This former ‘exgay’ leader realized she was doing more harm than good. She’s now officiating same-sex weddings. – LGBTQ Nation

For years, Wendy Gritter led the ex-gay ministry New Direction (an affiliate of Exodus International), and her mission in life was to “cure” gay people.

She eventually put the pieces together and came to realize she was doing more harm than good, publicly apologizing for the harm she’s done.

And now, she’s clearly working to right her wrongs.




This former ‘exgay’ leader realized she was doing more harm than good. She’s now officiating same-sex weddings. – LGBTQ Nation

PS::  Like Matthew Vines, who I applaud his efforts, I will give kudos where they are due.  BUT,,, I am an anti-theist and I am against any form of institutional religious indoctrination.  I struggle with this aspect being that one can assign any interpretation to the Bile one wants - pro or anti.  While I applaud both their efforts, I have reservation.

ADDENDUM::Survivors Open Up About Trauma Of Gay Conversion Therapy (VIDEO)

After a recent federal report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration called for an end to conversion therapy for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth, survivors of the practice joined HuffPost Live last week to discuss their traumatic experiences.

Josh Sanders told host Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani about taking classes at Exodus International, a large purveyor of ex-gay therapy that was shut down in 2013. There, Sanders underwent reparative therapy, which the report from SAMHSA called dangerous and baseless.

"There are a lot of different extremes when it comes to this form of therapy as well. I've had friends that have experienced electrocution," Sanders said, who himself experienced a "gay exorcism."

"It's not like 'The Exorcist.' It's not like what you see on TV, but a very intense time of prayer, holy water, a dark room with candles," Sanders explained. "It's traumatic and so for me, I experienced religious trauma syndrome ... it's similar to PTSD, so there's triggers that I would have."

Survivors Open Up About Trauma Of Gay Conversion Therapy

Alan Chambers Says ‘Conversion Therapy’ Should Never Be Used On Minors | Truth Wins Out

Chambers said he believed the therapies do damage to people and that minors should not be put through them even as adults should still have the choice.

“What I believe is that when it comes to promising or assuring someone, or causing someone to expect that they’re going to completely eradicate a set of feelings or temptations or desires, I think that sets someone up for tremendous damage, which can cause them shame and guilt,” he said. “I certainly believe we should never be offering [conversion therapy] for minors. For adults, they can decide based on all the facts presented.”

Alan Chambers Says ‘Conversion Therapy’ Should Never Be Used On Minors | Truth Wins Out

Exodus collapse: another ‘gay cure’ crackpot admits he was wrong, and apologises for the damage he did

AFTER 30 years of administering faith-based “gay cure therapies”, the crackpot fundamentalist Exodus ministry finally collapsed in June when its leader, Alan Chamber, admitted that he himself was gay, and apologised to the LGBT community.

He penned a letter saying:

For quite some time we’ve been imprisoned in a worldview that’s neither honoring toward our fellow human beings, nor biblical. From a Judeo-Christian perspective, gay, straight or otherwise, we’re all prodigal sons and daughters.

Chambers added that he had “omitted his ongoing same-sex attractions” while ministering to help gay people “overcome” their sexual orientation.

Now one of former henchmen, Randy Thomas, an ex-Executive VP at Exodus and an ordained minister, has published a lengthy post on his website. Reflecting on Chambers’ apology last month, Thomas writes that he, too, has “been taking a personal moral inventory,” after the suicide of a friend and former lover, whom Thomas calls ‘Michael’.

Exodus collapse: another ‘gay cure’ crackpot admits he was wrong, and apologises for the damage he did

Exodus Rejects Being Labeled 'Reparative Therapy Organization'

Hmmm,,,really now,,,let's hope this is true,,,

Exodus International issued a clarification Tuesday to refute reports that it is a reparative therapy organization. The Christian group asserts that its main focus is not to change a person's sexual orientation.

"As an organization, we do not subscribe to therapies that make changing sexual orientation a main focus or goal," the statement reads.

[,,,]

"We believe in a 'gospel-centric' view, meaning that all people, regardless of individual life struggles, can experience freedom over the power of sin through a daily relationship with Jesus Christ, a commitment to scripture, and by being a part of a vibrant, transparent and relational community of believers found in the local church," Exodus states.

Exodus Rejects Being Labeled 'Reparative Therapy Organization'