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

CNN's Irresponsible 'Ex-Gay' Interview Regarding Prop 8

CNN's Belief Blog interviewed Alan Chambers President of Exodus International, a nonprofit "ex-gay" ministry on the recent prop 8 ruling. Chambers is a self identified "ex-gay" who admits he still struggles with homosexual attractions.

In the article Chambers is quoted as saying that “It’s disappointing that a judge would rule against the will of the people” but he also maintains that the decision shows more openness to people who are LGBT "We’re entering a time when we are more compassionate and loving toward people who deserve our compassion,” he says, “and that’s gay and lesbian people.”

CNN is completely irresponsible for running this piece for a host of reasons.

1. Exodus International is a fringe anti-gay organization that has been repudiated by all major scientific and psychological organizations.

2. If Chambers and Exodus indeed represent people who claim they are no longer gay, why is CNN collecting their thoughts on same-sex marriage? They can get married to the opposite sex and the issue is not relevant to them.

3. CNN gave free advertising to this sham organization and did nothing to set the facts straight on the proposition 8 ruling or the truth behind the "ex-gay" movement.

Contact CNN via their general feedback form or Twitter to let them know that this biased reporting is unacceptable! Feel free to also leave comments on their blog posting.

Tell KISS 108 to Pull the Plug on Anti-Gay Dawson McAllister

Top 40 radio station KISS 108 airs Dawson McAllister every Sunday night. The show is billed as a place for “those 25 and younger to call in and talk about their lives, deepest needs….broken families…depression, addiction, …” etc.

When young LGBTs call in and speak off air to one of McAllister’s representatives, they are told that their homosexuality is no better than drug addiction, prostitution and murder; that being gay will condemn them to hell; and that the only solution is for them is to be “cured” of their homosexuality through God.

Vulnerable young callers are then directed to Exodus International where they ‘will receive the help they need’. Exodus International is the ‘Ex-Gay’ ministry that claims to convert LGBTs into being straight. Exodus’ conversions are universally discredited by mainstream psychiatrists and psychologists.

Call KISS 108 and Clear Channel to demand they “clear the channel” of homophobes poisoning the minds of LGBT youth. We deserve better. LGBT youth deserve better.

Marc Mays, CEO, Clear Channel
Executive Assistant: Carole Adamek, 210-832-3306

Lisa Dollinger, Communications Director, Clear Channel
lisacdollinger@clearchannel.com
Executive Assistant: stacieiverson@clearchannel.com 210-832-3348

Jack McCartney, Program Director, KISS 108: 781-396-1430

Crossposted via Truth Wins Out.

CNN's Kyra Phillips Questions Whether Homosexuality Needs a "Cure"

In a CNN segment called 'Finding a "cure" for homosexuality?' by anchor Kyra Phillips the network has given the pseudo-scientific topic of "ex-gay" therapy and its proponents a national platform to advocate for their harmful and unsound work.

The reason for airing the segment is because California lawmaker Bonnie Lowenthal has introduced legislation to repeal a 1960 law that encourages the government to study cures for homosexuality. Instead of discussing the merits of the proposed bill and why "finding cures" for being gay don't work, Phillips and CNN gave credence to this bogus 'therapy' and allowed "ex-gay activist" Richard Cohen to spew his lies and promote new research (old studies that have been discredited).

The clip of the segment can be seen below:



Contact Kyra Phillips through CNN's online form and via Twitter.

San Diego to Protest "Ex-Gay" Workshop

On January 27th 2010, at Skyline Wesleyan Church near San Diego, California, Exodus International will hold a training session (they call it an “equipping”). The purpose of these equipping events is to teach pastors, ministers, educators and counselors how to deal with “unwanted homosexuality.”

The pastor of Skyline Church is no stranger to LGBT Californians, our families, friends and allies. Pastor Jim Garlow claimed responsibility for jump-starting Prop 8, the California ballot initiative that took away the existing right of LGBT couples to marry; was the driving force behind the pre-2008-Election, anti-gay rally, TheCall, at Qualcomm Stadium; traveled to DC to oppose The Matthew Shepard & James Byrd Jr Hate Crimes Prevention Act; was one of the original signatories of the blueprint for American theocracy called The Manhattan Declaration; and, most recently, tried (unsuccessfully) to worm out of testifying in the Perry v Schwarzenegger Prop 8 trial.

Car-pooling will be available from here:

Wednesday, January 27, 2010
8:00am
LGBT Center parking lot
3909 Centre Street
San Diego, CA

Protest Location:

Skyline Wesleyan Church
8:30 am
11330 Campo Road, La Mesa, CA 91941.

Crossposted via Mike Tidmus.

University of Alaska Students Protest "Ex-Gay" Speaker

Students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks are protesting a series of speaking engagements by Edward Delgado a so called "ex-gay" evangelist. Brought in as a guest speaker by the Campus Bible Ministries Mr. Delgado will give 14 lectures titled “From Sin’s Bondage to Christ’s Freedom" on his claim that through reading the Bible he magically journeyed from being gay to becoming a heterosexual.

