Box Turtle Bulletin

BTB Original Video Interview With Michael Bussee, Co-Founder Of Exodus

Last September hundreds of gays and lesbians from around So Cal gathered in Palm Springs to speak out against Love Won Out. Included in those who came to Palm Springs was Michael Bussee one of the co-founders of Exodus who later left the ministry realizing it didn’t work. USC film student Esteban Rael pulled Bussee aside and shot a video interview with Michael for his upcoming masters thesis film me & god. Esteban and I have collaborated frequently on our respective projects/interests and he and Michael were both kind enough to let me publish nine clips from that interview here.

The first two videos below tell the story of what led to the founding of Exodus and Michael’s eventual shift to speaking out against exgay therapy. The remainder of the clips are on a variety of exgay issues.

The Creation of Exodus International

Two Of Exodus’ Founders Come Out As ‘Ex-Ex-Gay’

Gay Therapist On His Religious Clients’ Inner Conflict

“Exgay” Conversion Therapy For Gay Youth?

Am I Gay? Will God Change Me?

Growing Up – What The Culture Taught Me About Being Gay

Are ‘Gay’ and ‘Christian’ Incompatible?

A 12 Year Old Boy Struggles To Find Out What ‘Gay’ Means

“Exgay” Organizations Oppose Hate Crime Protections

See also:

BTB Original Video Interviews With Former Exodus Leaders

Military to Gays: Take off the uniform but keep doing the job

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) reports that the Department of the Defense has a new message (dated May 16, 2007) for gay service men and women discharged under the Don’t Ask – Don’t Tell policy:  “Come back to work for us as civilians.”

Lesbian and gay personnel dismissed under the ban “have the opportunity to continue to serve their nation and national security by putting their abilities to use by way of civilian employment with other Federal agencies, the Department of Defense, or in the private sector, such as with a government contractor,” Cynthia O. Smith of the Defense Press Office, said in the statement.

Actually, she underlined that part.  The rest of the statement shifted the blame for DADT to Congress and reiterated that harassment was not tolerated against gay servicemembers.  Which makes me ask:  If the military isn’t gung-ho about DADT, is there anyone left out there who thinks this policy is a good idea?

Which Conference is that, Randy?

This weekend in Irvine, CA there will be two seminars which address ex-gay ministries.  One, Exodus International’s Freedom Conference which started today, will be those who struggle with same-sex attractions but have “walked away from the homosexual lifesyle”.  The other will be the Ex-Gay Survivor’s Conference where our own Jim Burroway will be a presenter.

The Christian Post reports the beliefs of the executive VP of Exodus, Randy Thomas, this way:

There are many people, however, at the conference who have “been there, done that” and can share what God has done in their life and in bringing about freedom, according to Thomas.

Ummmm… which conference is that, Randy?

Canadian Anglicans Can’t Bless Same-Sex Marriage… Yet

The Anglican Church of Canada, the country’s third largest, by a vote on Sunday determined that it is not inconsistent with its core doctrine to bless same-sex relationships.  However, they stopped just short of allowing its priests to do so.  Authorizing such blessings requires approval of three bodies or representatives, the laity, the clergy, and the bishops.  The resolution to allow blessing passed the laity and the clergy with healthy margins, but lost in the bishop vote by 21 to 19.

It is reasonable to assume that the objections amongst the Bishops had less to do with principal than it has with the threats coming out of the African and Asian churches.  These “Global South” Anglicans are already at war with the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church’s American branch, actively seeking to force it from the Anglican fellowship over its acceptance of gay Christians.

Queer Omission In “Things to Do” Guide Given To Exodus Conference Attendees

The Exodus Freedom Conference website has a “Things To Do” guide for the little free time conference attendees will enjoy. The #1 recommended beach…

The chain-commercialized (and thus safe) Huntington Beach, 18 miles away.

Conspicuously omitted is the gay hamlet of Laguna Beach which I might add is only 11 miles from Concordia University, where the conference is being held.

Luckily conference attendee Jim Burroway has a local (me) to set him straight and thus was enjoying Laguna mere hours after arriving. I might add the drag show at The Boom Boom Room on Wednesday nights is excellent.

Randy Thomas Projects His Experiences Onto All Of Us

Exodus vice-president Randy Thomas responded to the Ex-Gay Survivor’s conference by claiming that the conference will “try to project their experience onto all of us” and, as reported by CitizenLink, “deny people hope.”

The Ex-Gay Survivor’s conference, taking place on the same weekend as the final days of the Exodus Freedom Conference in Irvine, will provide a forum in which the approximately 70% of those who fail to change (according to Exodus’ own admission) can share their stories. Peterson Toscano counters, “Our gathering next week is about people, not protest. It’s about pastoral care, not propaganda.”

