Wayne Besen - Author, Activist, Columnist, Public Speaker

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Ex-Gay Program In Memphis Is Child Abuse

(Zach - One of Love In Action's Many Teen Prisoners)

Gay activists are picketing Love In Action, an "ex-gay" ministry based in Memphis. They are protesting the hate group's barbaric practice of incarcerating gay kids against their will to make them heterosexual (It Doesn't Work). Love In Action's abusive tactics came to light when a brave 16 year old boy named Zach chronicled his story on his blog.

"They [Zach's parents] tell me that there is something psychologically wrong with me, and they 'raised me wrong.' I'm a big screw up to them, who isn't on the path God wants me to be on. So I'm sitting here in tears, joinin [sic] the rest of those kids who complain about their parents on blogs and I can't help it," Zach wrote. "I've been through hell. I've been emotionally torn apart for three days... I can't remember which days they were ... time's not what it used to be," the teen wrote in his last blog entry on June 3.

Let's hope that young Zach does not harm himself. It has happened before at this mockery of a ministry. I also know there is a 16 year old lesbian who is (was) trapped at the boot camp a few months ago.

Here is a history of the group's follies and failures:

** Love in Action was founded in 1973 by John Evans, a gay man, and Rev. Kent Philpott, a heterosexual preacher

** In 1974, Philpott wrote an influential ex-gay book called "The Third Sex?" featuring the testimonies of six people who said they had prayed away the gay. It later turned out that none of the people whose stories were featured had changed.

** Soon after The Third Sex? is published, key Love in Action participant Jack McIntyre commits suicide because he was unable to change from gay to straight. In his suicide note he writes, "To continually go before God and ask forgiveness and make promises you know you can't keep is more than I can take."
** After McIntyre's death, co-founder John Evans drops out and renounces the group as a sham. He dedicated his life to helping people escape the ex-gay trap.

** Love In Action's Director John Smid admits his group is useless. "I am not totally healed from homosexuality. It is part of my emotional, physical and spiritual history," Smid wrote. "It will not be erased as though it did not exist. I still struggle at times...I still shut down with my wife at times. I periodically have sexual thoughts regarding men."

** In 2000, Love In Action's youngest graduate and spokesman Wade Richards, comes out of the closet and condemns ministry as a fraud. Today, he is a gay activist today and appeared in the wonderful (Five Stars) movie, Fish Can't Fly.
** On Sept. 19, 2000, Love In Action's most famous graduate and ex-gay poster boy John Paulk is photographed in a gay bar in Washington, DC
As we can clearly see, Love In Action may be taking Zach's parents to the bank and looting their account. But they can bank on the fact that Zach will not be made into a heterosexual.

29 Comments:

These disgusting ministries should be shut dowmn. What a disgraceful country we live in that allows such garbage.

Wendy
Oklahoma City
posted by Anonymous, at 6/15/2005 9:26 PM

You queers need to leave this family alone. This family values having a normal kid. How dare you people deny them the chance to straighten out thier kid. If you had it your way, the kid's sould would burn for eternity in Hell. The Christian nation is waking up. Get used to it.

Glenn in Waco
posted by Anonymous, at 6/15/2005 9:28 PM

Glenn your spelling and grammar show what a stupid jackass you really are. Being Gay IS normal for some of us and CAN'T be changed you hillbilly FUCK. The only hell is the one you and your cretin co-religionists have created for this poor kid right here on Earth!! Yeah, the nation IS finally waking up to the totalitarian, fascist designs of the bush regime. That's why his approval ratings are in the toilet, just like your heart and brain (if you even have one!)
Gary in NJ
posted by Anonymous, at 6/15/2005 11:31 PM

Glenn, for your information, Zach is normal just the way he is. See, the problem is that his parents have been brainwashed into believing that they caused Zach's sexual orientation. They did not and need to learn to love and accept Zach's authenticity, not stunt and emotionally criple him. This program is a scam and the only thing changing is his parent's bank account, to a lower level. Also Glenn, many gay people are also Christians. Tim W.
posted by Anonymous, at 6/16/2005 12:50 AM

So much for human dignity in this society. It is an abomination to allow such harmful, life threatening organizations to exist. This is not about freedom at all. The most disturbing part about all of it is that it probably has the tacit support of the government, ergo the White House. The APA is not doing enough to take these dangerous people to task. This is fast becoming a human rights issue. Are we becoming a pariah nation or what? I think so.

