problem (especially since Jesus himself said hypocrites and pharisees cannot enter heaven). How many “Christian” leaders who condemn gay people also take compensation for working on the Sabbath – answer: all of them – even though working on the Sabbath according to Exodus 35 is punishable by death, no exceptions, and keeping the Sabbath holy is a commandment. These “Christian” leaders are the ultimate hypocrits. Remember the one time Jesus got angry enough to become violent was throwing the merchants out who had invaded and corrupted the church. How easily so-many “Christians” forget that.
Jesse Helms
@Dan: Jesus threw the merchants out of the Temple, yet many churches have “Bingo Nite” twice a week — and, to be even more helpful, they perform “gay exorcisms” on Wednesday evenings (see prior Qlueless thread on that!).
Roxie
Guys, I was right here. You just had to give me a call. After all, I make a living listening. I’d be happy to listen to your cynicism with a happy attitude.
Yes, I am a progressive Christian. It’s my path. But, not the right path for some. Each one is called according to their gifts. You’ll find that in the Bible right along with “Love Thy Neighbor”. See, Jesus WAS a liberal!
Roxie
@Sceth: Hey, Seth, no one wants to look as goofy as I do in that picture.
Reece