I have read ex-gay watch for quite some time. On this issue, I would say that David Roberts is both hysterical and obsessed. Just my opinion.

Do I think anyone was traumatized by Alan Chambers being at a session that they could VERY easily skip? No, I do not. I could see people being angry about it, very angry. But traumatized? No. If so, they are not capable of functioning out in the world. Sorry, but that’s the truth.

I think this “trauma” issue is being played up by two groups: those who are angry that Justin would have a dialogue with Alan Chambers (someone that they hate); and the drama addicts who saw their cue to come into the limelight for a few minutes of attention. Sorry, but that’s how I see it. I have TONS of sympathy for people going through real trauma, but this is ridiculous.

And of course people like Justin (and others) have to recognize and sympathize with this “trauma” or you would say that they are uncaring and unfeeling.

Perhaps JM doesn’t know about XGW.

(Unpaid and unsolicited opinion.)

I honestly don’t understand how someone could be “traumatized” by Alan Chambers being in a session that they could just skip.

If you don’t believe me, then listen to Justin Lee, the director of GCN.  Or listen to someone who was there and was traumatized.  I hope you are never in a position of providing help to those who have been hurt or exploited by others, empathy does not seem to be your strong suit.

In all cases it took brave people to confront all of these ministries and pose the hard questions. If one let’s these organizations like Exodus to go unchallenged. Then nothing will ever change. Let there be no doubt. Change is coming. Change is coming because People like Justin Lee has the testicular fortitude to go out on a limb to bring it. Change is coming because with all the ExGay movements toxic speeches. A place like Gay Christian Network flies right in their face stand up for truth instead of Exodus’ false indoctrination.

It’s going to be those whom are bold and willing to step outside of their comfort zone. That will bring that change.

That’s a rather silly statement – “The end never justifies the means”. It all depends on the situation, maybe the end in this case didn’t justify the means but, if for example you were in Nazi Germany hiding a jew and a german soldier came to your door asking if there were any jews in your house you’d be fully justified in lying to him. The end most certainly justifies the means in many cases.

I honestly don’t understand how someone could be “traumatized” by Alan Chambers being in a session that they could just skip.

You seem to have an ax to grind and sound kind of hysterical over this whole thing.

There is no way he would have said many of these things a few years ago.

I don’t know of anything he said that he has not said before — quite some time ago, even.  If that is at issue, it might even make a good post and I will consider that.

What exactly do you mean by “the ends justified the means?”

You say it brought healing to you and others (the ends).  In order to do that, others were hurt, no longer trust GCN, and feel re-traumatized by the entire incident.  Justin claims he had to keep it secret from members, conference goers, and even the BOD, in order to pull it off.  This is largely what caused the trouble and pain.  You seem to think that all this is acceptable because you felt healing — the ends justify the means.

I was at the conference and didn’t see wailing and gnashing of teeth over this.

This and your other comments belittling those who felt traumatized really concern me.  You are coming close to making fun of these people and the entire notion that they were genuinely hurt.  I’m not sure why they were contacting XGW, perhaps because they were getting more solid information from us than their own group, but ask Wendy Gritter if you want to hear about those who were in pain. 

People who feel they have just been dealt a gut punch do not generally show it.  Keeping this thing secret accomplished the intended goal — people who might have an issue with it were kept silent.  However, it is my understanding that even a member of the BOD walked out in disgust.  If you think I’m painting a picture skewed to the negative, you seem equally determined to skew it to the positive. 

You will find noting but praise for GCN and Justin Lee in the XGW archives.  But the fact is he screwed up here and no one should be above scrutiny. 

What exactly do you mean by “the ends justified the means?” What’s wrong with dialogue? I went to a Love Won Out conference years ago and bought the whole line of crap they were selling. If I could have googled Alan Chambers and seen where he made the comments that Justin was a brother in Christ and that 99.9% don’t change their orientation, that would have been huge in waking me up to reality sooner. Granted, Alan will backtrack to a certain extent on the 99.9%, but that comment is still much more enlightening than their old schtick that anyone can become completely straight if they want to.

David, I honestly don’t know why this bothers you so much. I was at the conference and didn’t see wailing and gnashing of teeth over this. It really seems like you’re trying to create a firestorm over this. I love reading this blog, but honestly, as someone who was there, you seem to be blowing this way out of proportion.