Comments on: Exodus Sharpens Its Political Presence

By: Ex-Gay Watch » Open Forum: Focus on the Family: Benefactor to Exodus Ex-Gays?

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 09:49:23 +0000

[...] in recent months, Jim Burroway of Box Turtle Bulletin notes, Exodus hired a lobbyist from Focus on the Family. Amanda Banks not only served Focus as a [...]

By: Wayne Besen

Wayne Besen — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 03:09:31 +0000

Jim, thanks for the excellent report. It is clear that Exodus is no more than a puppet for Focus on the Family.

The right wing is making a big mistake by jumping on this ex-gay bandwagon. It won’t end well for them – it never does.

By: Michael Airhart

Michael Airhart — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:29:18 +0000

What precisely does Exodus’ hiring of a paid political consultant to Focus on the Family say about Exodus’ reliance on Focus to subsidize its own staff positions as well as its political activities?

By: Tim Hulsey

Tim Hulsey — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 01:46:31 +0000

Fundamentalist organizations may tout ex-gay groups in public, but they don’t fund them well — and they can be remarkably vindictive when ex-gays mention this little problem. Because ex-gays lack the financial muscle to enter the arena of political discourse, they must rely on social conservatives and religious organizations to ventriloquize on their behalf. Some of them don’t seem too happy about it, either.

In private, of course, the situation is far worse: Social conservatives and religious traditionalists generally regard ex-gays as pariahs.

By: Brian Summers

Brian Summers — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:37:14 +0000

Exodus should plain and simply close its doors and call it a day. These “ministeries” are nothing more than a glorified waste of time and leave those who partake in their unhealthy teachings in complete and utter agony. Attraction is what it is. You can no more turn a gay person straight than you can a straight person gay. It just doesn’t work that way, regardless of whatever lies these laughable ex-gay “success stories” may claim to the contrary.

Fundamentalists, it goes without saying, wholeheartedly endorse these conversion groups because they already view homosexuality as an affront to God. I should change because I’m a “mistake” and “God hates me” because I’m gay. Well now, see, that’s the major misnomer about this whole sorry debate. God does not make mistakes. God made me the proud gay man that I am today, in much the same manner as he made certain other people straight. God loves diversity. That’s why we, as a collective people, have different cultures, different skin colors and different beliefs. For anybody to assume that we should all live the same, love the same, and believe in all the same things is as unrealistic as it is ridiculous.

I honestly do wish that people, especially those who are currently trapped in the obvious falsehood of an “ex-gay” mindset, could wake up to reality and face this fact for themselves. How much of their lives have to be wasted, how much personal happiness do they have to sacrifice with people they clearly are NOT attracted to before they realize just how big of a bonafide joke Exodus really is?

By: Michael Hamar

Michael Hamar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:37:58 +0000

These “ministries” have always really been about politics. Without maintaining the “choice” myth, the Christianists know that gays will otherwise ultimately receive anti-discrimination protections and equal or similar marriage rights.

Hence, the continued efforts to depict homosexuality as purely a choice and, therefore, not a class deserving protection. As gay rights advance in various parts of the country, we can expect that these organizations will be coming increasingly political and increasing hysterical.

By: Lynn David

Lynn David — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 08:09:40 +0000

Oh lawdy, I knew I recognized the name Banks, she and her soon-to-be husband both worked for Hostetler in my congressional district. I ran in to him at a local “town hall” meeting of Hostetlers. And now they’re back in Iniana…. going to be a new push to pass a marriage amendment I bet, in either an upcoming special session (supposed to be for taxes) or the next year’s session.

They’ll probably strip the second sentence on “marriage similarity” and say that if the House of Rep’s pass it then it can go for a popular vote. But it would then be a new amendment and should go through the whole “two elected legislatures” bit, meaning no vot to 2010 or later, instead of 2008. We won because of the second sentence (Marriage similarity) point in committe…. they take it out, it will pass. Sorry, more scared of what they might do in Indiana than nationally with Exodus. And if the AFA-Indiana isn’t enough now here is ROCK – http://www.reclaimourculture.org/ – for Kentuckiana…

I’m getting a headache….

By: Ken R

Ken R — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:56:03 +0000

I’m still amazed how these organizations consider themselves professing Christians. Some just as soon see a gay person beat beyond recognition rather than loving them as Christ has commanded. I guess its, “The end justify the means” by any means if that will convince gay people to follow the path of change. No need for hate crime laws if gay people can change right?

Perhaps its time for some much needed conferences for those that wish to “come out” of the conservative fundamentalist/evangelical lifestyle. I have met plenty former conservative Christians online. And there are quite a few of them.

By: John

John — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 22:25:52 +0000

Exodus has appeared to me to be primarily a political organization for a long time. As they further ramp that up, I would think that they are putting their status as a non-profit at stake. I am surprised that the IRS hasn’t already investigated them for excessive political activity for a tax-exempt organization.

Another thing that stood out was the arguement that “gays aren’t economically disadvantaged and therefore aren’t oppressed.” Jews in Germany prior to the war were specifically portayed as being an economically prviledged class by Nazi propagandists trying to stir up resentment against the Jewish minority. I am in no way acusing Exodus of being Nazis, but portraying gays as a wealthy and priviledged minority in this country who don’t merit legal protections from hate crimes has disturbing implications.