Articles tagged with: Wayne Besen
Resources on the “ex-gay” movement
The gay community held an all-day vigil to counter the “ex-gay” conference in Anchorage last weekend, plus a seminar with gay-affirming clergy and mental health professionals, and presentations by Wayne Besen of Truth Wins Out.
Parents, friends and family members who have questions about “reparative therapy” and the ex-gay movement are invited to join PFLAG‘s support meeting, Thursday Sept. 18 at 7 p.m.
Learn about “ex-gays” and the “ex-gay” movement from those who know it best:
- Beyond Ex-Gay – an online community for those who have survived ex-gay experiences
- Ex-Gay Watch – dedicated to monitoring the ex-gay movement
- Truth Wins Out – fighting right wing lies and the “ex-gay” fraud
These civil rights groups have information on the ex-gay movement and tools to help local communities deal with the ex-gay events in their towns (links go to ex-gay pages):
- PFLAG – Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays
- GLAAD – Gay & Lesbian Alliance against Defamation
- Soulforce – Freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious & political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance
- Southern Poverty Law Center – Advocates for Justice and Equality
These LGBT blogs have vast archives on the ex-gays and Focus on the Family:
- Good As You – gay and lesbian activism with a sense of humor
- Box Turtle Bulletin – news, analysis and fact-checking of anti-gay rhetoric
- Pam’s House Blend – … always steamin’
Educate the media: Update on responding to the “ex-gay” conference
Alaska’s GLBT community will respond when the anti-gay Love Won Out seminar comes to Anchorage on Sept. 13. GLBT and progressive groups are planning events to educate the media and the community.
Wayne Besen, founder of Truth Wins Out, is coming to Anchorage to oppose the notorious “ex-gay” event.
“Love Won Out distorts gay life and conflates stereotypes with science, while selling false hope to vulnerable people,” said Besen. “We are looking forward to working with Alaskan advocacy groups to counter Focus on the Family’s false and destructive messages.”
The Anchorage Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) is hosting two events with Besen. He will present a workshop at the Thursday night Soul Food gathering on Sept. 11 ($6, dinner at 6:30, workshop around 7 p.m.) and will speak at the worship service on Sunday, Sept. 14 (service begins at 2 p.m.)
The Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) offered to host an event, and other GLBT-welcoming churches expressed support.
Celtic Diva announced Bloggers Diversity Week, with GLBT Day on Sept. 12, the day before the ex-gay conference. Other Alaskan bloggers have signed on.
Seventy-two people voted in the “How should we respond?” survey here on Bent Alaska! Fifty nine (81%) voted to “Educate the media and community with a presentation or forum.” Twenty-eight (38%) chose to “Show films on the damage done by the ex-gay lies.” Twenty-six (36%) want to “Protest outside the church during the conference.” And nine (12%) said “Don’t bother, just ignore them.”
A sample of the comments I received from community members are posted here: Your Words.
I’ll continue to post updates on our response, on the blog and in the Alaska GLBT News email newsletter.
