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Ex-gay movement

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Ex-gay is a term used by some reparative therapists, religious groups, and others to describe persons who used to be gay or bisexual, but now consider themselves heterosexual. Ex-gay organizations often consider reparative therapy to be a useful tool, but not a necessary one.[1]

For some ex-gay groups, merely choosing not to act on one's same-sex desires counts as a "success."[2] For example, some ex-gays in opposite-sex marriages acknowledge that their sexual attractions remain primarily homosexual, but seek to make their marriages work.[3] For some, the mere act of adopting the label "ex-gay" is seen as a narrative device whereby "individuals us[e] language as the primary tool to not only express identity but also create and transform it."[4] Ex-gays try to analogize this to the coming out process.[4] Other ex-gays try to distance themselves from the term. Courage International does not consider itself an ex-gay ministry, but prefers to be thought of as "pro-chastity".[5] Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International, resents the term and has pubically denounced its usage.[6] Other than PFOX, no other major ex-gay organization has labeled themselves as an ex-gay organization.

The medical and scientific consensus is that reparative therapy is not effective and is potentially harmful.[7] The American Psychiatric Association issued a critical statement backed by numerous other mainstream medical organizations, which stated: "There is simply no sufficiently scientifically sound evidence that sexual orientation can be changed."[8] The statement went on to say that positions espoused by ex-gay organizations "are not supported by the science" and that they "create an environment in which prejudice and discrimination can flourish." Ex-gay groups assert that the scientific community has taken its stances on homosexuality due to political, and not scientific, considerations.[9][10]

Notable organizations tied to the ex-gay movement include Exodus International, NARTH, Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays, Love in Action, Courage UK, Courage International, and True Freedom Trust.

Ex-gay views

Definition of change

Exodus describes change as "attaining abstinence from homosexual behaviors, lessening of homosexual temptations, strengthening their sense of masculine or feminine identity, correcting distorted styles of relating with members of the same and opposite gender."[11] Some ex-gays advocate entering (or remaining) in a heterosexual marriage as part of the process. Some ex-gays in opposite-sex marriages acknowledge that their sexual attractions remain primarily homosexual, but seek to make their marriages work anyway.[12]

Religion

See also: Religion and sexual orientation and Homosexuality and Christianity

PATH organization

In a joint coalition, several ex-gay organizations expressed their views that, for those with same-sex attractions, they support:

  • Personal choice in their sexual identity and behavior.
  • Right to know of alternatives to living a homosexual life.
  • Individual self-determination to seek counseling and determine the direction of that therapy
  • Compassion and respect to live in their choices as they see fit, without discrimination, ridicule, marginalization, or being the target of hate speech.
  • Policy neutrality, especially in the freedom to speak about freely chosen alternatives to homosexuality.
  • Equal access to public forums to raise awareness of alternative responses to a homosexual identity and lifestyle.[13]

Reparative therapy

Most religious ex-gay organizations support reparative therapy and provide referrals to its practitioners, though ex-gay organizations often do not practice it themselves.[14] Not all techniques are approved of by ex-gay organizations. For example, Exodus has condemned aversion therapy,[15][16] and has expressed concern over the techniques used by Richard Cohen.[14]

Ex-gay claims concerning changes in sexual orientation

Further information: Reparative therapy § Mainstream medical view of reparative therapy

Ex-gay groups rely heavily on testimonials, and the scientific evidence they cite are generally survey results of reported change among ex-gays.[17][18][19]

People in the ex-gay movement

Ex-gay people

Dennis Jernigan in concert, Woodland, California, June 2001
  • Alan Chambers is the president of Exodus International. He shares his story at several ex-gay events and has written several books. He is politically active, and promotes legislation against same-sex marriage.[20]
  • Dennis Jernigan is a singer-songwriter of contemporary Christian music. He describes his experience of "deliverance from homosexuality" during his concerts.[25]

People who "relapsed"

Main article: Reparative therapy § People who "relapsed"

