Former leader condemns 'ex-gay' work
Larry Buhl, PlanetOut Network
Mon Aug 1, 8:27 PM ET
(originally posted here)
SUMMARY: Love in Action co-founder John Evans wrote a letter to LIA's current director John Smid, saying the movement leads to "shattered lives."
In a scathing condemnation of the movement he helped create, Love in Action co-founder John Evans wrote a letter on Saturday to LIA's current director John Smid, saying the movement leads to "shattered lives."
LIA made headlines and incited protests recently after the Web log of a 16-year-old youth named Zach Stark publicized his fears about being taken to LIA's "Refuge" gay conversion camp against his will by his fundamentalist parents.
Evans' letter is likely to further turn up the heat on LIA and the "ex-gay" movement.
In 1973, Evans, a gay man, along with heterosexual preacher Kent Philpott, founded Love in Action, one of the first modern gay conversion groups, in San Rafael, Calif. Evans later dropped out after his best friend committed suicide after his gay "conversion" failed.
"In the past 30 years since leaving the 'ex-gay' ministry I have seen nothing but shattered lives, depression and even suicide among those connected with the 'ex-gay' movement," he told Smid.
Saying he understands now that one can be gay and Christian, Evans encouraged Christians to "investigate all sides of the issue of being gay and Christian. The church has been wrong in the past regarding moral issues, and I'm sure there will be more before Christ returns."
The letter was posted at waynebesen.com, a blog published by Wayne Besen, an author and activist who wrote, "Anything But Straight: Unmasking Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-gay Myth," which featured a chapter on Evans. Although Evans came out publicly years ago, the letter marks the first condemnation of the movement to a larger audience.
"Having the founder of a movement he created say it doesn't work and is even harmful should send shockwaves through the 'ex-gay' ministry," Besen told the PlanetOut Network. "This is like Randall Terry saying Operation Rescue is bunk, or James Dobson repudiating Focus on the Family."
"Evans' letter helps pull the rug out from under the reparative therapy argument and further undermines the argument of choice that the right wing has been making for political gain," said Ron Schlittler, deputy executive director of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).
The "reparative therapy" industry has come under increased scrutiny for using disproved medical theories to "cure" LGBT adults and youth. LIA in particular has been the target of investigations by the Tennessee Department of Health and has expunged the word "therapy" from its Web site, since it doesn't have a state license to practice psychological counseling.
Two rallies and a candlelight vigil were held over the weekend outside LIA's headquarters in Memphis, Tenn., to protest the "graduation" of Zach Stark and other new 'ex-gay' youth from Refuge. The gatherings, which attracted several dozens, according to the planners, Queer Action Coalition, also garnered media attention. Memphis station WMCTV reported that Oprah Winfrey is now looking into LIA in preparation for an exploration about ex-gay ministries on her show.
The increased public attention on LIA and other groups is a hopeful sign, Besen said, because the ministries' claims of conversion never hold up under scrutiny.
"They say they have changed hundreds of thousands of gays, but where are they?" he asked. "You can't find one person who is not on the payroll of an 'ex-gay' ministry who will go on the record to say they've been changed permanently. It's time for them to put up or shut up."
"These ministries have merged pseudo-science with religious beliefs to create, in effect, a new religion," Besen continued. "Eventually they will collapse under the weight of their deceit. But as long as they survive we will have trouble winning any political battles."
Mon Aug 1, 8:27 PM ET
(originally posted here)
SUMMARY: Love in Action co-founder John Evans wrote a letter to LIA's current director John Smid, saying the movement leads to "shattered lives."
In a scathing condemnation of the movement he helped create, Love in Action co-founder John Evans wrote a letter on Saturday to LIA's current director John Smid, saying the movement leads to "shattered lives."
LIA made headlines and incited protests recently after the Web log of a 16-year-old youth named Zach Stark publicized his fears about being taken to LIA's "Refuge" gay conversion camp against his will by his fundamentalist parents.
Evans' letter is likely to further turn up the heat on LIA and the "ex-gay" movement.
In 1973, Evans, a gay man, along with heterosexual preacher Kent Philpott, founded Love in Action, one of the first modern gay conversion groups, in San Rafael, Calif. Evans later dropped out after his best friend committed suicide after his gay "conversion" failed.
"In the past 30 years since leaving the 'ex-gay' ministry I have seen nothing but shattered lives, depression and even suicide among those connected with the 'ex-gay' movement," he told Smid.
Saying he understands now that one can be gay and Christian, Evans encouraged Christians to "investigate all sides of the issue of being gay and Christian. The church has been wrong in the past regarding moral issues, and I'm sure there will be more before Christ returns."
The letter was posted at waynebesen.com, a blog published by Wayne Besen, an author and activist who wrote, "Anything But Straight: Unmasking Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-gay Myth," which featured a chapter on Evans. Although Evans came out publicly years ago, the letter marks the first condemnation of the movement to a larger audience.
"Having the founder of a movement he created say it doesn't work and is even harmful should send shockwaves through the 'ex-gay' ministry," Besen told the PlanetOut Network. "This is like Randall Terry saying Operation Rescue is bunk, or James Dobson repudiating Focus on the Family."
"Evans' letter helps pull the rug out from under the reparative therapy argument and further undermines the argument of choice that the right wing has been making for political gain," said Ron Schlittler, deputy executive director of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).
The "reparative therapy" industry has come under increased scrutiny for using disproved medical theories to "cure" LGBT adults and youth. LIA in particular has been the target of investigations by the Tennessee Department of Health and has expunged the word "therapy" from its Web site, since it doesn't have a state license to practice psychological counseling.
Two rallies and a candlelight vigil were held over the weekend outside LIA's headquarters in Memphis, Tenn., to protest the "graduation" of Zach Stark and other new 'ex-gay' youth from Refuge. The gatherings, which attracted several dozens, according to the planners, Queer Action Coalition, also garnered media attention. Memphis station WMCTV reported that Oprah Winfrey is now looking into LIA in preparation for an exploration about ex-gay ministries on her show.
The increased public attention on LIA and other groups is a hopeful sign, Besen said, because the ministries' claims of conversion never hold up under scrutiny.
"They say they have changed hundreds of thousands of gays, but where are they?" he asked. "You can't find one person who is not on the payroll of an 'ex-gay' ministry who will go on the record to say they've been changed permanently. It's time for them to put up or shut up."
"These ministries have merged pseudo-science with religious beliefs to create, in effect, a new religion," Besen continued. "Eventually they will collapse under the weight of their deceit. But as long as they survive we will have trouble winning any political battles."
posted by xj at 9:10 PM
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