October 17, 2013

Following is the Freedom of Conscience Defense Funds unabridged News Update entitled “Ten Reasons Why the JONAH Case is Probably the Most Important Religious Liberty Case in the United States at This Time”:

(1) The lawsuit against Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing (“JONAH”) was initiated by the extremist Southern Poverty Law Center (“SPLC”), which has branded many pro-marriage and family groups, including Family Research Council and the American Family Association, as “hate groups.” (more…)

October 16, 2013

The following excerpts are from the report “Ex-Gay Christian Counsellor hounded out by psychotherapist associations” from the Christian Concern website: “The British Psychodrama Association (BPA) has this week removed former homosexual Dr. Mike Davidson from the psychotherapists’ register of trainee professional membership under the direction of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). The decision was made on the basis of just two BBC radio interviews and no complaints from either his clients or his qualified supervisors.”

“Dr Davidson specialises in counselling those who consider themselves troubled by feelings of same-sex attraction as he himself has been in the past. He has counselled without professional objection for six years and is recognised as an intelligent, empathetic and caring therapist. He has recently become a target for gay activists.” (more…)

October 15, 2013

Following is the unabridged report “First Ex-Gay Dinner Celebrated” written by Regina Griggs and copied from the PFOX website: Douglas McIntyre of Homosexuals Anonymous spoke about how far the ex-gay community has come — “Having lunch on Capitol Hill today with many individuals that have shared the same experiences as I, reminded me that we’ve come a long way. When I was boy, not only was I unable to tell anyone what I was going through [experiencing unwanted homosexual feelings] but there was no place to go. No safe group or organization helping people like me. Today, I’m surrounded by friends . . . it’s a day to celebrate what God has done,” said McIntyre.

Greg Quinlan of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays (PFOX) spoke about ex-gay awareness — “I speak out about my experiences because of what I’ve seen. When I was in the gay lifestyle, I buried 100 of my gay friends who died of AIDS before I stopped counting. (more…)

October 15, 2013

The following excerpt is from the article “Sound Science (Not Politics) in the Post Exodus Era” written by Christopher Doyle and published on the Christian Post website: “… misinformation from gay activists, as was seen in Mr. [Gregory T.] Angelo’s article [Gay Rights in the Post Exodus Era], is responsible for the present clouding between science and politics.”

“Mr. Angelo incorrectly cited Exodus International as the ‘standard-bearer’ and Alan Chambers as the ‘poster boy’ for SOCE therapy. However, Exodus International never existed as a therapeutic organization, but rather, a network of faith-based ministries providing support for individuals seeking to leave homosexuality. One must be very careful to distinguish ministerial and pastoral care from professionally trained psychotherapists and psychologists that provide therapeutic services for those who experience unwanted same-sex attractions.”

“Furthermore, to label Chambers, a man with no therapeutic or psychological training, the ‘poster boy’ of the ex-gay movement, especially in light of the fact that he never received psychotherapy to overcome his own same-sex attractions, is disingenuous. It is no secret that Chamber’s poor leadership and lack of resolve to do his own therapeutic work played a significant role in the implosion of Exodus. Neither can Chamber’s or John Paulk’s personal failures speak for the many that have experienced change from a homosexual to a heterosexual orientation. …”

October 14, 2013

The following excerpts are from the Washington Post article “‘Ex-gay’ movement targets Va. universities, demands ‘conversion’ option be offered to gays” by Tom Jackman and Christopher Doyle’s response two days later on the Voice of the Voiceless website: “… But Doyle, who works closely with Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays, claims there are First Amendment and therapeutic issues here: That students have a right to hear from all sides, and that the university should not screen out those whose views they don’t agree with. He also noted that in proper and ethical counseling, ‘You take the client’s goals, and you work with their goals and you don’t impose your own values. It’s supposed to be value neutral.’ The Voiceless website says the group’s mission is ‘to defend the rights of former homosexuals, individuals with unwanted SSA, and their families.’ I think we would all agree that everyone deserves equal rights. And what is SSA? you ask. Same-sex attraction. Nothing to do with that abbreviation backwards. [This appears to be an underhanded slight insinuating that Doyle is an ASS for taking the position that students should be informed that therapy exists that can help a person change unwanted homosexuality] (more…)

