Fixing Gays

Seems that the fundamentalist right in the US has come up with a new way to attack gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, with their discredited and damaging "reparative therapy". PFOX is a leader in this faux movement; the "Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays." I'm not going to link to this group -- Google if you must. Even if it were the right thing to do (and I don't think it is), it doesn't work. See Free Z. - Testimonies: We Never Really Changed: http://66.197.210.102/~witchcra/FREEZ/testimonies.html

and Reparative Therapy - A Psuedo Science: http://jgford.homestead.com/

These people should all read the book Prayers for Bobby by Leroy Aarons. See the first few pages at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0062511238/104-2303910-1113561?v=glance

An example of the real-world consequences of this kind of crap, and the damage it can do (happening right now): http://blog.myspace.com/specialkid (unfortunately, most of this blog has been removed, because of what happened)

Another example, from the Love Welcomes All conference: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002371684_gayconference10m.html

Interesting article using Zach's case as illustration - What's 'mental health' in a theocracy? http://www.onlinejournal.com/Theocracy_Alert/070605Seesholtz/070605seesholtz.html

A wonderful comic based on Zach's true story - FreeZ: http://66.197.210.102/~witchcra/FREEZ/

Beyond Ex-Gay: http://www.beyondexgay.com

What are the "ex-gay" crowd up to now? Ex-Gay Watch: http://www.exgaywatch.com and Truth Wins Out: http://truthwinsout.org/

News note on Christianity Today weblog - U.K. Ex-Gay Ministry Quits Effort, Says Trying Changing Orientation Is Hopeless: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2001/105/54.0.html

A funny/serious take on it - Doin' Time in The Homo No Mo Halfway House: How I Survived the Ex-gay Movement: http://www.homonomo.com/

And another - GodLovesFags.com: http://www.godlovesfags.com/

Nice summation on the subject at Wikipedia - Ex-gay: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex-gay

PFLAG also has a good summation of the issue - Social Work Today: http://www.pflag.org/index.php?id=438

An emotional and personal account - Jesusland, By Max Gordon: http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/04/12/07_jesusland.html

Find some local groups at the National Directory of LGBT Community Centers: http://www.lgbtcenters.org/directory.asp

Excellent collection of links by Gabi Clayton: http://www.youth-guard.org/gabi/gcresource_spirit.htm


Some websites to check out, if you are confronted with this dreck:

Family Acceptance.com: http://www.familyacceptance.com/

Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse: http://www.truluck.com/

Scholarly article - Homosexuality and the Bible by Walter Wink, Professor of Biblical Interpretation, Auburn Theological Seminary, New York City: http://www.bridges-across.org/ba/wink.htm

To Educate About the Consequences of Homophobia: http://www.teach-ministries.org/ -
Bob and Mary Lou Wallner have written a book called The Slow Miracle of Transformation.

Love Welcomes All: http://www.lovewelcomesall-wa.org/

Whosoever: The Bible and Homosexuality: http://www.whosoever.org/bible/

A Letter to Louise - A Biblical Affirmation of Homosexuality: http://www.godmademegay.com/

And see some GLBT religious organizations:

Soul Force: http://www.soulforce.org/
What the Bible Says, and Doesn't Say, about Homosexuality
A False Focus on My Family
Christian Youth: An Important Voice in the Present Struggle for Gay Rights in America

Finding an open and welcoming congregation - GayChurch.org: http://www.gaychurch.org/, Institute for Welcoming Resources (The Task Force): http://www.welcomingresources.org/directory.htm

Evangelicals Concerned: http://www.ecinc.org/

National Religious Leadership Roundtable: http://www.thetaskforce.org/ourprojects/nrlr/index.cfm

DignityUSA - GLBT Catholics: http://www.dignityusa.org/

And finally, a wonderful interview with Episcopal Bishop John Shelby Spong, about his book The Sins of Scripture: Exposing the Bible’s Texts of Hate to Reveal the God of Love on KUOW radio: http://kuow.org/defaultProgram.asp?ID=8710

Wonderful collection, GLBTQ Spirit: http://www.youth-guard.org/gabi/gcresource_spirit.htm, and Alex Sanchez's (Rainbow Boys, God Box) links: http://www.alexsanchez.com/Spirituality.htm

Three Soulforce booklets, available as hardcopy or free download: What the Bible Says, and Doesn't Say, about Homosexuality, A False Focus on My Family, Christian Youth: An Important Voice in the Present Struggle for Gay Rights in America.

Also see Open Letter to Dr. Laura concerning her Condemnation of Homosexual People: http://valoriez.blogspot.com/2004/02/open-letter-to-dr-laura-concerning-her.html

And Marriage, the Bible, and Mr. Bush: http://valoriez.blogspot.com/2004/01/marriage-bible-and-mr-bush.html

New group in Virginia - New gay-friendly coalition offers faith-based alternative: Organizers aim to be the antithesis of the vocal conservative Christian set: http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=1528

White Ribbon Campaign Raising Awareness about Gay-Teen Suicide And remembering those who we've lost

Mistakes are the portals for discovery. - James Joyce