Robert, Bayside, NYC
Robertocucina@earthlink.net
posted by Anonymous, at 6/16/2005 8:08 AM

Glenn is a little touchy-wouchy, isn't he? Maybe he's having "impure" thoughts himself.
posted by Anonymous, at 6/17/2005 2:19 PM

Glen,

You completely miss the point. Sexual orientation is biological - it is an innate characteristic like the color of your eyes or being left handed.

His parent's trying to change him is like a teacher beating a left handed person and trying to make him or her a right handed person. It is sick. It is cruel. It is misguided and many of us know what it feels like.

G.
posted by Anonymous, at 6/17/2005 11:42 PM

Glenn, I'm not exactly sure I'd describe the cult reality denial in the ex-gay movement as "waking up". But never mind. The waking up you guys need to worry about is what will happen when the things that go on inside these groups becomes more common public knowledge. Thanks to Wayne, and others like him exposing these groups for what they are, that waking may occur sooner then you'd probably like. Get ready for it.

Bruce Garrett
Baltimore, Maryland.
posted by Anonymous, at 6/18/2005 12:30 PM

Where I come from, appreciating who we are begs for logic, not religion. In other words, it's fair to look at things with the discernment of an unemotional mind.
Not what would Jesus do, but what would Mr. Spock do?
After all, our world resembles that of Star Trek, rather than that of King David.
Our obligation is to the future, not archaic beliefs that have long been exploded by science and courageous advancement of human interaction and invention.
Some philosophy is valid if there are things revealed that we all feel universally.
Like the destructiveness of murder, theft, adultery, betrayal and injustice.
We don't have to be taught the pain of such actions against one another.
What is taught traditionally about gay people is right up there with teaching that women are dirty and untouchable during their period, or must wear head coverings or
have to bear the pain of child birth as punishment for eating of the treat of knowledge.
We have spent centuries learning how to be fairer and more understanding of each other's function and mental hygiene. And most often, religious communities have been mistakenly the cruelest, not the most enlightened.
People thought to be mentally defective of deficient have been treated the most cruelly of all.
Look at the homeless population that's mentally ill. Look at the amount of gay youth that make up the numbers of homeless.
It's easiest to, to be cruel to who we don't understand.
But it's unforgivable for these camps to exist because there are too many people out there who REFUSE to learn or know anything progressive about gay people and act cruelly against gay children.
Besides, the fact that this boy is forced to attend this camp by his parents, takes all the sincerity out of those who support this conversion, saying that they are just there when someone 'chooses' to access their help.
Zach didn't choose. His parents did.
There were laws passed that didn't allow family members to arbitrarily commit a child or other relative to mental institutions against their will.
Even people with violent mental problems or drug related psychosis aren't committed until they do something criminal.
So...I think that if ZAch sued his parents for cruelty, he'd have a case.
He's not an addict, he's not behaving anti socially...so what case does LIA have under those circumstances?
posted by Regan, at 6/20/2005 12:17 PM

Sixteen year-olds in Tennessee have the right of consent for mental health treatment. Zach's "consent" was clearly coerced and in such a way that the administrators of L.I.A./R. and licensed staff member (there's only one and he's illegally treating outside of the scope of his training and license) could reasonably be expected to be aware of it, thus they are all guilty of criminal confinement.
The program is unlicensed when it legally must be licensed, the only licensed practitioner's license and training is too limited to cover the main thrust of the program (and he knows it, prompting him to downplay the gay aspects of the program in the press of late). The program produces measurable harm -- even grave harm. Thus the program and staff are civilly liable as well as guilty of, at minimum, criminal negligence and perhaps even criminally negligent homicide -- or worse!