People who left the ex-gay movement

Main article: Ex-ex-gay

The term ex-ex-gay refers to people, once involved with the ex-gay movement, who have ended the attempt to change their orientation, and who now identify as gay or bisexual. The Ex Gay Watch website is a notable resource regarding people who have been involved with the ex-gay movement and later left. Wayne Besen was not personally involved with the ex-gay movement, but he denounced it in his book, Anything but Straight. Notable people who left the movement include:

  • Günter Baum originally founded an ex-gay ministry in Germany. Ultimately, he formed another ministry, Zwischenraum, which helps gay Christians to accept their sexuality and to reconcile it with their beliefs.
  • In 1979, Exodus International's co-founder Michael Bussee and his partner Gary Cooper quit the group and held a life commitment ceremony together.[26]

Ex-gay organizations

Ex-gay organizations began in the USA with Evangelical Christians, but has since spread to include Catholic, LDS, Jewish, Muslim and non-religious groups in several countries across the world.

North America

The first ex-gay ministry was formed in 1973, called Love in Action. [27] Three years later, they joined with other ex-gay organizations to form Exodus International. Exodus is the largest ex-gay organization, and has grown to include over 120 local ministries in the USA and Canada.[28] Exodus International is the largest organization under the Exodus Global Alliance. Many other ex-gay organizations have been formed to cater to a specific religious group, such as Courage for Catholics, Evergreen International for Mormons (LDS), OneByOne for Presbyterians, Transformation Congregations[29] for Methodists and JONAH for Jews.

Other organizations have formed to meet specific needs. Witness Freedom Ministries caters to people of color with same-sex attractions.[30] Exodus Youth is a group specifically designed for youth[31], and the NEA Ex-Gay Educators Caucus is a group formed to help ex-gay teachers and students.[32] Others form after a specific technique, such as Homosexuals Anonymous[33] which was modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous' 12 step program and International Healing Foundation was modeled after Richard Cohen's methods. PeopleCanChange[34] and PFOX are two other ex-gay organizations in North America.

Europe

In 1975, Johan van de Sluis began EHAH (in English: Evangelical Counseling for Homosexuals) in Holland.[35] After visiting an Exodus conference in America, he combined his organization with others to form Exodus Europe in 1982.[35] Exodus Europe included True Freedom Trust in the UK, Medvandrarna[36] in Sweden, Til Helhet[37] in Norway, Basis[38] in Denmark, Aslan[39] in Finland, Different (the old EHAH)[40] in Belgium and Onze Weg[41] in Holland. In April 2007, Exodus Europe decided to break away from the Global Exodus Alliance because it was too affected by American thinking.[42] The United Kingdom also has Encourage [43] for Catholics and StraightWay Foundation[44] for Muslims.

Other

In 1978, Peter Lane began the first ex-gay group in Australia, which is called Liberty Ministry.[35] In 1987, it joined with other ministries to form Exodus Asia Pacific.[45] In 1990 Frank Worthen went to the Philippines and formed Bagong Pag-asa.[46] Other significant ex-gay groups under Exodus Asia Pacific include Liberty Christian Ministries[47] in Australia, Rainbow 7[48] in Taiwan, Liberty League[49] in Singapore and Pursuing Liberty Under Christ [50] in Malaysia.

In 1994, Esly Carvalho began Exodus Latino America.[51] In 2002, Exodus Brasil[52] separated as a separate organization under Global Exodus Alliance. Other groups in Latin America include Courage Latino[53] for Catholics, Elías S.O.S[54] in Argentina, and Camino de Salida[55] in Ecuador. Es Posible el Cambio[56] is an interdenominational group that advocates reparative therapy.

Ex-gay organizations in the Middle East include Atzat Nefesh[57] for Jews and Al-Tawbah[58] for Muslims.