And since it’s not about propaganda — or projection — Peterson notes that those stories will likely describe the good and the bad:

As we gather this week in Irvine with people from as far away as Australia, England and NYC, we will unpack our pasts, the motivations behind our actions to change and suppress our sexuality, the good we gained from our efforts, and the harm that affects some of us even today.

But if Thomas is concerned about “projection,” he should mind his own house. There, he will find homosexuality described as a disorder, the vast majority of gays will be described as victims of a poor childhood or sexual abuse, and a succession of prominent ex-gay leaders will describe homosexuality as a miserable existence of meaningless relationships, rampant narcissism, promiscuity and drug abuse. Gays and lesbians will be reduced to merely being “those are struggling with same sex attraction,” and the “gay-identified” will be denied the dignity of their own experiences by people who were not born Christian but who have since chosen the lifestyle of the “Christian-identified.”

By Exodus’ own admission, for every person who “comes out of homosexuality,” there are at least two more who don’t. (This assumes Exodus’s “success rate” can be verified. So far, it can’t.) But at that Exodus gathering, those who decide to gather elsewhere to share their experiences — many of whom fell outside of Exodus’s own promises and lost the very hope that Thomas accuses Beyond Ex-Gay of denying — will be dismissed as “protesters.”

I don’t know about you, but I think Randy Thomas doth project too much.

See also:

Exodus to Ex-Gay Survivors: I’m Just Not That Into You

Ex-Gay Survivor’s Conference Fun Begins

Myself and Momma

Timothy, myself and Peterson

Peterson Toscano had a show this morning at the WeHo Church which was followed by cocktails at The Abbey.

Thanks to Peterson for sharing his photos.

Pride or Mardi Gras?

Anti-gay extremists love to scare people with carefully selected images from Pride celebrations. But can you tell the difference between Pride and Mardi Gras? Kevin throws down the challenge.

Good-Bye Wal-Mart

CNNMoney reports that Wal-Mart has capitulated to the homophobic demands of anti-gay activists:

Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, has decided to curb its support of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) organizations after conservative Christian groups threatened a boycott, and after some of its own employees expressed disapproval.

Well I guess I won’t be shopping at Wal-Mart.  I don’t give my business to stores whose employees don’t approve of me and who value the bigotry of their employees over fairness and decency towards their customers.  So good-bye Wal-Mart, hello Target.

Exodus to Ex-Gay Survivors: I’m Just Not That Into You

We reported earlier that Peterson Toscano and Christine Bakke, cofounders of Beyond Ex-Gay, invited Exodus leaders to a small private dinner to talk about some of the experiences of those who are no longer ex-gay. Since it’s a private dinner, Exodus officials may respond privately — I don’t know — but their public stance doesn’t bode well.

Exodus issued a press release saying they “welcome dialogue on homosexuality” at their national conference June 26 to July 1 in Irvine, California. But it seems that this dialogue will only be on their terms and at their venue.

Chambers responded to the news that local groups are planning to protest the Exodus event by holding a conference of its own, “Dialogue on this issue only benefits the community and the culture at large. It is a topic worth discussing and I am happy to share my experience as a part of a much-needed exchange of thoughts on this issue.”

Exodus bills the Ex-Gay Survivor’s Conference as a “protest” and indicates that the only “dialoguing” that will take place will be within the confines of the Exodus conference. Exodus offers people like Rev. Ken Hutcherson for this “dialogue”. Hutcherson claimed last spring to speak under a “special commission” from the White House when he traveled to Latvia to stoke anti-gay sentiments there. (The White House denied this connection.)

Exodus’s “dialogue” will also feature Joseph Nicolosi (“We advise fathers, if you don’t hug your sons another man will.”), Nancy Heche (mother of actress Anne Heche, who is still bisexual despite her mother’s account of successfully “blessing” her) and Melissa Fryrear (“I never met one woman who had not been sexually violated”).

Exodus does a lot of talking and not much listening. It’s a shame, because there really are a lot of things to talk about. Exodus recently has claimed a 30% success rate, without any proof to back it up. But even if we accepted that figure, that means 70% fail. These ex-gay survivors know the pain that comes from that failure. They have a lot of important things to say, and the least Exodus could do is acknowledge them with civility instead of dismissing their stories as “protest.”

See also:

Randy Thomas Projects His Experiences Onto All Of Us

Alan Chambers Clarifies His Remarks to the LA Times

Alan Chambers spoke to AFA’s OneNewsNow to clarify comments he made to the Los Angeles Times, in which he was described as “resenting” the term “ex-gay”. The LA Times reported:

[“Ex-gay” is] too neat, implying a clean break with the past, when he still struggles at times with homosexual temptation. “By no means would we ever say change can be sudden or complete,” Chambers said.

…His personal denunciation of the term “ex-gay” — his organization has yet to follow suit — is just one example of shifting ground in the polarizing debate on homosexuality.

