The Ex-Gay Theory
Ex-gay groups claim that a man is gay because of a deeper need to have male contact or due to earlier childhood abuse. To these ministries, homosexuality is often associated with sexual impulse and sex addiction, none of which has been substantiated.Organizations such as People Can Change acknowledge that "discovering same-sex attractions can cause tremendous internal conflict and struggle" but claim "it needn't be like that. There are positive alternatives for men who are conflicted over homosexual feelings," feeding into the fear and anxiety of LGBT people seeking ways to reconcile their sexuality with the other portions of their lives and furthering the false notion that being gay is a choice.
Perhaps the most well known ex-gay leader and founder of Exodus, John Paulk once described his "transition" to a heterosexual lifestyle: "I accepted Christ into my life and realized I could leave homosexuality. I learned that homosexuality was reversible. Through faith in Christ and counseling and support, over a four-year period, my homosexuality is greatly subsided." Shortly after, Paulk was spotted and photographed in a D.C. gay bar. He was later removed from his post at Exodus.Perpetuating inaccurate claims that homosexuality can be cured or reversed can increase feelings of isolation and the American Psychological Association warns that sending lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning persons into therapy to "reverse" their same-gender feelings can lead to depression and suicide. It should also be noted that many of the ex-gay couples living heterosexual lifestyles do so in abstinence.
In his book, Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth, Wayne Besen writes, "While the ex-gay ministries help the irresponsible, self-deluded, and self-destructive rebuild their lives, they wreck havoc on normal gay people who get sucked into these dangerous programs."
Besen, the executive director of Truth Wins Out, an organization missioned with exposing ex-gay therapies, also notes: "Showing an honest portrayal of gay life also greatly diminishes the effectiveness of these groups. When people learn that God loves them for who they are and that they can be gay and happy, the appeal of these dangerous groups invariably wanes."
Critics continue to claim that the messages spread by ex-gay organizations create unsafe environments for gay people, increasing the suicide rate among gays as evidenced by recent discoveries by the American Psychological Association.
Resolution
Reparative therapy groups boast success rates of over 50%, but ex-gay watchdogs like Wayne Besen and ExGayWatch.com continue to "out" high profile ex-gay leaders who continue to engage in gay activities.There is an alternative for LGBT teens and adults struggling with their sexuality: The many positive resources and community based centers dedicated to helping glbtq people live positive and affirming lives through real shared experiences not groundless claims.
