Saturday, July 30, 2005
by Wayne Besen
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, July 30, 2005
CO-FOUNDER OF MINISTRY THAT RUNS TEEN 'EX-GAY' BOOT CAMP SAYS GROUP SHATTERS LIVES AND CAN CAUSE SUICIDE
Love In Action Co-Founder John Evans Unveils Powerful Letter Rebuking 'Ex-Gay' Ministries NEW YORK - Author Wayne Besen released an explosive letter today by Love In Action's co-Founder and former ex-gay John Evans, which rebukes gay conversion groups saying that they "shattered lives". The group he started has recently made headlines because it runs a boot camp for gay teens called "Refuge" that tries to turn adolescents heterosexual, often against their will.
"In the past 30 years since leaving the 'ex-gay' ministry I have seen nothing but shattered lives, depression and even suicide among those connected with the 'ex-gay' movement," Evans writes in his letter to John Smid, Love In Action's current director. "I challenge Christians to investigate all sides of the issue of being gay and Christian. The Church has been wrong in the past regarding moral issues and I'm sure there will be more before Christ returns."
Evans, a gay man, founded what may be the first modern ex-gay group in San Raphael, Calif. in 1973, along with a heterosexual preacher Kent Philpott. Evans left his life partner of ten years to start the gay conversion group. He later dropped out after he realized it didn't work and his best friend committed suicide because he could not turn heterosexual.
"Having the founder of Love In Action step forward to admonish the ministry he started speaks to the utter hopelessness and futility of these groups, not to mention the danger they represent," said Wayne Besen, Author of Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth (Haworth, 2003). "Most disturbing are the compulsory gay boot camps for teens which are tantamount to child abuse. They should immediately be shut down."
In May, 16-year old Zach told his fundamentalist Christian parents that he is gay. Horrified by the news, they vowed to fix him by sending him to an "ex-gay" boot camp in Memphis to be reprogrammed. Like a modern day message in a bottle, Zach used his Internet blog to send an SOS.
"I told my parents I was gay," he wrote. "This didn't go over very well," and "They tell me that there is something psychologically wrong with me, and they 'raised me wrong.' Today, my mother, father and I had a very long talk in my room, where they let me know I am to apply for a fundamentalist Christian program for gays."
The next day, Zach threw another bottle into the Cyber-sea.
"It's like boot camp. If I do come out straight, I'll be so mentally unstable and depressed it won't matter."
Besen is a nationally recognized advocate for gay and lesbian rights. He has been a guest on leading news and political talk shows. He made international news when he photographed "ex-gay" poster boy and Love in Action graduate John Paulk cruising a gay bar in Washington, D.C.
_____________________________________________
FULL TEXT OF LETTERJuly 30, 2005
Love In Action
ATTN: John Smid, Director
Memphis, TN
Dear Mr. Smid:
We as born again Christians believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God. We Basically agree on the fundamentals of salvation. I've been a born again Christian for over 50 years and I've noticed Christians reading the same scriptural passages, yet arriving at different personal interpretations regarding moral issues. Some of these issues that have divided Christians within recent years have been slavery, women's rights, the Charismatic movement and other issues, including divorce.
Within my lifetime, I've known members of my own family being asked to leave churches they had attended for years over issues of divorce and re-marriage, yet later welcomed back when a different interpretation of scripture was explained.
Today, the subject of homosexuality is being discussed among Christians. Most Christians find the subject too uncomfortable to make a personal investigation, but rely upon the traditional Christian condemnation of homosexuality. There are more scriptures dealing with divorce than homosexuality, yet, today, Christians give each other the freedom of personal interpretation regarding divorce. I'm sure homosexuality will be added to the long list of disagreements among Christians.
In 1973, when I helped organize the "ex-gay" ministry called Love In Action, I admit I had never heard of a different view of homosexuality or made an effort to research the issue. I held to the traditional Christian condemnation that all homosexuality was sinful.
One day, I read a booklet by Dr. Ralph Blair called, "An Evangelical Look At Homosexuality." I prayed before reading this booklet and was shocked, yet refreshed, because I had never heard such remarks regarding this subject from another Evangelical Christian.
I wrote Ralph Blair that I would like to discuss his views regarding this matter and his return letter informed me he could meet with me at my home in San Raphael, Calif. The night he arrived I invited several of my friends who were also involved with Love in Action to join us. We studied the scriptures dealing with homosexuality. I had struggled most of my life with this matter and I would continue to try to be "ex-gay" if it were God's will. Over the past 30 years I have studied both sides of this subject and now know it's not my sexual orientation that's wrong or sinful. But one should allow the Holy Spirit to guide his or her life whatever one's sexual orientation. I challenge other Christians to study the scriptures to show yourself approved unto God and don't be afraid to challenge the traditional condemnation of homosexuality.
