Political Crossfire Forums

ToonArmyIsComing · Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 5888 Location: Ontario

This is absolutely disturbing. Now, many will send their kids to these so called "therapies" and some will come out as messed up people. I just feel sorry for the people who are forced to go through this.

Quote: Jerry Falwell endorses 'reparative therapy' for gay kids

Speaking at a conference of Exodus International, the largest religious group promoting the idea that gays can can change their sexual orientation, Rev. Jerry Falwell endorsed forcing gay kids into counseling designed to change their sexual orientation.

Falwell compared allowing a child to identify as gay with allowing children to play on the interstate and dismissed psychologists’ claims that consent is fundamental to a healthy counseling relationship and that parents should not force their gay kids into therapy.

Exodus International’s 30th annual Freedom Conference took place last week at the Baptist Ridgecrest conference center near Asheville, North Carolina.

Around a thousand people participated in the weeklong program that featured workshops on spiritual warfare, fulfilling traditional gender roles and organizing as a political movement.

This years conference had a higher than usual profile because one of Exodus member ministries, Love in Action, is under investigation by the Tennessee Department of Health for violations of state law. Love in Action advertised therapeutic counseling to treat homosexuality as well as drug, alcohol and porn addiction.

Concerns about safety and professionalism at Love in Action
were raised after a 16-year-old Tennessee teen blogged that his parents were forcing him into an unconventional program intended to turn him straight.

http://www.southernvoice.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=1745

Demonic Spoon · Joined: 20 Sep 2004 Posts: 6939 Location: Ohio

Yup. Love in Action. What a loving place.

I wish I was gay, so I could go to Love in Action. Being brainwashed is sooo fun

PrinceJunius · Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 10:31 pm Post subject:

Demonic Spoon wrote: Yup. Love in Action. What a loving place.

I wish I was gay, so I could go to Love in Action. Being brainwashed is sooo fun

Just choose the lifestyle, Demonic Spoon. It's great fun, it really is...

Jay2014 · Joined: 31 May 2005 Posts: 1243

falwell is nuts. this is the faction (religious right) of the republican party that will keep me a happy libertarian.

well, there the neoconservative movement also, but mainly the religious right!

:-D

George W Bush · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2005 12:31 pm Post subject:

Think of reparative therapy as plastic surgery for the mind.
It's worth the try if you're uncomfortable being a certain way.

Though Falwell is a nut (gay teletubbies?) - this idea is good for those who want it.

Otherwise, why would you want to force homosexuality on someone who doesnt want to be that way?

StrangerWitCandy · Joined: 02 Feb 2005 Posts: 5706 Location: Fairfax, VA

is he a repressed homosexual? i mean he is so obsessed with us its almost flattering! :lol:

but on a serious note, yes. this will probably produce some more self-loathing screwed up repressed homosexuals. has anyone seen "One Nation Under God" documentary made in the early 90s? exodus is in that and there are some really crazy people that come out of there... very sad. most of them end up "going gay" again anyways too...

Enoch · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 9371

George W Bush wrote: Think of reparative therapy as plastic surgery for the mind.
It's worth the try if you're uncomfortable being a certain way.

Though Falwell is a nut (gay teletubbies?) - this idea is good for those who want it.

Otherwise, why would you want to force homosexuality on someone who doesnt want to be that way?

With all due respect, I don't understand how you consider homosexuality to be forced on someone. It isn't as though being gay is something that other people choose for you, or that you choose yourself. Being gay is a part of who you are. Nothing can change that. You can deny that you are gay, hide that you are gay, pretend to be straight, and even go as far as marrying a member of the opposite sex and having children. However, in the end, you still have to come to terms with being gay.

For those people who want to change from being gay to being straight, groups like Exodus International are offering little more than false hope. They see these groups as a beacon of hope that they will, one day, be able to rid themselves of the "curse" of being gay. That is all because those people who are seeking the "help" that is being offered have not come to terms with what it is to be gay, or they are dealing with negative influences from outside (bigotry in their family, community, religious group, school, etc).

I feel heartbroken for those men and women who feel that Exodus is an answer, and even worse for those forced to go to it.

Soldier of Humanity · Joined: 04 Mar 2005 Posts: 975 Location: The Royal City

UrielsFyre wrote: George W Bush wrote: Think of reparative therapy as plastic surgery for the mind.
It's worth the try if you're uncomfortable being a certain way.

Though Falwell is a nut (gay teletubbies?) - this idea is good for those who want it.

Otherwise, why would you want to force homosexuality on someone who doesnt want to be that way?

With all due respect, I don't understand how you consider homosexuality to be forced on someone. It isn't as though being gay is something that other people choose for you, or that you choose yourself. Being gay is a part of who you are. Nothing can change that. You can deny that you are gay, hide that you are gay, pretend to be straight, and even go as far as marrying a member of the opposite sex and having children. However, in the end, you still have to come to terms with being gay.

For those people who want to change from being gay to being straight, groups like Exodus International are offering little more than false hope. They see these groups as a beacon of hope that they will, one day, be able to rid themselves of the "curse" of being gay. That is all because those people who are seeking the "help" that is being offered have not come to terms with what it is to be gay, or they are dealing with negative influences from outside (bigotry in their family, community, religious group, school, etc).

I feel heartbroken for those men and women who feel that Exodus is an answer, and even worse for those forced to go to it.
I think he meant forcing heterosexuality on people

Jehan · Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Posts: 3695 Location: Rhode Island

:koo:

MetalLives2 · Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 24

dude thats awesome its about time some one made thearpy for those gays. as far as i am concerned being gay is an abomination and should be punished

George W Bush · Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 11:44 am Post subject:

UrielsFyre wrote: George W Bush wrote: Think of reparative therapy as plastic surgery for the mind.
It's worth the try if you're uncomfortable being a certain way.