Shutting it down ought to be just the barest of a beginning!
posted by Marla R. Stevens, at 6/24/2005 11:20 AM

Organizations such as 'Love in Action' are just prisons where hate groups can work in congregation to abuse and attempt to bring down the homosexual community. To take a homosexual person and force them into a "conversion camp" as it can also be called, and abuse them psychologically, emotionally, and in some cases physically, is wrong in itself. The government in fact should take a stand to abolish any such organizations nationwide, as they are unconstitutional in the sense that it rips away the homosexual persons' basic freedoms.

I myself am a homosexual. I'm you're simple, average 16-year old gay boy, looking for his place in this world. Though young, I can easily boast that all of these ignorant gay-haters wouldn't last 15 minutes in a debate with me. They can claim all they want against the homosexual lifestyle, when it matters little what they say to begin with. For in the end, none of their claims can be backed up. None of their anti-gay ideals can be kept up to stand firmer than the ideals of equality for all.

As well, there was a comment on this topic from an 'anonymous' which stated:

"You queers need to leave this family alone. This family values having a normal kid. How dare you people deny them the chance to straighten out thier kid. If you had it your way, the kid's sould would burn for eternity in Hell. The Christian nation is waking up. Get used to it."

Well, this right here is the signs of an overly-religious, ignorant fool who is too closed-minded to see the truth. The family values having a 'normal' kid? I'm sorry, but can they even DEFINE normal without using the useless meaning in the dictionary? There is no such thing as 'normal'. Normality is but a myth, a thing thought up just as a way to get people to do what someone wants, someone in a position of power and influence, like the president of all people. Get used to the Christian nation waking up? I don't think so. Two problems with that: First, this is not a "Christian nation" as they stated, this is a country for all to be equal, no matter who they are or what they believe. To call this a "Christian nation" shows not just ignorance to the ideals of equality, but even a good hint of prejudice and racism on so many levels. The Christian community, isn't completely made up of people like this, whom can safely be named 'bible thumpers'. This is just an example of the extremists, the ones who have been brainwashed by religion beyond the point of no-return.

If this truly was the land of the free, where all men are created equal, all women and children too, where no one is discriminated against for who they are...then I promise you this world would be a much better place. As a nation, we preach the ideals of equality, yet we strip that freedom from so many, just because they're 'different'. It's a sad turn of events for this nation. Not only are we possibly the most ignorant nation on the planet in general, we're also failing as a nation as a democracy as well. It will all come tumbling down soon enough.

In finality, homosexuality is a lifestyle, a way of life lived by millions of people worldwide. Homosexuality is no different from heterosexuality, bisexuality, transgenders, hermaphrodites, none of them. If you're living, and you have a lifestyle, then there is nothing wrong with it. No one should be discriminated against because their lifestyle is different from that of someone else. As for these "conversion camps", I say burn them all to the ground, and imprison or slaughter the brainless and ignorant fools who run them and praise them, for it is people like them who will bring about their own, and this world's destruction.
posted by Cortland Bender, at 6/30/2005 2:26 AM

Amen Cortland.
posted by Anonymous, at 7/28/2005 4:34 PM

Oh god. Now I'm pretty frightened. I'm about thirteen-years-old, and around November or December 2006, I went on my computer, like any normal day. I went through my History column, looking for a website whose name escaped me, and found several links which talked about this program. My father had almost sent me to this god-forsaken place.

Glenn, shutup. I know it's unnecessary for me to tell you this after about eight-or-so people told you, but, sexuality is NOT some sort of "mark of the beast" or whatever you make it out to be. It is an attribute which is naturally occuring, and sure, while it can change a bit, generally it stays the same.