The Church has been wrong in the past regarding other issues and I'm sure there will be others before Jesus returns. I know my views regarding homosexuality and being Christian does not agree with most Christians and I've been accused of being "deceived and tricked by the Devil."
God alone knows my heart and Jesus Christ means too much to me to go against the leading of the Holy Spirit as he guides me as a born again Christian. Someday, each of us will stand alone before God to give an account of our lives and I want Him to be satisfied with me.
I just returned from the 25th annual Conference of Evangelicals Concerned, a group of gay Christians who know that it is possible to be both gay and Christian. In the past 30 years since leaving the "ex-gay" ministry I have seen nothing but shattered lives, depression and even suicide among those connected with the "ex-gay" movement.
At the E.C. conference I met gay Christians who have an even closer relationship with Jesus. The Holy Spirit seemed to hover over the entire conference. The closing communion service seemed as if Jesus Himself was there saying, "Come to me all who labor and are laden with the burden of trying to conform to the impossible conclusions of others, and I will give you rest."
Again, I challenge Christians to investigate all sides of the issue of being gay and Christian. The Church has been wrong in the past regarding moral issues and I'm sure there will be more before Christ returns.
Love in Christ,
John Evans
Original Member of Love In Action, 1973
41 Comments:
Damn!
I mean, Wow!
posted by An Other Greek, at
9:16 PM
Such a horrible deception. I am 48. Suppose I were to say that my sexual orientation is to a new, younger woman, rather than to my wife? Or that my orientation calls for variety, not monogamy? The Bible clearly says all sex outside of marriage is wrong. Why parse? Just admit you can't--actually you can, but for now you won't--accept the truth.
posted by , at
12:19 AM
after years of being around churches and studing the bible..I can't remember seeing Christ making a judjmental statment about gays..Paul reaffirms the old testament condemnation..but later affirms that a new testament was needed.."because the law leads to death"..
posted by , at
3:06 AM
I was deeply moved at reading that the spirit of Jesus was present at the meeting of gay evangelicals. Personally, I do not consider myself bound by the words of the Scriptures, since there are too many words that are simply unacceptable to me, for example, the approval of slavery and the execution of blasphemers. I do consider myself bound by the spirit of Scripture as a record of the search for God. I hope the author is heard.
posted by , at
8:59 AM
Thank you so much for this helpful ministry and your letter respecting how you came to the conclusion that you, too, are accepted by God.
I am a member of a Reconciling Congregation United Methodist Church and this information will be welcomed by all of us who believe as you do! May God bless you and your work.
posted by , at
4:01 PM
Thanks for posting the letter, it's inspiring. I believe there is hope, the church will eventually learn to welcome gay Christians too. They are sure taking their time about it, though...
posted by Willie Hewes, at
4:52 PM
As I often remind my students, if you believe in God, then you must accept that we are all children of God - although I don't dare add "even our 'ex-gay' president." Thank you for sharing these very moving letters. Perhaps you have already seen the Harper's magazine reference to Refuge in its current issue. "...the law leads to death." Indeed.
posted by , at
7:07 PM
What's the point of Christians getting so emotionally involved in another person's life? If someone is Gay and chooses Christ as their God, than so be it. If homosexuality truly is wrong in all cases, than why not let God work in the person's heart? Why do the majority of Christians have to be so overbearing? Seems like most of them need to get off their high horse...and then get a life...they have too much time on their hands or something. I've been a Christian for over ten years now. Most of the severly judgmental Christians that I've known, end up in hard times themselves, whether it's a terminal illness, a broken marriage, or ironically, living with a gay son or daughter. Almost as if they are getting paid back for their destructive self-righteousness...non-Christians call it "Karma"...I view it as a loving heavenly Father allowing His children to endure an excruciating painful life situation (the kind they once sat in judgment of) for the purpose of gaining wisdom, humility, compassion and empathy...all of which are fruits of the Holy Spirit.
posted by , at
12:09 PM
Hallelujah - this story is finally coming out in the open! I saw a big piece on CNN last night, and I think it did the whole issue justice, from both sides.
Ex-gays will never go away. There will always be people who choose their local religious group's beliefs over their own integrity and happiness.