Chambers was strongly rebuked by Stephen Bennett and Peter LaBarbera for violating the ex-gay party line. Alan responds:

A recent Times article characterizes Exodus president Alan Chambers as saying he has never met a successful “ex-gay.” Chambers cautions those words were not his, but those of the writer, Stephanie Simon. Chambers says in the interview, he merely stressed he has never met anyone who has loved the term “ex-gay” — which he contends is difficult to define.

“It’s something that comes across as confusing,” he says. “And while I understand why people have used it over the years — it’s easy to use in a soundbite — to say that someone is primarily described by the behavior that they used to be involved in I think is a disservice to the people who have found freedom from homosexuality.”

And that includes himself, says Chambers. “[R]eally, more accurate labels for me would be, ‘I’m a man. I’m a Christian. I’m a husband. I’m a father. I’m a son.'” Chambers says he is considering whether to ask the newspaper to issue a clarification of his remarks.

This might be read as his backing away somewhat from what the LA Times reported. For one thing, he doesn’t mention his own struggles in this article, struggles that he has been candid about elsewhere. But it’s an important clarification which is largely consistent with what he’s been saying for quite some time, even if it is somewhat incomplete. He also maintains his stance that he “is unwilling to dismiss the idea that ‘there may be a biological or genetically pre-disposing factor’ ” to homosexuality, but adds, “Just because something’s genetic does not make it moral, optimal, or right.”

All of this is a reminder that his recent statements don’t mean he’s abandoning the ex-gay movement (or whatever name the movement chooses to use in the future) to become our ally. And yet, I have a feeling this clarification may not be enough for his more hard line compatriots. In the culture wars unfortunately, there is often no room for middle ground.

An Ex-Gay Survivor’s New York Story

Peterson Toscano wrote an opinion piece that appeared in today’s New York Blade about his compelling story as an ex-gay survivor. As he points out, anyone anywhere can be susceptible to the pressures to be “normal”:

As a 19-year-old in New York City trying anything and everything to fix my gayness, I believed in miracles. I still believe in miracles and in change, although I shifted my focus. I believe our world can become a place that accepts, affirms and celebrates all citizens, queer and straight. It takes work though, not magic. Part of the work includes sharing stories about the craziness we faced in a world that wanted us to be “normal.” This craziness didn’t only happen in rural communities back in the ’80s. It happens today—even in New York City.

This is another good time to plug next week’s Ex-Gay Survivor’s Conference in Irvine, California, June 29 through July 1. Peterson and many other survivors will be there to share their stories. Your’s truly will also be presenting a workshop there. I hope you can make it.

MassResistance Goes There

Celebrations continue over last week’s defeat of the anti-marriage amendment in Massachusetts. Meanwhile, MassResistance, the group supporting repeal of gay marriage, is nursing its wounds. And it looks like they’re not going away quietly. They’ve sent out a fundraising letter bemoaning that seven Republicans and five Democrats switched their votes to defeat the proposed amendment.

MassResistance remains both unchastened and without any sense of decency. Unable to recognize that their own outrageous antics alienated allies at every turn, they included this in their fundraising appeal:

Although the group [KnowThyNeighbor] is made up of adult homosexual males, they have shown an inordinate interest in children. They came to testify at the State House against the Parents Rights Bill hearing, and in particular have become obsessed about the possibility that parents might keep the kids from homosexual programs in the schools. They are angry, dangerous people.

This veiled link between male homosexuality and pedophilia clearly crosses the line yet again. The “homosexual males” in question testified because they were parents who didn’t want to see their own families marginalized in their children’s classrooms.

MassResistance would have you believe that we have no families. What’s more, they are the truly “angry, dangerous people” who mean our families harm. Victory in Massachusetts doesn’t mean we have the luxury of a momentary pause, or even that families in the Bay State are forever safe. As long as MassResistance and others like them continue to spew such bile, we will have work to do.

But if there is a bright side, it is this: MassRisistance is their own worst enemy, as their repulsive tactics continue to make things untenable for those who might otherwise be sympathetic to their cause.

Another Reason To Appreciate The UK

Sometimes, I think I was born in the wrong country. Can you imagine a beer commercial like this in the US?

Update: Commenter Paul Stevens points out that the ad never aired: “Fearing greater backlash by straight consumers, the TV spot was ultimately dropped by Guinness. Later, the company tried to deny that this spot even existed.”

And Colombia Backs Off

Colombia’s bill to recognize same-sex couples is not a go, after all.  A floor vote was called for when many supporters were absent.  And it seems the Catholic Church threatened Senators with being denied the sacraments and some of those who previously supported the bill got cold feet (or a fear of eternally hot feet).

So the race is still on for who will be the first Latin American country to grant same-sex couples rights and protections.  Will it be Costa Rica?  (Probably not.)

The Colombian bill will be reintroduced in July.