I know that sometimes I am completely asexual (all general signs of arousal are nowhere to be seen for suggestive showings of both genders) and others I am homosexual (bisexuality happens rarely with me, but generally it happens once out of every five months.)

Our brains are organs that are fueled by odd chemical reactions concering chromosomes when young and developed nerve/brain cells when old. Thoughts and ideas travel through "wires" in our brains to other places (using, what I believe may be electrical currents, but I'm some "stupid kid," I suppose.) Many, like our heart beating, breathing, and reflexes are unconscious things that travel on these paths. Erections are among these.
posted by Lucky, at 6/16/2007 2:31 PM

Oh, and that reminds me, Jesus Christ said, "Love your neighbor as you would yourself." Not "Hate all those queers, Ay-rabs, non-Zionists, and any other 'minority.'"
posted by Lucky, at 6/16/2007 2:33 PM

Okay, Ill leave a comment as a young adult (15) who has only a handful of friends that know about his true sexuality. And is currently trying to understand the fascism that drives homophobic perspective before I choose to come out openly.
Ill say that I dont think I was born gay but I dont think I can change. I think sexuality is a developed trait after a series of events in life. and some people (like me) Develop an attraction for the same gender during the time that straight people develop an attraction for the opposite gender.

I think this program is close-minded rubbish. And that society really does need to see a better perspective on what they do to people. Basically they are saying " You have an inperfection and need to be concentrated and conformed to the normal-side"

Also I find it hard to beleive that anyone who has been brainwashed to even have the slightest attraction to what they normally wouldnt, It would be very VERY hard to cope with it and be happy. You just cant be happy as someone you are not. This is rediculous nonsense and very close-minded.
posted by Anonymous, at 9/20/2007 5:26 PM

oh yeah and religious-fanatiscism slows the country and society down more than anything else. Homophobes like wendy think that anyone not like herself as far as sexual preferance is going to burn in hell. Her opinion of course...but a rediculous one driven by her own sad perspectives.
And this is NOT taught in the bible in more than one or two verses.. This is demonized by contemporary-christianity. I think its funny that you cant make a mountain of a molehill out of HOMOSEXUALITY. When half of you have been divorced and have remarried. Did you know that is a sin as well? Society chooses to ignore that one. So I suggest you homophobes look at yourself before you EVER start judging others. "Get the sawdust out of your eye before you sweep it out of your brothers."-(misquoted but very accurate)Jesus.

"Some people worry so much about the next world that they dont ever learn how to live in this one"- To Kill a Mockingbird / Harper Lee
posted by Anonymous, at 9/20/2007 5:33 PM

oh very sorry wendy! i meant glenn my apologies~!!!
posted by Anonymous, at 9/20/2007 5:34 PM

Zach,

Stay safe, keep your chin up, and disregard any attempt by others to tell you how to live your life
posted by Anonymous, at 11/12/2007 8:20 PM

runescape money runescape gold runescape gold runescape money buy runescape gold buy runescape money runescape money runescape gold wow power leveling wow powerleveling Warcraft Power Leveling Warcraft PowerLeveling buy runescape gold buy runescape money runescape items runescape accounts runescape gp dofus kamas buy dofus kamas Guild Wars Gold buy Guild Wars Gold lotro gold buy lotro gold lotro gold buy lotro gold lotro gold buy lotro gold runescape money runescape power leveling runescape money runescape gold dofus kamas cheap runescape money cheap runescape gold Hellgate Palladium Hellgate London Palladium Hellgate money Tabula Rasa gold tabula rasa money Tabula Rasa Credit Tabula Rasa Credits Hellgate gold Hellgate London gold wow power leveling wow powerleveling Warcraft PowerLeveling Warcraft Power Leveling World of Warcraft PowerLeveling World of Warcraft Power Leveling runescape power leveling runescape powerleveling eve isk eve online isk eve isk eve online isk tibia gold Fiesta Silver Fiesta Gold SilkRoad Gold buy SilkRoad Gold runescape accounts buy runescape accounts rs2 accounts buy rs2 accounts runescape power leveling rs2 power leveling FFXI Gil buy FFXI Gil gaia gold buy gaia gold buy dofus kamas buy dofus kamas dofus kamas
posted by Anonymous, at 3/14/2008 1:35 AM

