Urge U.K. Prime Minister to Denounce Anti-Gay/Anti-Trans MP

Roger Helmer a conservative member of the British Parliament has made a controversial tweet defending so called "reparative therapy" for gay, lesbian and bisexual people. He ignorantly compares sex-change operations to sexual orientation an offense that should be taken by the entire LGBT community being that sexual orientation and gender identity are not the same thing.

In his tweet he says:

"Why is it OK for a surgeon to perform a sex-change operation, but not OK for a psychiatrist to try to "turn" a consenting homosexual?"

His remarks not only show that he believes sexual orientation can be altered but it also goes to show that he considers a sex-change operation to be a choice. While electing for surgery is a choice in the respect that one is not forced to undergo the procedure, it is often a life-saving procedure for transgender people who would otherwise not want to live in a physical body that does not correspond with their gender identity.

Urge Prime Minister David Cameron to reject MP Helmer's controversial and dangerous suggestion that "conversion therapy" works.

camerond@parliament.uk

You can also contact the representative himself at roger.helmer@europarl.europa.eu

Ex-Gay Expose Nov 7-9th (Conference & Rally) - Denver, Colorado

During the weekend of November 7-9, NARTH, a national association of "gay conversion" therapists, is holding its annual conference in Denver. Two local survivors of ex-gay programs, Christine Bakke and Daniel Gonzales, along with Beyond Ex-Gay, and a coalition of local and other gay organizations, are forming a response to speak to the harm groups like NARTH can cause.

Friday, Nov 7th

7pm: Doin' Time with Peterson Toscano. Well-known ex-gay survivor Peterson Toscano, as seen in The Advocate and LOGO's "Be Real," will be on hand to perform excerpts from several plays inspired by his years spent in the ex-gay movement. Location: Our Savior's Lutheran Church (915 E 9th Ave, Denver. An affirming congregation)

Saturday, Nov 8th

8:45-10am: Rally at NARTH Conference site, Renaissance Hotel (3801 Quebec St, Denver). Meet outside to the south of the hotel.

11-4pm: Ex-Gay Exposé Gathering. Gathering for ex-gay survivors as well as allies who wish to learn more about the ex-gay movement. Location: Moutain View Friends Meeting. (2280 S Columbine St, Denver)

6-8pm: Mental Health Professionals workshop, part 1 (What is the ex-gay movement? What are common needs of ex-gay survivors?). Location: GLBT Community Center. (1050 Broadway, Denver)

Sunday, Nov 9th

9am-12pm: Mental Health Professionals workshop, part 2 (Exploring best practices for treating ex-gay survivors). Location: GLBT Community Center (1050 Broadway, Denver)

7 pm: Transfigurations: Transgressing Gender in the Bible. Written and performed by Peterson Toscano. Location: Our Savior's Lutheran Church (915 E 9th Ave, Denver. An affirming congregation).

Sign up here to participate or get more info.

Word of the Gay: "Ex-Ex-Gay"

"Ex-Ex-Gays" are people who were once under religious/social pressure attempting to change their sexual orientation to heterosexual, but eventually came to embrace their sexual identity as LGBT.

Demonstration by LGBT & Allies at "Ex-Gay" Conference in Orlando, Florida

According to Lavender Newswire:

"June 7 Event to Send Message that Parents Love Their LGBT Children “Just the Way They Are”

WHAT: Parents, family members, clergy and allies from across the Gulf Coast region will greet attendees entering the Orlando, Florida “Love Won Out” conference. The conference, organized by the American Family Association, endorses so-called “reparative therapy” for lesbian, gay and bisexual people. Members of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) will greet attendees with donuts, coffee and information on embracing lesbian and gay loved ones.

WHO: PFLAG parents will be joined by supportive members of the clergy from around Orlando, as well as PFLAG National executive director Jody M. Huckaby and Lance Helms, Gulf Coast Regional Director for PFLAG.

WHY: So-called “ex-gay ministries,” such as “Love Won Out,” use out-moded medical theories and radical religious beliefs to justify trying to alter gay and lesbian people’s natural sexual orientation. In 1990, the American Psychological Association (APA) stated that scientific evidence does not show that conversion therapy works and that it can do more harm than good.

WHEN: Saturday, June 7, 2008 7:00am

WHERE: First Presbyterian Church, 106 E. Church Street, Orlando, FL 32801"