Though Falwell is a nut (gay teletubbies?) - this idea is good for those who want it.

Otherwise, why would you want to force homosexuality on someone who doesnt want to be that way?

With all due respect, I don't understand how you consider homosexuality to be forced on someone. It isn't as though being gay is something that other people choose for you, or that you choose yourself. Being gay is a part of who you are. Nothing can change that. You can deny that you are gay, hide that you are gay, pretend to be straight, and even go as far as marrying a member of the opposite sex and having children. However, in the end, you still have to come to terms with being gay.

For those people who want to change from being gay to being straight, groups like Exodus International are offering little more than false hope. They see these groups as a beacon of hope that they will, one day, be able to rid themselves of the "curse" of being gay. That is all because those people who are seeking the "help" that is being offered have not come to terms with what it is to be gay, or they are dealing with negative influences from outside (bigotry in their family, community, religious group, school, etc).

I feel heartbroken for those men and women who feel that Exodus is an answer, and even worse for those forced to go to it.

The fact that you give these people who want to change the "false hope" idea is alot like forcing the issue on them.

When will people admit that human psychiatry and biology are not 100%? Then, you can declare that there can be no "reparative" therapy.
I'm sure you have accepted who you are, but what about the people who dont want to accept who they are?
Are you gonna play expert and declare that their choice is futile?
Thats not right.

George W Bush · Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 11:46 am Post subject:

MetalLives2 wrote: dude thats awesome its about time some one made thearpy for those gays. as far as i am concerned being gay is an abomination and should be punished

Whose punishing them? They are choosing to go. It's an option for them. If anything, its like a reward because they want to change.

StrangerWitCandy · Joined: 02 Feb 2005 Posts: 5706 Location: Fairfax, VA

MetalLives2 wrote: dude thats awesome its about time some one made thearpy for those gays. as far as i am concerned being gay is an abomination and should be punished

:lol: dream on

Enoch · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 9371

George W Bush wrote: UrielsFyre wrote: George W Bush wrote: Think of reparative therapy as plastic surgery for the mind.
It's worth the try if you're uncomfortable being a certain way.

Though Falwell is a nut (gay teletubbies?) - this idea is good for those who want it.

Otherwise, why would you want to force homosexuality on someone who doesnt want to be that way?

With all due respect, I don't understand how you consider homosexuality to be forced on someone. It isn't as though being gay is something that other people choose for you, or that you choose yourself. Being gay is a part of who you are. Nothing can change that. You can deny that you are gay, hide that you are gay, pretend to be straight, and even go as far as marrying a member of the opposite sex and having children. However, in the end, you still have to come to terms with being gay.

For those people who want to change from being gay to being straight, groups like Exodus International are offering little more than false hope. They see these groups as a beacon of hope that they will, one day, be able to rid themselves of the "curse" of being gay. That is all because those people who are seeking the "help" that is being offered have not come to terms with what it is to be gay, or they are dealing with negative influences from outside (bigotry in their family, community, religious group, school, etc).

I feel heartbroken for those men and women who feel that Exodus is an answer, and even worse for those forced to go to it.

The fact that you give these people who want to change the "false hope" idea is alot like forcing the issue on them.

When will people admit that human psychiatry and biology are not 100%? Then, you can declare that there can be no "reparative" therapy.
I'm sure you have accepted who you are, but what about the people who dont want to accept who they are?
Are you gonna play expert and declare that their choice is futile?
Thats not right.

You answered your own question. "but what about the people who don't want to accept who they are?" It is, just that, who they are.

Will I state that every gay man and woman should be forced to come to terms with being gay? No. Will I state that this "therapy" offered by Exodus International is a viable solution? No.

What I am stating is that each person needs to deal with their sexual orientation in their own way. Unfortunately, I do not see groups like Exodus International offering anything in terms of actually helping people. It offers a false hope that has NO basis in psychological counseling. It hurts people far more than it helps them.

While I wouldn't stand in someone's way if they wanted to go to that group, I know that I would feel sorry for them that they feel it is their last resort. However, if that is their way of dealing with it, then it is their decision to make, not mine.

callous · Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 4:15 pm Post subject:

falwell is a sick individual. And should recieve as little press as possible.

Ch33kY · Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 1281

callous wrote: falwell is a sick individual. And should recieve as little press as possible.

Sure is. Sadly this man has a lot of support in the States, and in my nation similar ideas to his are discussed. Very disturbing.

rperez · Joined: 30 Sep 2005 Posts: 1675 Location: Earth

Needless to say this is an absolutely insane idea. Jerry Fallwell is an idiot. Not as bad as Pat Robertson who is even more insane. Frankly, it's disturbing that either of these individuals have any support in our great Country.

F'losrix · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 8:33 am Post subject:

If they thought they could get away with it, they'd probably recommend making reparative therapy a requirement for all gay people. For all the crazy sounding stuff these people spout in public, I can tell you from experience there's a lot more that gets said behind closed doors by people of that mindset that never sees the light of day.

It's easy to dismiss people like Falwell & Robertson as crazy extremists, but foolish to think they have no impact on society or that the number of their followers is insignificant. Never underestimate the power of the misguided to form larger and larger coalitions and effect social/political change. Whenever they do succeed, it just emboldens them to push for something more extreme.

connermt · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 1526 Location: CMH OHIO

:evil: Jerry Falwell :twisted: = :lol: :roll: :gmo:

Sage Orator · Joined: 23 Dec 2005 Posts: 335

There have been cases where the parents basically kidnap the kids and send them to boot camp. Anyway, all of the follow up reports show very little success in these programs. There is originally a rather low number in 33% and then only 30% of those people stay "cured" though the reliability and other factors make the true amount changed much lower than even that.