runescape runescape money runescape gold buy runescape money buy runescape gold runescape cheat runescape tip lotro lotro gold lotro golds buy lotro gold buy lotro golds lord of the rings online lord of the rings online gold lotro lotro gold lotro golds buy lotro gold buy lotro golds lord of the rings online lord of the rings online gold runescape runescape money runescape gold buy runescape money buy runescape gold runescape cheats runescape tips guild wars guild wars gold dofus dofus kamas lotro lotro gold guild wars gold guild wars gold guild wars gold maple story maple story mesos maplestory mesos maple story maple story mesos maplestory mesos maple story maple story mesos maplestory mesos runescape runescape money runescape gold buy runescape money buy runescape gold www.runescape.com runescape.com runescape items dofus dofus kamas dofus kamas guild wars guild wars guild wars runescape runescape money runescape money runescape gold buy runescape money buy runescape gold runescape.com runescape items
posted by Anonymous, at 3/18/2008 3:03 AM

wow gold cheap wow gold buy wow gold world of warcraft gold wow world of warcraft wow gold WoW Warrior WoW Hunter WoW Rogue WoW Paladin WoW Shaman WoW Priest WoW Mage WoW Druid WoW Warlock power leveling powerleveling wow power leveling wow powerleveling wow guides wow tips google排名 google左侧排名 google排名服务百度推广百度排名网站推广商业吧机床 LED灯电池塑料摄像机移民甲醇染料福州热线体育博客股票博客游戏博客魔兽博客考试博客汽车博客房产博客电脑博客 powerlin518 logo design website design web design 商标设计
posted by Anonymous, at 3/18/2008 8:59 AM

　　心中一阵不安升降机，因为我忽然又想起了那道剑光升降平台，可怕的剑光升降台，美丽的剑光登车桥。为什么那一剑是那么的美丽货架，却又那么的可怕呢集装袋？在我倒下之前我说地磅，好美的剑塑料托盘，好恨的剑塑料托盘。我倒下了仓储笼。在我失去知觉之前仓储笼，我听到他说北京货架，这叫艺术超市货架，剑的艺术北京货架。

　　我并没有死广州货架，原来我的心是在右边仓储货架，而是不是左边货架厂。所以在那穿胸一剑之下我并没有死南京货架。

　　是一阵暴雨把我冲醒了货架公司。听说雨是上天的眼泪深圳货架，也许这天又有人死在那美丽的剑光之下吧服装货架！我张开嘴巴托盘，任雨水打进我的嘴托盘，直冲我的胃塑料托盘。我的伤口又开始流血塑料托盘，但已经不痛了木托盘。试问：仓储笼一个心已经死了的人仓储笼，肉体上的疼痛又算得了什么呢仓储笼？我知道我的刀再练一百年也无法那么美丽仓储笼，那么恨托盘，而且永远别想杀了他托盘。

　　我退出江湖了手推车，我没有通知江湖上的朋友们静音手推车，并来一个什么金盆洗手静音手推车，因为我的朋友们差不多都被他杀了置物架。我悄悄的走了置物架，隐进了山林之中堆垛架。俨然一个世外高人的样子堆垛架，每天一壶绿茶登高车，放在身边的几上登高车，然后或盯着一朵白云超市手推车，或盯着一片树叶物流手推车，或双目紧闭物流台车。我的刀在玉盆中泡了七七四十九天角钢货架，已经没有血腥味了角钢货架。然后我把它放在我的屋顶轻型货架，任它风吹雨打轻型货架。

