From the Advocate: Donnie McClurkin, the "ex-gay" gospel star who sang for the Barack Obama presidential campaign last year, returns to controversial form with remarks he made about “broken and feminine” gay youths at the Church of God in Christ convention in Memphis on Saturday.
Watch the Video of this sick Man
This is what religious fundamentalism can do to you! I'm so glad the COGIC is moving their annual hate fest out of Memphis! Audios Bigots!
The American Psychological Association declared Wednesday that mental health professionals should not tell gay clients they can become straight through therapy or other treatments.
In a resolution adopted on a 125-to-4 vote by the APA's governing council, and in a comprehensive report based on two years of research, the 150,000-member association put itself firmly on record in opposition of so-called "reparative therapy" which seeks to change sexual orientation.
No solid evidence exists that such change is likely, says the report, and some research suggests that efforts to produce change could be harmful, inducing depression and suicidal tendencies.
The APA had criticized reparative therapy in the past, but a six-member task force added weight to this position by examining 83 studies on sexual orientation change conducted since 1960. Its comprehensive report was endorsed by the APA's governing council in Toronto, where the association's annual meeting is being held this weekend.
Beyond Ex-Gay is having an "ex-gay" survivors conference in Memphis this week (Feb. 22-24) featuring a number of events and workshops to counter Focus on the Family's anti-gay "Love Won Out" Conference. For more information and resources visit Deconstructing the Ex-Gay Myth: A Weekend of Action and Art It's good to see somebody organizing events to expose the truth about the "ex-gay" movement.
Personally, I don't have any problems with religious fanatics who want to repress their own homo-desire, but when they align themselves with political groups who oppose the civil rights of LGBT people, I have a problem. I believe many people are "bisexual" and should have the right to choose their own sexual preference and identity, and that includes those who want to choose a "straight" life. We should not, however, allow the anti-gay religious right to make the issue of choice the basis of our civil rights. People should have the right to choose their sexuality, just like they have the right to choose their religion. No one should be forced to "change" to suit other people's religious beliefs. And we should respect the rights of those who Choose to Be Gay!
One of the organizers of the conference, and one of the founders of Beyond Ex-gay, Peterson Tuscano has posted some videos about his experiences with Love in Action in Memphis.
Here's a preview of one of the films being shown at the conference, "This Is What Love in Action Looks Like"
John Smid, President of 'Love in Action', the Memphis-based religious ministry that claims to help people struggle with homosexuality to change their sexual identity, responded to my Memphis Flyer Viewpoint Column in this weeks Memphis Flyer Letter to the Editor. Yes, unlike many in the gay community, I support the right of people who do not want to be "gay" for religious reasons to seek help to change their sexual identity and try to adopt a "straight" identity and live a "straight" lifestyle according to their religious beliefs. What I DO NOT support is forcing people, especially young people, into these programs against their will, which has happened recently in Love in Action. And groups like Love in Action and Exodus International often go beyond their religious ministries and mission and provide political support to groups who want to deny civil rights to gays and lesbians. So John, I will support your right to choose to be "straight" if you will support the rights of those of us who choose to live a happy healthy gay life. I hope you will not impose your religious beliefs upon us or deny us OUR right to choose.
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