What will happen is that, once exposed to the public, these organizations will be forced to be held legally and morally accountable for their actions. They will no longer be able to claim to "cure" homosexuals - they will be forced to present themselves as exactly what they are: gays and lesbians choosing to go against their natural state, in essence willfully stepping back into the "closet".
And God bless 'em, that's their choice, idiotic as it may seem to some of us. But soon the public will realize that what they do in their little fringe cults cannot be applied to the whole LGBT community.
-R
posted by Ryan Grant Long, at
7:03 PM
At seventeen I was swept up in the "Jesus Movement". I confessed my homosexuality to the group and was labeled demon possessed. I went through a lot of exorcisms, prayer vigils and periods of fasting. At 22 I went through a forced exorcism. I was held in a back room of a friends house and about 10 people yelled in tongues at me and my demons. After that incident I quietly moved away.
posted by Erasmus, at
11:33 AM
I attended an "ex-gay" conference a couple of years ago. By the end of the morning I had chosen to leave because the keynote speaker, a well-known man who has written a couple of books, was more interested in telling us about his houses and his wealth than in actually being of any real help. Even the stories he shared emphasized his heterosexuality; I was inclined to believe that he was never gay to start with, just somebody who followed the trends of earlier decades. And now here he was making money off the suffering of "ex-gays."
I did however stay for lunch--the only real value I received for my money that day--and was struck by how sad all of the attendees seated at my table looked. Is this what these "ex-gays" have to look forward to?
posted by , at
6:20 PM
I'm thankful to have found this site. Its time as out of justice the truth must be told as it will truly set us free!
posted by , at
10:24 AM
So if I have the tendency to drink too much, overdose on drugs, want sex with young boys, etc. that I can do those things because it is my natural inclination and still be called a Christian.
There is no promise in scripture that living a Christian life would be free of struggle. There is the promise Christ will give us the power to have control and victory over our sinfulness. So do not be deceived. Just because you give in to some "natural" inclination and are happy because it is no longer a struggle, does not make it is right nor acceptable for a Christian.
I am 48, married with two teenage children. I struggle with attraction to other men, envy of people with money, pride, over drinking and other areas in my life, sometimes on a daily basis However, it is Christ and the Holy Spirit whose power controls these areas in my life and give me daily victory. It is nothing that I can do, it is a gift from God.
The freedom and happiness in my life comes from the power of Christ in my life not in giving into my "natural" tendencies, my sinful nature.
posted by , at
12:20 PM
Wayne, thank you so much for your continued pursuit on exposing the dangers of the ex-gay ministries. As an activist, I'm passionate about doing all I can to bring education and awareness of this critical issue to the public. It's not an easy task, but with resources like your book and letters like this one, I'm confident that truth and justice will prevail!
Yes, we accept the truth. God made us gay. And He is not so sadistic that He would demand that we never have happy, fulfilling relationships.
posted by David W. Shelton, at
4:17 PM
The Damage
It is time for all those who claim to love Jesus and who's hearts are filled with nothing but hate for others to leave the ministries now. Jerry Fallwell and all those who claim to be pro life but who happily vote to bomb new borns in Bagdad. They are exposed. God never intended that the bible was to be used as a weapon to hurt others. To destroy lives and oppress those of weaker numbers.
The first commenter to this important post makes no sense. This is not about fidelity sir, not about your inabilty to love a woman of your own age properly, or deeply. It is about forcing those who are bilogically homosexual to distort their lives in the name of god. A life that god gave them.
So many evangalists talk about gay sexual promescuity when in fact that part of the gay life style was created by denying them the right to sanctify a proper vow of fidelity before god. The church wants that image but if we removed the heterosexuals ability to have marriage you know just as well as I do that there will be nothing but promescuity. Even with that right 50% of heterosexual marriages end in divorce.
I am sorry but I am always saddened when I hear that anyone listens to the blashphemers who claim to speak for god when they are really speaking with their own black hearted prejudices. Evans is correct , your relationship should be with god , not some clown who claims to speak for god.
Matthew6:5-6
"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites : for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
Your relationship with god is yours. It belongs to you and should be guided by no one else. I would also suggest that anyone who blocks your ability to have a personal relationship withy god by claiming to speak for god is a fraud who has no faith themselves.
posted by , at
3:37 AM
Isn't it ultimately about choice? Ex-Gay ministries don't go around recruiting people to come to their ministry. But if someone is unhappy about their orientation and wants to change, don't they have a right to go where they think someone can help them? If you want to stop smoking or drinking, don't you have a right to go to any program that can help? Not all of them help all people, but you still have a right to try. I believe that people in ex-gay ministries can help with knowledge, understanding and behavior, but only God can change the heart. It is one's God given right to change in anyway one wishes...