The visit is offensive to gay students, and allies because of advertisements around campus with the headline “Gay? Lonely? Confused?” attempting to draw students to the event in hopes of their salvation.

Delgado also parades around using lies and myths about what it means to be gay and claiming that it is a destructive lifestyle.

"Delgado said the homosexual lifestyle leads to promiscuity, abuse, alcoholism and drug abuse" (Newsminer).

GSA members and activists have protested with "stop the hate" t-shirts and by handing out literature, and plan to continue doing so for the rest of Mr. Delgados presentations. Mr. Delgado will speak in the Wood Center conference room today at 11:30 a.m., 2 and 5:20 p.m. You can protest him Friday in the Wood Center at 10:30 a.m., 1, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.

Word of the Gay: "De-Gay"

"De-Gay" is the attempt or process to rid one of homosexual thoughts/actions.

"Ex-Gay" and the Law - A Survivors Guide to Taking Action

Truth Wins Out and Lambda Legal have created a booklet to educate survivors of the so called "ex-gay" movement who believed they were harmed by their radical and fringe tactics.

If you are a victim of the "ex-gay" movements psycholocially damaging practices, and have been sold under the false guise that your orientation or identity would change there may be legal options for you by reading the newly produced guide.

Ex-Gay and the Law.

You can also call Lambda Legal toll free at 866-542-8336.

North Carolina Protest of "Ex-Gay" Love Won Out Conference

CRANE presents the following events to raise public awareness and challenge the myths and lies of anti-gay organizations like Focus on the Family and the “ex-gay” Exodus International. The “ex-gay” conference Love Won Out will be held in Charlotte on Feb. 21, the same day as the HRC Carolinas Gala.

Pray Away the Gay Feb. 19, 2009, 7 p.m.
Lesbian & Gay Community Center of Charlotte
820 Hamilton St., Suite B-11, Charlotte, NC 28206

Non-violent protest of Love Won Out conference Feb. 21, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Central Church of God
5301 Sardis Rd., Charlotte, NC 28211

Diversity Lesson 101: Ex-Gay Survivors

What is an ex-gay survivor?

Ex-gay survivors are people who were once under religious/social pressure and attempting to change their sexual orientation to heterosexual, but eventually came to embrace their sexual identity as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender after years of trauma and hardship suffered through 'reparative therapy'.

What do ex-gay camps and programs do?

Ex-gay groups are desperate to find a 'cure' for homosexuality even though sexual orientation is natural and not a disease. Due to their stubbornness and rejection of science and psychology there is virtually every kind of 'therapy program' available and they all claim to be succesful. The truth be told is none of them work. Some of the more popular techniques are behavior modification, electroshock therapy, touch therapy, psychoanalysis, prayer, exorcisms, and others. The techniques get extremely bizarre and questionable which is another reason why it is illegal and unethical for any professional to engage in so called 'reparative therapy'. Some of these more bizarre techniques include lifestyle changes such as conforming the identity to match their birth gender. Electroshock therapy while a person is stimulated by same-sex porn, but not when they watch heterosexual pornography. Touch therapy is when a counselor of the same-sex touches the victim in an attempt to make them feel loved and alleviate their same-sex desires.

Can someone change their sexual orientation?
People cannot willingly change their sexual orientation or gender identity. The American Psychological Association and American Medical Association as well as others in the scientific community strongly condemn so called 'reparative therapy' for its unscientific approach, inability to produce valid results, and for the damage it inflicts on its victims.

There have been zero peer reviewed studies indicating any change in sexual orientation or gender identity. While "ex-gay" groups are heavily funded by the church and continue to spew out lies saying thousands "have walked away from the homosexual lifestyle" the truth is there are only a handful of people who actually maintain that they are indeed "ex-gay" and these people are either suppressing their true identity, choosing celibacy, or flat out lying while living a double life.

Sexual orientation is usually consistent throughout a lifetime, some people do experience a shift in sexuality due to sexual fluidity, this however is not a conscious choice but more a result of nature and is in most instances rare.

Ex-Gay Survivor Links:

Truth Wins Out

Ex-Gay Annual Survivor Conference

Beyond Ex-Gay

Other Resources:

Anything but Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth

Fish Can't Fly Film

Tips for Creating a Love Welcomes All Conference

Ex-Gay Survivor Videos:

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.

Keep Your Friends Close, and Your Enemies Closer...

On this Halloween night nothing is scarier and spookier than evil anti-queer organizations working tirelessly to take away our rights and tear our families apart.

As activists it is important that we are united in our efforts, know who we can count on and what we can feasibly achieve. Likewise it is also good to have a basic understanding of who your opponents are and what they are looking to achieve. So I am posting today about some of the LGBT communities biggest adversaries and those who constantly seek to make life difficult for Queer people. For obvious reasons I will not be linking to the sites of these homo-bigoted and transphobic organizations.

