Loving Ex-gays

[Ohioprof]

I for one am tired of all the ex-gay bashers. This reminds me of a budddy who conquered alcoholism and all his old drinking buddies alienated him.

No one has "bashed" people who claim to be "ex-gays." Indeed, if you read the testimony of the founders and former leaders of the "ex-gay" movement, they themselves say that they did not become "ex-gay" and their "ex-gay" ministry did not make people "ex-gay" either. They are not bashing anyone; they are telling the truth of what they tried to do and what the outcome was.

The truth is that "ex-gay" ministries do not work. They do not make people "ex-gay." It's a sham. It's false. People try desperately to believe they are "ex-gay," but it doesn't really happen. They simply repress their sexuality as best they can. Usually, eventually, then recognize the truth, but often at great cost to themselves and to any opposite-sex spouse they may have married in their desperate attempt to be "ex-gay."

If people really heterosexual, they do not need either therapy or a "ministry" to be who they are. If people are really heterosexual, they just are heterosexual. People who are heterosexal do not struggle with feelings of attraction for people of the same sex.

There are people who are bisexual, probably more than we realize. But they don't have to struggle either, to be who they are.

The fact that some people struggle to try to be heterosexual is good evidence that they are not really heterosexual. Trying to become "ex-gay" is almost certainly futile, as the founders of Exodus now acknowledge.

 

[BigBadWlf]

I for one am tired of all the ex-gay bashers. This reminds me of a budddy who conquered alcoholism and all his old drinking buddies alienated him.

Your comparison fails form many reasons – primary among them is the fact that alcoholics in recovery do not lie about what they are, and people do not praise dishonesty about substance abuse

 

[savedandhappy1]

No one has "bashed" people who claim to be "ex-gays." Indeed, if you read the testimony of the founders and former leaders of the "ex-gay" movement, they themselves say that they did not become "ex-gay" and their "ex-gay" ministry did not make people "ex-gay" either. They are not bashing anyone; they are telling the truth of what they tried to do and what the outcome was.

The truth is that "ex-gay" ministries do not work. They do not make people "ex-gay." It's a sham. It's false. People try desperately to believe they are "ex-gay," but it doesn't really happen. They simply repress their sexuality as best they can. Usually, eventually, then recognize the truth, but often at great cost to themselves and to any opposite-sex spouse they may have married in their desperate attempt to be "ex-gay."

If people really heterosexual, they do not need either therapy or a "ministry" to be who they are. If people are really heterosexual, they just are heterosexual. People who are heterosexal do not struggle with feelings of attraction for people of the same sex.

There are people who are bisexual, probably more than we realize. But they don't have to struggle either, to be who they are.

The fact that some people struggle to try to be heterosexual is good evidence that they are not really heterosexual. Trying to become "ex-gay" is almost certainly futile, as the founders of Exodus now acknowledge.

Well lets see they have already admitted to lying so I know I would believe them over someone who hasn't been proven to be a liar.

Also lets see they were called liars when they claimed they had changed and now they are the great and wonderful because THEIR MINISTRY COULDN'T CHANGE THEM.

Maybe they need to try the only ONE who can, the LORD.

P.S. So because they say they aren't changed that mean no one is? How can they speak for everyone who says they are ex-gay? Anyhow what happened to being like Christ and forgiving. Shouldn't you give them what so many here claim they aren't getting, LOVE?

Where is the Love or is only for those who say that you can't become ex-gay, even if the Lord wants you to be?

 

[Ohioprof]

Well lets see they have already admitted to lying so I know I would believe them over someone who hasn't been proven to be a liar.

Also lets see they were called liars when they claimed they had changed and now they are the great and wonderful because THEIR MINISTRY COULDN'T CHANGE THEM.

Maybe they need to try the only ONE who can, the LORD.

P.S. So because they say they aren't changed that mean no one is? How can they speak for everyone who says they are ex-gay? Anyhow what happened to being like Christ and forgiving. Shouldn't you give them what so many here claim they aren't getting, LOVE?

Where is the Love or is only for those who say that you can't become ex-gay, even if the Lord wants you to be?

I don't think that the founders of Exodus were lying when they created their "ex-gay" ministry. I think they honestly believed what they were trying to do. If you read their testimony, that's what they indicate. They were mistaken, and they have now apologized for telling other people that they could enable them to become "ex-gays." My sense is that they believed they really could do that, but they couldn't. It seems they believed their own rhetoric because they so desperately wanted to believe it. Over time, they realized that their claims about becoming "ex-gay" and helping others to become "ex-gay" were not true.

The founders of Exodus say that their ministry appeared to turn no one "ex-gay," though it did help deepen people's faith. The reputable professional psychiatric, medical, and psychological associations all say that efforts to turn people "ex-gay" do not work and may do harm to people.

I do not harbor ill will toward people who have tried to be "ex-gay." I know quite a few gay people who tried in the past to turn themselves heterosexual through psychotherapy, and it did not work. They are my friends, and I love them. Why would you suggest that I don't? As for people who say right now that they are "ex-gay," I don't know anyone like that. I have known hundreds of gay people in my life, and I don't know any people who say they are "ex-gay." I don't harbor any dislike for such people, whoever they are, but I don't know any. I know many gay people. They are not trying to become "ex-gay." And they shouldn't try.....it's a false notion altogether, and there is no reason for gay people to try to stop being who we are, how God made us.

 

[Apollo Celestio]

So there is no such thing as "ex-gay?"

 

[Brieuse]

So there is no such thing as "ex-gay?"

There must be, we're told thousands have had miraculous healing.

Sincerely, I would actually like to discuss with one of them in private. I promise to be respectful. I have a few questions.