Medical view of attempts to change sexual orientation

Main article: Reparative therapy § Mainstream medical view on changing sexual orientation

Controversies, criticisms, and scandals

Main article: Reparative therapy § Controversies, criticisms, and scandals
Main article: Reparative therapy § Reparative therapy and ex-gays in popular culture

References

  1. ^ Exodus International Policy Statements, Exodus International. Retrieved 04-07-2007.
  2. ^ See, e.g., Sexual Identity Institute FAQ. Retrieved 04-07-2007.
  3. ^ No easy victory. Retrieved on 2006-03-26.
  4. ^ a b Peebles, A. "It’s Not Coming Out, So Then What Is It? Sexual Identity and the Ex-Gay Narrative".
  5. ^ http://couragerc.net/FAQs.html
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation & Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators and School Personnel, American Psychological Association, et al., 1999. Retrieved 2007-02-23.
  8. ^ APA Discredits 'Ex-Gay' Movement, 365Gay Newscenter, 8-11-2006. Retrieved on 04-14-2007.
  9. ^ USA - Gay Conversion. Retrieved on 2006-06-22.
  10. ^ Satinover, Jeff. Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth (1996) Baker
  11. ^ "What's your "success rate" in changing gays into straights?". Retrieved 2007-03-27.
  12. ^ No easy victory. Retrieved on 2006-03-26.
  13. ^ PATH: Positive Alternatives To Homosexuality
  14. ^ a b http://exodus.to/content/view/34/118
  15. ^ http://www.exodus.to/content/view/157/56
  16. ^ http://www.evergreeninternational.org/aversion_therapy.htm
  17. ^ Spitzer, Robert L. Archives of Sexual Behavior, Vol. 32, No. 5, October 2003, pp. 403-417.
  18. ^ Throckmorton, Warren. (1998) Efforts to modify sexual orientation: A review of the outcome literature and ethical issues. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 20, 283-304
  19. ^ Peer Commentaries on Spitzer in Archives of Sexual Behavior, 32(5), 419-468, October 2003
  20. ^ http://www.alanchambers.org/
  21. ^ NARTH and PFOX Quietly Rid Themselves of Richard Cohen (blog entry), Ex-Gay Watch, 03-31-2007. Retrieved on 04-07-2007.
  22. ^ Exodus International Policy Statements, Exodus International. Retrieved on 04-07-2007.
  23. ^ Interview with ChristianityToday
  24. ^ Interview with Clay Cane
  25. ^ http://www.dennisjernigan.com/
  26. ^ Their story is one of the foci of the documentary One Nation Under God (1993), directed by Teodoro Maniaci and Francine Rzeznik.
  27. ^ History retrieved April 14, 2007
  28. ^ Who we areRetrieved April 14, 2007
  29. ^ http://www.transformingcong.org
  30. ^ http://www.witnessfortheworld.org/enter.html
  31. ^ http://exodusyouth.net
  32. ^ http://www.nea-exgay.org
  33. ^ http://www.ha-fs.org
  34. ^ http://www.peoplecanchange.com
  35. ^ a b c http://www.exodusglobalalliance.org/ourhistoryc87.php
  36. ^ http://www.medvandrarna.se
  37. ^ http://www.tilhelhet.no
  38. ^ http://www.basis.nu
  39. ^ http://www.aslan.fi
  40. ^ http://www.totheildesvolks.nl/engels/ehah.htm
  41. ^ http://www.onzeweg.nl/
  42. ^ http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2006/12/exodus-european/
  43. ^ http://www.encouragetrust.org.uk
  44. ^ http://straightway.sinfree.net/
  45. ^ http://www.exodusasiapacific.org
  46. ^ http://www.bagongpagasa.org
  47. ^ http://www.libertychristianministries.org.au
  48. ^ http://www.rainbow-7.org.tw/
  49. ^ Non-profit group gets grant to promote 'healthy gender identity'
  50. ^ http://www.asianbeacon.org/articles.php?aid=137
  51. ^ http://www.exoduslatinoamerica.org
  52. ^ http://www.exodus.org.br/
  53. ^ http://www.courage-latino.org
  54. ^ Elías S.O.S Homepage
  55. ^ http://www.geocities.com/caminodesalida
  56. ^ http://www.esposibleelcambio.org
  57. ^ [http://www.atzat-nefesh.org
  58. ^ http://www.al-tawbah.faithweb.com

Criticism of ex-gay movement

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