Americans for Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH) - Run by Peter LaBarbera this organization seeks to spread lies and deception about LGBTQ people and use scare tactics in discussing the "radical homosexual or transsexual agenda". This organization seeks to paint Queer people as depraved, ill, radical individuals who are seeking to topple society by any means necessary.

American Family Association (AFA) - One of the largest organizations promoting "family values" and right-wing Christian ideology. They are opposed to same-sex marriage, civil unions, domestic partnerships and hate crime legislation for LGBT people. They have millions of members, church affiliates, media outlets, and a huge budget and political power to lobby congress.

Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) - They are a right-wing advocacy and legal group. They are opposed to all topics of homosexuality including marriage, adoption, education, safe-sex ed, military service, etc. They seek to be involved in litigation, and offer what they call the "Day of Truth" to counter the "Day of Silence" and educate about the dangers of homosexuality and its sinfulness.

Focus on the Family (FOF) - A non-profit Evangelical group focused on conservative issues. It is also countering the so called "gay agenda" by fighting against marriage, adoption, hate crimes, and seeking to "cure" homosexuals through their "Love Won Out" program.

Family Research Council (FRC) - A "family values" right-wing christian thinktank founded by James Dobson and now led by Tony Perkins. They oppose any form of recognition of same-sex relationships. They attempt to misinform the public that there is a connection between pedophilia and homosexuality. They sponsor a "Values Voters" summit with major political power and clout.

Exodus International - This is an organization that seeks to "cure" people of homosexuality. They encourage people to "leave the homosexual lifestyle" and claim that "freedom is possible through the power of Jesus Christ". They offer resources for "reparative therapy" which is bogus therapy not endorsed by the American Psychological Association or American Medical Association and claim they have converted thousands of people yet cannot substantiate any of these claims. The "ex-gay" movement is a sham and harmful. Exodus is the largest of these groups.

National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) - An organization whose mission is to advocate for conversion therapy in changing the sexual orientation of LGB people. Narth seeks to change the 1973 decision by the American Psychological Association to no longer consider homosexuality a mental illness. NARTH seeks to provide education, resources, and advocacy for their bogus "ex-gay" agenda. The organization claims to be secular but is often partnered up with religious thinkers and faith-based organizations.

Concerned Women of America (CWA) - A right-wing "women's organization" dedicated to promoting "biblical values". In addition to other conservative issues they are fiercely opposed to gay rights and have fought against bills like the "Equal Rights Amendment" and "Employment Non-Discrimination Act". They also seek to make it difficult for LGBT groups to implement anti-bullying initiatives.

There are so many more organizations but I named a couple of the big players, it is important to know who is working against us. It is important to keep an eye on what they are doing so we can counter their radical unfamily value like agenda.

"Love Came Out" Rally in Colorado Springs

According to Box Turtle Bulletin a coalition of gay rights groups are protesting the Focus on the Family's "Love Won Out" conference which is an "ex-gay" gathering that puts out lies and misinformation about gender and sexuality. The demonstrations in Colorado Springs are listed in the graphic with contact information.

Discussion panel with “ex-gay” survivors, and PFLAG families; peaceful vigil/demonstration at Focus on the Family; and presentation of the acclaimed film “HoMo No Mo”.

Activities are free and families and individuals seeking affirming information about sexuality and/or faith are encouraged to attend.

WTF? Tyra Banks Show Seeking "Ex-Gays"

Maybe I spoke too quickly when I said that Tyra Banks is a true ally of the LGBT commmunity.

Now the Tyra Banks show is looking to host a program on "Ex-Gays"

"I WANT TO BE AN EX-GAY

Are you a gay man or lesbian who wants to be straight? Do your friends or family disagree with your gay lifestyle and wish you were straight? If you ever wish you could erase your same-sex attractions and not be gay?" (Tyra)

The Tyra Banks show has been inclusive in featuring gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in her shows in a positive light. Unless Tyra Banks seeks to prove on her show how "conversion therapy" and "ex-gays" are nothing more than a myth and people who are in denial or outright lying, this show is a bad move.

Click here to send actual good show ideas to Tyra.

Click here to leave a comment telling Tyra Banks either not to make a show on "ex-gays" or to make one which exposes the myth that is the "ex-gay" movement. If the show just shows so called "ex-gays" and religious fanatics it will further confuse people in the closet and legitimize a movement that is based in fear and hate and not grounded in science, psychology or reality.

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.

Word of the Gay: "Ex-Gay"

The "Ex-Gay" movement are people who claim to have once been LGBT and have converted their sexual orientation to straight or their gender identity to match their biological sex. Most so called "Ex-Gays" are driven by religious values that disparage homosexuality/transsexuality and regard it as sin. The "Ex-Gay" movement uses reparative therapy to try and "fix" LGBT people but it is a complete sham. The American Psychological Association and American Medical Association dismiss the notion that sexuality and gender identity can be changed and regard the practice as unscientific and dangerous to the mental well being of people.

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"