Undercover writer goes deep into ex-gay movement, stunned by what he finds

[Initech]

Stunning. Fuck those that prey on fragile-minded people like those described in this article.

http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/146557

[EFerrari]

1. Marking to read. Thank you.

:kick:

[marginlized]

2. Ted Cox gives good lecture. So catch him if you can.

He demos the "Motorcycle" ... with members from the audience

[arcane1]

3. This aught to be interesting

reading now!

[Political_Junkie]

4. wow, that was something.

crazy shit.

[Initech]

5. My jaw hit the floor toward the end of the article.

[Luminous Animal]

6. Thank you for the link.

[HillbillyBob]

7. These so called exgay hucksters should be prosecuted as predators

I read this article months back when it was first posted.

I experienced something like this when I was young and convinced that I just Had to be a Christian.

The pressure was great to conform. I went to several pastors. Most were supportive and said you have to live with what is in your heart and do not harm others, safe enough advise.

I was pretty sure that being a sinner would send me to hell for being gay.
A couple though said one thing and did absolutely different, to this day I am not given to being physically close to someone I don't know.
I really did not like being groped or fondled while being told what a sinner and evil person I am. That is a big part of the basis of my current feeling that most loudly professed 'christians' are nothing of the sort.

[Initech]

8. Sometimes there's really no difference between hardcore Xtians and the Taliban.

I went to a church like the one you're describing (and yes they also presented a crazy and scary "conform or die" attitude) but I left, and I feel much better off for having done so. And the more I read about shit like this that goes down, the more it solidifies my opinion.

[hobbit709]

15. Sometimes?

If they got in power here, you would see the same laws applied the same way.

[KamaAina]

9. Best. First Line. Ever.

Somewhere Hunter Thompson is smiling.

[myrna minx]

10. kicking to read later. n/t

[Behind the Aegis]

11. That was some serious bullshit!

How to get straight? FEEL UP OTHER DUDES! Sign me up! :eyes:

These people are psychological and emotional terrorists. I hate using that word, but it accurately describes those who try to "cure" gay people.

[Initech]

12. Yeah that's a good way of putting it.

Bill Maher did a good job of exposing the hypocrisy behind Exodus International on his movie Religulous.

[Behind the Aegis]

13. I have dealt with ex-gay ministries before.

Back during my activist days, I helped many out of those ministries into legitimate support groups, including religious ones. It is a shame the amount of damage these places do. They take people in very bad ways and make it worse.

[Initech]

14. It's seriously scary that places like this exist.

[hunter]

16. Okay, Mr. Cox, we get it, you are an atheist and you are not gay.

I almost wish this story was written by someone who was gay and a person of faith. The "I'm not gay" and "I've rejected religion" vibe was distracting and I think it distanced the author from the people and situation he was writing about.

Nevertheless, organizations that promise to turn gay people straight destroy lives. Paying that kind of money to fortify one's closet is sad. And I'm pretty sure most of the people promoting this are not crooks -- they are simply reinforcing their own very well fortified closets.

You can feel the pressure building in this story and it's horrible because you know for most of those guys it will only get worse no matter how much money they spend on these harmful "journeys" of self denial.