October 12, 2013

The following excerpts are from the article “Listen to the New Ex-Gay Anthem” on the World Net Daily website: “A new video performed by singer-songwriter Dennis Jernigan has been picked as the anthem for ‘Ex-Gay Awareness Month,’ … In a testimony accompanying the video, he explains, ‘It is true. I once identified as homosexual. Through an encounter with Jesus Christ, I was given a brand new identity. I am tired of feeling like I have to be quiet about it in today’s culture. My story is my story … and the more I share it, the more I find a great number of men and women who once thought they were homosexual as well. It is time to rise up and declare who and Whose we are…’”

October 10, 2013

The following excerpts are from the article “Ohio State Senator Introduces Legislation to Prohibit SOCE Therapy for Minors” written by Christopher Doyle and published on the Voice of the Voiceless website: Earlier this week, Ohio became the sixth state to introduce legislation to ban therapy for minors who seek to overcome unwanted same-sex attractions (SSA). S.B. No. 188, sponsored by State Senator Charleta Tavares, would make it illegal for a licensed mental health practitioner in Ohio to help a client under 18 change sexual orientation, but would permit that counselor to affirm a client’s homosexual orientation and/or help a client “transition from one gender to another.”

… Once again, we see politicians making unsubstantiated claims that parents are forcing their children into therapy against their will, without any legitimate evidence to back this up. We can only hope that rational, levelheaded politicians in Ohio will ask the tough questions that New Jersey and California legislatures failed to do.

October 10, 2013

Following are excerpts from the article “George Mason University Admits to Discrimination Towards Students with Unwanted SSA” written by Christopher Doyle and published on the Voice of the Voiceless website: “Earlier this week, George Mason University’s (GMU) official student newspaper, Fourth Estate, reported on the discrimination happening at their LGBTQ Resource Center. ‘During his experience at Mason’s LGBTQ resource center, Doyle said he witnessed discrimination in these centers that he thinks has been going on at college campuses across Virginia. Doyle also said he received medically inaccurate advice and biased counseling.’” (more…)

October 2013

The following excerpts are from the article “Leaving My Lesbian Past” written by Charlene E. Hios and published on the Christianity Today website: “… The folks at CPBC [College Park Baptist Church] never initiated the discussion of homosexuality. It was always me who wanted to discuss it. They were more interested in my personal walk with God and my relationship with Jesus. Though they were concerned about my homosexuality, they explained that God would be the one to work on my homosexuality and my belief that God made me that way.”

“… They were the people who talked to me about homosexuality by taking me deeper into the Word of God. They knew they could not argue me out of my homosexuality. The first matter at hand was to introduce me to Jesus Christ, to the Word of God, not to introduce me to heterosexuality. Though I did not realize it at the time, I was in a huge spiritual battle that went on for at least a year, if not longer.” (more…)

October 9, 2013

The following excerpts are from the blog “The Times They Are a Changin. And —?” on Joe Dallas’s website: “But it’s not just the culture that’s shifting. I’m honestly starting to think we have two general Christian populations, co-existing and sometimes overlapping, both claiming to be evangelical Bible believers but not really on the same page. One is black and white regarding scripture, so its doctrinal and moral views are traditional and predictable. The other claims a Biblical base and does, in fact, acknowledge the Bible. But it gets fuzzy on questions of what salvation is and why it’s needed, what awaits us in the next life, and what’s moral versus what’s not. The first group prizes objective truth; the second says truth matters but, in fact, seems to primarily value experience. The first emphasizes the Word; the second considers any form of judging to be among the worst of crimes. And it’s not hard to guess which group gets the most and loudest kudos from the world.” (more…)