Inside A Boot Camp That 'Cures' Homosexuality

"How many of you are in need of some hope here tonight?" A murmur passes through the dark auditorium, pleasing the man with the microphone. Heads nod. "How many of you are at the end of your rope?" he continues. "How many are ready for an encounter with the Lord?" The man on stage, dressed in chinos and a crisp white shirt, is Alan Chambers. The clean-cut, married father of two is the leader of Exodus International, an organisation that believes it can help people to "find freedom from homosexuality through the love of Jesus Christ".

Exodus is one of the ministries of the so-called "ex-gay" movement, a controversial fundamentalist Christian campaign that encourages gay people to renounce their sexuality. This, its annual conference, promises "an amazing week of breakthroughs, transformations and healings". A Christian rock band begins to play and the 800 men and women who moments earlier seemed to have only awkwardness in common begin singing and clapping in unison. Eyes closed, they raise their hands above their heads, uplifted by the hope of being reborn.

Keep reading.

-Or-

Read about how Sarah Palin's church, The Wasilla Bible Church, promoted a conference that promised to convert homosexuals to heterosexuals with the power of prayer.

Comments

[suejester]

Why do these radical fundementalist constructionist Christians think they can help "pray the gay away" Why don't these irrational groups do something positive like "Curing Hatred, bigotry, and ignorance"?

You can't cure homosexuality no more then you cure heterosexuality. These aren't diseases. Hate is taught and learned.

It's so cliche, but I thought Christianity was suppose to promote peace and acceptance. "Love thy neighbor as you love yourself".

I am sure I screwed up the quote since I do not participate in a religion that is hell bent on hatred towards others. I am speaking specifically about contructionist, fundemental, catholism forms of Christiani­ty..

I know not all forms of Christianity based their practice in hate speech and discrimination. Some of my best friends are Christians­...

[hypnotoad72]

Hmm. Why do people opt to seek out 'Exodus' in the first place?

That seems a question rarely asked; the usual politics and typical dog barking being far more... fun?

[hypnotoad72]

I wonder why so many GLBT people opt to turn to Exodus in the first place...

Wait, that's actually asking a question. Can't have that... sorry folks...

[OsamaBushLadin]

If you want to see an example of the properly run training camp, rent Clockwork Orange and watch the end. That's how real men do it.

[Hirnlego]

"How many are ready for an encounter with the Lord?"

Like these people actually could actually help..

[realpolitic]

The leader of this camp confesses: "Am I in denial?” he asks. “Absolutely. I live a life of denial and I love it. I didn't choose my same-sex feelings but I do choose how I'm going to steward them. Freedom is possible.” At Exodus people are not gay; they “struggle with same-sex attraction” "

Heterosexuals can also choose to live a life of abstinence. But such a decision is very different than leading a live of being honest about one's sexuality. These individuals instead of trying to displace their feelings, which they probably tortur themselves over, should learn to accept their orientation. Then they can have open and mature relationships based on honesty. Former ex-New Jersey Governor Jim McCreevey took this route and admitted his own gay orientation when faced with sexual harassment charges from a male colleague. I bet he feeels a weight off his shoulders.

[Seacliff]

Why are Evangelical Christians so damned obsessed with homosexuals? There are so many other "sinners" to hate based on their biblical beliefs!

Why limit your depraved hatred to just the one group?

[LorettaSingbiel]

"Why limit your depraved hatred to just the one group?"

Actually, the RADICAL religious HAVEN'T limited their HATRED to just one group ...

According to their blessed Bible ...

Native Americans were "savages"
African Americans were "slaves"
Female Americans were "submissive servants"

Gay Americans are "sinners"

And if Pious Palin sets foot in OUR White House ... in the blink of an eye ...

She'll WINK all open gays back in their place in "therapy" and the closet until "cured".
She'll WINK all women back in their place in the kitchen and bedroom until barefoot and pregnant.

I will NOT PERMIT OUR Constitution to be "changed" into THEIR BIBLE!!!

TAX all these religious institutions ... and use the extra tax revenue to fund UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE ... FORCING them to ACTUALLY DO what their Jesus PREACHES ... "Help the poor among you"!!!

[pons1595]

As a gay man I am appalled at the religious perversions like this. The depth of stupidity and rancor this represents is overwhelming. I was raised a Roman Catholic in the 1950's. It told me my homosexuality was not a sin itself, but acting on it was. I am no longer a Roman Catholic.

[samguy]

no cure for this gay men. hell, i was checking on the abs on the jesus in the pic!

[BobSF94117]

I wonder if anyone has done a survey of suicides following this roadshow of horrors as it travels the country.

Poor folks. So much pointless suffering.

[BandsofBlack]

It would be laughable, but religion does a lot of damage.

http://www.affirmation.org/suicides/

[Jinxykb]

My brother was in Exodus for a year, and guess what? HE'S STILL GAY! JEezy CrEezy!

[MarkBoston]

As a happy, well adjusted, American, Gay Male .... This group is just about as abhorrent as it gets. I am Outraged that these Religious Fanatics spout off such mental illness and Bullshit as IF they were The absolute unmitigated, the zenith of the Human race. By their own belief system, God should smite them all for having such vanity and pride in believing that THEY know better than the very God they believe in, to mess around with His master plan of human sexuality . They want you to think that a French Man born and raised in Paris knows less about being French than some smart ass in Bullcockie TX . STOP MESSING with My life and try to get yourselves out of that pious gutter you all live in. I like what GIDSTER said ... Where is the camp that cures the religion off of you?

[Zao]

Like believing creationism too literally, ex-gay therapy is a case where religion can clash with science, and also just plain common sense. Or, you can make them fit together if you are heaven-bent on being a Christian. Because science is incomplete regarding a total understanding or the origin of sexual orientation, it is no reason to ignore it completely.

The latest findings show that 2nd born (and thereafter) males, have a much greater incidence of turning out gay, since it is believed a hormone that is secreted in the neonatal period, which influences brain development, can be delivered in a smaller amount after a mother’s first birth.

1. Then, even if a person is brought up Christian, they can at least start with “God made me gay. I’ll learn to live with dignity and acceptance­.”

2. A gay person doesn’t have to BLAME their overbearing mother, or absent father, or THEMSELVES, for having made “a choice” at some pivotal point. That is patently absurd and can make a person feel crazy.

A good Christian rationale for a gay person is to think: “Jesus didn’t have anything to say about being gay, and yet here it is a very important struggle in my life. Well, must be He was either fine with it, or I’m just going to have to grow up and figure out some of these things for myself, be true to myself.”

[Gidster]

Where is the camp that cures the religion off of you?

[bmermaid]

Yes, that would be much more productive & responsible.
"just say no" to stupid religious ideas that make you feel bad about yourself, or justify hatred of others.