Wayne Besen - Author, Activist, Columnist, Public Speaker

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

LA Times: 'Ex-Gays Sue For Right To Prey On Children'

To see What Ex-Gays Want To Teach In Schools CLICK HERE

The Los Angeles Times wrote a story detailing a new "ex-gay" strategy by the far right to target vulnerable children and place ex-gays in schools. The goal is to sue their way in and intimidate and harass anyone who questions their quack science. But those who saw therapist Richard Cohen banging the pillow on Paula Zahn, got a rare glimpse of the true insanity. Note to activists across the nation: Show the Cohen clip to school boards and the ex-gays won't stand a chance. According to the Times:

Conservative Christians and Jews have teamed up with men and women who call themselves "ex-gay" to lobby and even sue for the right to tell teenagers that they can "heal" themselves of unwanted same-sex attractions.

They argue that schools have an obligation to balance gay-pride themes with the message that gay and lesbian students can go straight through "reparative therapy." In this view, homosexuality is not a fixed or inborn trait but a symptom of emotional distress disorder that can be cured.

15 Comments:

Teachers or school authorities who recommend or play host to such quacks ought to be told that they are legally liable, either on grounds of malpractice (if the quacks stress a pseudo-therapeutic approach) or endorsing sectarian religion (if they stress a religious approach). Of course, a lot of these cranks stress both depending on what seems most advantageous at the time. Thus, if someone demands proof of effectiveness, they stress the religious angle as a shield from scientific scrutiny. If skeptics question the 'faith-healing' approach then they pretend as though they have a therapeutic technique.

Back in the bad old days, "correspondants" of the Soviet "news agency" TASS would claim to be bona fide journalists. That is unless they were sued in court for something they had written. They would then ask to have the proceeding suspended on the grounds that they were Soviet government representatives over whom U.S. courts had no jurisdiction.

Heads I win, tails you lose; in both cases.
posted by Anonymous, at 5/30/2006 10:26 AM

This "ex-gay" twaddle plainly serves the need of some people to belive that mistreating gays and lesbians is somehow good for them. (Although they seem less obsessed with lesbianism, perhaps because it is seen as "the choice of a lesser for a lesser", to quote one feminist's tart comment.)

Thankfully, the antics of "ex-gay" gurus such as Cohen and Jeffrey Satinover (now appearing in the nutty, New Age film, "What the (Bleep) Do We Know?: Through the Rabbit Hole") are weirding out a lot of the nitwits who couldn't (or wouldn't) see their goofiness before.
posted by Anonymous, at 5/30/2006 10:34 AM

It is most pleasing to see the looks on the faces intellectually-minded people (who have seriously wondered about the ex-gay claims) when they finally get to see what really goes on in the ex-gay world. Cohen pounding that pillow with a tennis racket (while yelling "MOM! MOM!" no less) was the epitome of what Wayne refers to it as, quackery, and that's being polite.

I think that the focus on the ex-gay movement is the last logical step on the road to general acceptance of gays and lesbians in America. People are finally examining the bottom line, and once they realize that the idea that gays can change is nonsense, there will no longer be any "logical" reasons to deny us equality under the law.

It is unfortunate that they do not simply listen to us, a community of millions of their fellow Americans. But like so many of us, I guess they need to find out for themselves, which they surely will.
posted by Chris L., at 5/30/2006 12:48 PM

people make all sorts of choices as if they are just damned determined to live miserable lives. let them do so. as long as i can choose to do what makes me happy with no harm to anyone. deal?
posted by Anonymous, at 5/30/2006 4:55 PM

I think the opposite of a gay person is a straight person, not an "ex-gay", and as far as I know, straight people are permitted to speak in the public schools. But if ex-gays demand access, I say fine, but that ex-EX-gays should make the same demand, as they are the next logical step on that continuum. The whole thing eventually ends with "ex-ex" gays, and allowing students to witness the eventual reality of their conversion claims is beneficial. SO yes, let ex-gays speak as long as "ex-ex gays" are permitted the same privilege.
posted by Chris L., at 5/30/2006 5:32 PM

Chris---BINGO!
Gary (NJ)
posted by Anonymous, at 5/31/2006 9:26 AM

Exactly Right Chris... The time is now to sue for equal access allowing ex-ex-gays access to public schools.

Take the fight to them.
posted by Anonymous, at 5/31/2006 10:34 AM

1. Remember that "ex-gays" were never gay to begin with.

2. Also, gays can actually change...from a Roberto Cavalli to a John Varvatos. *snicker*

3. I had read the LA Times article and it's sad that a lot of groups (including those shysters from Liberty Council) are pretending to be victimized by public schools while pushing their agenda where it doesn't belong.

Blood From Machines
San Diego
posted by Anonymous, at 5/31/2006 1:46 PM

It is great that Dr. Robert Spitzer is no longer allowing ex-gay Christianists to distort his position: "If some people can change — and I think they can — it's a pretty rare phenomenon," said Spitzer, a strong supporter of gay rights.Promoting conversion therapy in schools, he added, may be giving teens "false hope." "Dr. Robert Spitzer on ex-gay treatment" (5/31/2006)
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