　　十年就这年过去了中型货架。为何今天天忽然想起那柄剑中型货架，那道剑光重型货架？而且内心为什么如此不安重型货架？不应该是这样的仓库货架，对于一个喝了十年绿茶的人来说服装货架，面对死上海货架，也已不再惧怕精品货架，不再不安苏州货架，但今天又为何如此呢托盘货架？

　　莫非是他青岛货架，和他的剑库房货架，加上他的剑光沈阳货架。我已不问江湖之事天津货架，想他十年前也应该坐上武林盟主的位子了杭州货架，一个武林中人做了武林盟主山东货架，这一生还有什么要求的呢文件柜？

　　我不停的喝着绿茶工具柜。绿茶静心工具柜。但此时怎么也静不下来零件柜。茶已尽工作台。平时茶尽之时工作台，正也是日落之时工作桌。

　　一定快有什么事情发生了工作桌。

　　剑还是那美丽的剑Google左侧排名，如果再加上一道剑光吹塑机，就会形成剑的艺术色带，武学的艺术电源插座。

　　我问反光背心：为何还来找我滚针轴承，我已在十年之前就退出江湖了夜光粉。

　　他说文化石：因为你没死缎带，因为我没有对手风火轮。

　　我说激光打标机：十年前已不是你的对手平衡机，何况现在十年未动刀大功率led。

　　他说磁力泵：放眼天下梯子，只有你一个人是我的对手网眼袋，也只你一个人对我的威胁无尘布。

　　我不再说话手摇手电筒，因为我不知道说什么手板，我知道我十年前就开始找我毛巾布，发现我没有死就开始找我磁钢。我不死促销台，他心不安模具钢材。

　　他说时尚配饰：拿出你的刀筛网。

　　我说齿轮泵：我已无刀天使花房，命托辊，亦可有可无色丁。

　　他盯着我广告衫，握剑的手越来越紧钢坯，我知道那道美丽的剑光可能随时发出过滤网。在那美丽过后疏水阀，我的生命将画上句号胸章。

　　阳光照在了刀上发热管，反射到他的脸上手机耳机。他发现了那把刀螺杆，我的刀插销，宝刀蝴蝶，没有鞘的刀工具包。

　　刀已在我手中点钞机，刀还是那把刀配电箱，人却已不是那个人流苏，因为心不是那颗心沙滩巾。

　　他为了杀我竟找了我十年氯化镁，而为了和我比武竟帮我从屋顶拿下我的刀来双面胶带，并放在我的手中碳纤维。我忽然发现排线，他也变了汽车座垫，他在后悔十年前将所有高手都杀绝珍珠奶茶。

　　高手的悲哀太阳伞。
　　我握紧了刀桥架，我看着他的眼tpr，已经不再像十年前那样明亮了钢丝。

　　他的剑划出柴油发电机组，划出一道美丽的剑光护栏。我想围栏，这十年他大概在不停地使自己的剑光更美围栏。

　　我的刀也出了隔离网。简单的动作隔离网，一刀刺进了他的胸网片。那道美丽的光忽然停止网片，停在我的衣服上南京货架。

　　他说北京货架：这也是艺术北京货架，杀人的艺术北京货架，想不到你十年不动刀还懂这个艺术仓储货架。

　　我说仓储货架：因为我不想再让你痛苦了广州货架。

　　他说广州货架：谢谢货架厂。

　　我走了货架公司。我头也不回的走了塑料托盘。没有取回我的刀塑料托盘，因为我觉得它在我身边已经没用塑料托盘，我后悔我十年前为什么不扔了它塑料托盘？我听到了尸体倒下的声音塑料托盘。我流泪了塑料托盘，我真的不想杀他仓储笼，十年前不想仓储笼，十年后也不想仓储笼，因为我下山时答应过师父仓储笼，一切让着他仓储笼。

　　我叹了一口气仓储笼。远去仓储笼。
posted by SEO, at 3/31/2008 11:22 PM