As to Zack, in my town, 17 is still a minor and parents have a right to raise their child within the law in any way they see fit..
posted by , at
7:56 AM
In regard to An Other Greek, the first posting:
I hate it when bible-thumpers and politicians state that the bible or the law "clearly says" anything just like An Other Greek states: The Bible clearly says all sex outside of marriage is wrong.
Hello? What about Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael? Abraham isn't even chastised for fathering Ishmael out of wedlock, although Sarah's jealousy is. There are polygamous marriage and slavery all over the bible; some situations only implied because it was just understood that slavery, polygamny and stoning, etc. were normal for the times. Nothing is "clear" because we must admit that every generation's interpretation of scripture, history and law is modified by contemporaneous mores.
posted by , at
9:30 PM
My name is Justin Cannon and I am the founder of www.truthsetsfree.net
I just found this article and I must say that I am emailing it to my website's newsletter email list. I have spent years studying the Bible as it pertains to homosexuality and have found homosexual sex only condemned within the context of rape, prostitution, pederasty, etc. The Bible does not condemn loving, committed monogomous homosexual relationships, nor is there a lanket condemnation of homosexuality. Visit my site and read my study if you are interested.
posted by Justin R. Cannon, at
1:05 AM
2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
posted by , at
9:29 PM
I am a 24 year old Christian gay young man. I have struggled, particularly in the past 2 years, with depression, anxiety, even suicidal thoughts because I clung to the thought that I am "wrong" in order to have a set of rules to adhere to. I now see the danger in the black-and-white thinking that circulates around discussions of "rules" for society. I now live in the gray area with the rest of the world, and I am finally able to be happy.
Upon hearing of John Evans's story, I was particularly touched, as his seems to be the exact struggle I have taken upon myself. The conclusions that I have come to upon realizing the extent to which God fills John's heart have helped me realize that I have always been in touch with God, and He has put me on the path that I am on, and I am certainly not one to argue with the Lord...
-J.W., Pleasanton, CA
"Be happy with yourself, and I can show you how to be a hero to others."
posted by , at
10:55 AM
Anonymous,
If you look closer, my comment just said Wow, and damn. You are responding to the following comment, not mine. Thanks.
posted by An Other Greek, at
5:31 PM
ff
posted by , at
4:04 PM
i don't see what everone is so afraid of. didn't zach later post that it wasn't what he thought it would be? didn't he say that he was wrong about the people and program? it seems to me that Love In Action offers choices. there are people who don't want to live a gay life...give them their chance to do that and live your own life.
posted by , at
4:07 PM
I'm no blogger here... this is my first comment here...
send me to hell if i'm wrong but my girlfriend and i [i'm female, btw] firmly believe that it is God who has made us strong through the two years and seven seven months in our relationship. some heterosexual relationships don't even get past six months.
polygamy, in my country (the only catholic asian country) is illegal, but homosexuality isn't. the sad truth is: the polygamous
heterosexuals receives "hurrahs" and praises while the loving monogamous homosexuals are discriminated and are rejected even by our own families.
if change does come into our lives, i know God will guide us through it but no one may impose and give us a crash course on becoming "straight"...
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posted by , at
5:02 PM
Personally, I am not a particularly religious person.
Having said that, I really admire people's ability to do great things when inspired by their faith/s.
I think that moving away from groups like LIA is one of these great things.
All moral high-grounds depend on personal interpretations, and personal interpretations two hundred years ago were very different to those of today.
The passages of the Bible that condemn homosexuality were from thousands of years ago, I'd like to think we've moced on since then.
Nobody wants to continue slavery anymore, do they?
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posted by , at
11:21 PM
Homosexuality practices are wrong. It´s not acceptable before God's eyes. You all know it, don't blind yourselves.
God loves us all. He lets us free. Even we change our laws and do a lot of stuff to trick others and change their minds we have one day to be in front of Him and give account of our acts. I have been struggling with SSA. I am now in the reparative therapy. It´s been a blessing. Now three years without any sexual encounter, and the fantasies have been lessening even more. The change is possible. I thank God every minute since He made me the invitation to leave that life, which is far away from the model of a christian live. The model of Jesus that I want to live like.
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