Glenn Shadix and Wayne Besen put ex-gay programs in their place

November 6, 11:12 AMBirmingham Gay Community ExaminerJoe Openshaw

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On Thursday night, November 5, 2009, an event took place at the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Hill Center which featured Glenn Shadix and Wayne Besen of Truth Wins Out speaking about the ex-gay industry.

This event was part of a response to Focus on the Family and Exodus International bringing their road show, Love Won Out, to Birmingham on Saturday.

Glenn spoke first, and told for the first time in public his personal story of agreeing as a young teen to enter a program of "aversion therapy" at UAB.  In 1970, Glenn says, homosexuality was listed as a mental illness and doctors believed it should be treated as such, and used a variety of methods many of which are now viewed as barbaric.

Glenn said he agreed to such treatment because he had been taught that homosexuality was wrong, he was threatened with disassociation with his siblings, and he had a belief that doctors were gods who could fix anything.

Being forced to look at male pornography and being shocked with increasing voltage until the pain was greater than the pleasure was part of his treatment.  He knew that was not working, and after a period of time he attempted to take his life.

Only after this did his stepfather change course and offer acceptance, if not understanding, telling him he wanted him to be whoever he wanted to be and that he just wanted him to live.

Glenn spoke of the love in his family since the failed ex-gay experience, and what a wonderful life he has had since then.  He made the point that ex-gay treatments as they were known back then, just like ex-gay treatments and ministries of today, do not work, and cause great harm.

Glenn received a well deserved standing ovation after he spoke.  If you missed Glenn's story, read it here.

Next Wayne Besen spoke and along with a video presentation he made a solid case that Focus on the Family and Exodus International are committing fraud by offering programs like Love Won Out. The founding members and poster children of these and other similar programs have returned to their natural orientations and  have admitted that the programs do not result in change.  They have contributed to harm both here in America and in other counties such as Uganda.

These programs offer no statistics to back up their claims because their success rate is absolute zero.

Wayne also documented how the ex-gay programs mis-use the research of scientists and showed video of several scientists asking them to stop.

He showed the hypocrisy of their movement and the foolishness of their leaders, and left those in attendance wondering why?  Why, a questioner asked, do these programs exist?

Frankly, there is no good answer.  Why do the programs exist?  They are a sham, a fraud, and in some cases criminal.

Wayne left a booklet called "Ex-Gay & The Law," produced by Truth Wins Out and Lambda Legal which explains what is wrong with the programs and what legal rights those harmed by them may have, and these vary by the state in which the harm occurred and the specific facts of the case.  But anyone who has gone through one of these programs should pick up the booklet and see if they think there is a basis for legal action.  (I will try to keep some booklets on hand...contact me).

Wayne also received a standing ovation after his presentation.

The event ended with a call for participants in Saturday's Silent Demonstration/Prayer Vigil near the site of Saturday's Love Won Out conference in Hoover (2800 Metropolitan Way).  Protesters will gather along the roadway at 7:15 AM before participants in the conference arrive with signs that offer love and hope and that indicate the failings of the ex-gay ministries (be creative, and respectful).  We will return around 11:00 as the conference breaks for lunch hoping to have an opportunity to speak with some participants who are questioning why they are there.

To read Wayne Besen's editorial in the Birmingham News click here.