Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

davidn3600

(6,342 posts)
Sat Jun 22, 2013, 01:59 AM Jun 2013

Gay Conversion Ministry Shuts Down

Exodus International, a Christian ministry that long promoted gay conversion therapy, is shutting its doors and apologizing to the gay community for "years of undue judgment."

The leaders of Exodus seem to have embraced the view of mainstream psychologists that trying to "cure" homosexuality is ineffective, unethical and often destructive.

"For quite some time we've been imprisoned in a worldview that's neither honoring toward our fellow human beings, nor biblical," Exodus president Alan Chambers said in a statement Thursday (June 20) announcing that the Florida-based organization, founded in 1976, would shut down. [5 Surprising Facts About Gay Conversion Therapy]

A day earlier, Chambers issued a lengthy apology on the group's website:

"I am sorry for the pain and hurt many of you have experienced. I am sorry that some of you spent years working through the shame and guilt you felt when your attractions didn't change. I am sorry we promoted sexual orientation change efforts and reparative theories about sexual orientation that stigmatized parents. I am sorry that there were times I didn't stand up to people publicly 'on my side' who called you names like sodomite — or worse. I am sorry that I, knowing some of you so well, failed to share publicly that the gay and lesbian people I know were every bit as capable of being amazing parents as the straight people that I know."


http://news.yahoo.com/gay-conversion-ministry-shuts-down-172531182.html
3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Gay Conversion Ministry Shuts Down (Original Post) davidn3600 Jun 2013 OP
Forgive me for my lack of education but KentuckyWoman Jun 2013 #1
Yes. Needless to say they were not well loved here. sibelian Jun 2013 #2
YES! YAY! you could tell something was amiss when their cure wasnt medical but JEEEEEESUS. nt boilerbabe Jun 2013 #3

KentuckyWoman

(6,688 posts)
1. Forgive me for my lack of education but
Sat Jun 22, 2013, 03:44 AM
Jun 2013

Do I understand this whole thing correctly....... some "Christian" group thought they could cure gayness?

I've heard some really stupid things since I started paying more attention to the outside world but this one ranks near the top. That's just mind boggling.

sibelian

(7,804 posts)
2. Yes. Needless to say they were not well loved here.
Sat Jun 22, 2013, 04:21 AM
Jun 2013

Frankly, as a gay man, I'm not particularly swayed by their recent apologetic stance.
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Gay Conversion Ministry S...