Memories of Bullying

upset boy against a wall

The recent suicides that are related to bullying have brought back some not-so-pleasant memories for me. I’m sure I’m not alone.  Coming out of the closet (or rather, being pushed out kicking and screaming) as a high school student in 1990-ish in small-town New Hampshire was not fun. I always joke that Ellen didn’t come out for another 7 years :)  I was made fun of, harassed, threatened, and insulted.  I remember sitting in class and having a peer tell me that all gay people should be put on an island and blown up, as my teacher sat there and said nothing.  I spent many classes just … [Read more...]

Follow Up Reactions To Tyler Clementi and the “September Suicides”

Graphic Credit: FRC (click image to visit FRC)

Warren Throckmorton writes on the CNN Belief Blog: As a traditional evangelical, I may have some differences of opinion with my gay friends. However, such ideological differences don’t matter to a middle school child who is afraid to go to school. Agreed. Family Research Council links to my post on Tyler Clementi: Bullying Is Hate; Truth Is Love In recent weeks there have been several suicides of teenagers who either said they were, or were believed to be, homosexuals. The intense media coverage of these events has led some people to lay the blame for these tragedies not on the … [Read more...]

Exodus North Atlantic Regional Conference September 17-19 in Endicott NY

Joe Dallas - Freedom Conference 2010/LWO "Moving Forward"

Have you considered attending an Exodus conference?  Besides the annual Freedom conference, there are lots of other conferences held by Exodus and its member ministries every year.  One such conference is the North Atlantic Regional Conference, September 17-19 in Endicott, NY, where Joe Dallas will be speaking and I will be leading the music. Why should you consider attending a conference?  Hear what 2 people have to say about their experiences: “This was my first Exodus conference. I have been anticipating attending a gathering like this for many years, so I couldn't believe that … [Read more...]

Is Homosexuality Simply a Choice? – Real Answers Article for August 2010

This article appears in both our offline and online newsletters.  To receive articles like this along with the full newsletter online via email or offline through the postal service please sign up here. --- Is Homosexuality Simply a Choice? by Angela Buchanan Yes. At least I thought so. To be honest, I had a hard time feeling compassion for someone who chose to engage in behavior that I couldn’t comprehend and frankly didn’t want to understand. Our lack of grace often comes from a place of ignorance – that was the case in my situation. Before I met Jeff, I didn’t know the … [Read more...]

Joe Carter on “Gay Gene Eugenics”

molecularmodel

Just when you thought the issue of homosexuality couldn't get any more complicated, Joe Carter writes a Column for On The Square (First Things) title Gay Gene Eugenics. Here are some excerpts (emphasis mine): When it comes to homosexuality, those who support gay rights don't often find themselves agreeing with conservative Christians. Advances in biomedical technology, however, should push the two groups to agree that the biological basis for the homosexual orientation is irrelevant. Although their motivations may differ, each side has reasons for promoting the idea that sexual activity is … [Read more...]

New Tactics to Disenfranchise Counselors and Clients with a Biblical Worldview

man-in-chair

Back in May we posted about how California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) was trying to make the practice of "Reparative Therapy" or any sexually oriented change counseling unethical.  Thank goodness that effort, while not completely gone, failed. ... Clearly, the current CAMFT board is not at all ready to pass judgment on the ethical standards of ANY therapeutic orientation. I believe the board began to recognize the danger of putting CAMFT in the position of going way beyond what even the APA (American Psychological Association) has stated concerning SOCE. The APA … [Read more...]

Eighteen Years and Counting

dove

This is cross-posted on the ETC Blog.  Here is an audio file (embedded at the end of this post as well.) *** Today is the day that I remember the actual moment in which I turned away from my gay worldview and began my Christian post-gay journey. This is *not* the day I became a Christian.  I was born again before I turned away from homosexuality.  The anniversary of accepting Christ as Lord and Savior is in the last week of May.  So yes, I considered myself a "gay Christian" for the whole two months between May and July of 1992. During a prayer time 18 years ago the Lord (no … [Read more...]

NARTH vs British Medical Association, Brief Note on Alan Downing Allegations

man in chair

In no uncertain terms NARTH writes: The recent decision by the British Medical Association (BMA) to repudiate psychological care for clients with unwanted homosexual attractions is both unscientific and unethical. The research reveals that homosexuality is not invariably fixed in all people and that some people can and do change. Even the American Psychological Association Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation (though a biased group made up only of members opposed to sexual orientation change efforts) recently concluded that there is not enough evidence to … [Read more...]

Reflections On The Exodus Freedom Conference

Joe Dallas - Freedom Conference 2010/LWO "Moving Forward"

Thom Hunter has a very inspiring post concerning his experience at the Exodus Freedom Conference a couple of weeks ago.  Here is an excerpt from his blog post (linkage mine.): I wish every pastor in the country -- make that the world -- could hear Joe Dallas explain the differences between homosexual orientation . . . identity . . . and behavior.  Orientation being involuntary, discovered.  Behavior being what we do with that discovery via our free will.  Identity sometimes foisted on us, sometimes embraced, but not who we really are.  Not in God's created intent, but only in our fallen … [Read more...]

Statement from Alan Chambers, President of Exodus International on the Criminalization of Homosexuality, 2009 Uganda Conference and Beyond

Uganda

Criticism is easy to come by at Exodus.  We are a large and diverse organization made up of many members.  Our growth over the years has caused us to not always know what the hand or foot are doing, which sometimes causes us to look like we are “all butt”.  That’s humanity for you, even Christian humanity. That said, and without a wordy explanation or excuse, this public post is way overdue and I sincerely hope it clears up any speculation about how I really feel about gay and lesbian people, Ugandan or otherwise, the criminalization of homosexuality, Exodus’s connection to the … [Read more...]