Conservative MO lawmaker says child abuse made him gay — for 5 years

I am struggling mightily with this story.  I abhor the trauma he suffered as a child and applaud his candor but his "ex-gay" claims,,,. You are either gay or your not, to equate sexual dysfunction stemming from abuse, to homosexuality is plain wrong.  As he readily admits, he was "confused".  But the suggestion that gay people are suffering from confusion from childhood molestation is not only a myth, but highly offensive to the LGBT community, a majority of whom have never been molested.

In the end this is one story that exemplifies why politics can be a dirty game and I loathe any opponent he may face that attempts to throw this life experience in his face.  But then again, is Dixon working the system for the "cry-me-a-river" vote?

Regretfully it appears that both he and his mother - her son’s homosexuality caused her great distress and,,, - are regurgitating one of the many myths of the religious right, that one can "pray away the gay".  Sexual orientation is not set by childhood abuse and to seek solace in the arms of abusive, repressive doctrine is sad.

The campaign for governor hopeful Sen. Bob Dixon issued a statement regarding “teenage confusion” that Dixon’s mother says led him to live as a homosexual for five years.

Dixon, who stressed his conservative values in announcing his candidacy for governor last week, said he was the victim of abuse as a child, and this abuse led to the confusion he felt about his sexuality as a teenager, according to a press release from his campaign.

“I have put the childhood abuse, and the teenage confusion behind me,” said Dixon, R-Springfield, who has a wife and three children. “What others intended for harm has resulted in untold good. I have overcome, and will not allow evil to win.”

Conservative MO lawmaker says child abuse made him gay — for 5 years

Updated to add:

Who wouldn't convert with a mother such as this:

Dixon said her son attempted suicide prior to his gay conversion, while admitting that — for her — it was difficult to accept his homosexual lifestyle.

“It had been a heartache I had to deal with, and it was a tough one,” Jean Dixon explained.