Ex-Gay Watch

Wayne Besen points out a bizarre change in the name of the ex-gay organization JONAH. Formerly Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality, JONAH have apparently changed (most) references to their name on the website to Jews Offering New Alternatives to Healing.

(As of writing this article, they have neglected to change it in their header, making the old name visible at the top of internet browsers and in search engines.)

It is no surprise that JONAH would try to revamp their image following two recent scandals, but it is a surprise that they have chosen a name that makes no sense. As an ex-gay outreach, they try to offer an alternative to homosexuality, but the alternative is healing — or so they claim. “Alternatives to Healing” makes no sense in this context. But then again, nor do the empty promises of ex-gay therapy, and even a shiny new logo and a name change will not alter that.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c Gay Reichs www.thedailyshow.com Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

Hat Tip: BTB

Truth Wins Out’s Wayne Besen has challenged Alan Downing to take a lie detector test following claims that he engaged in sexual misconduct with two male clients:

In light of his public denial, Truth Wins Out offered to pay for both a polygraph and a No Lie MRI for Downing, so he can prove his alleged innocence. … We believe that Alan Downing is not telling the truth and that his brain would light up like a Menorah if he took a No Lie MRI.

I’m not convinced either lie detector test is the way to go. No evidence exists that the polygraph is reliable, and investigations into the validity of MRI (or fMRI) method of lie detection, despite having generally positive results, are still at an early stage.

Of course,  Besen’s motivation is equally or mostly to get the allegations out in the open, which is fair enough. But if Downing is guilty of this unsavory sexual abuse, a court–not a machine–will do the work of proving it.

Two men have accused Alan Downing, a life coach with Richard Cohen’s ex-gay International Healing Foundation, of using sexually inappropriate therapy techniques, according to Truth Wins Out.

On separate occasions, Downing allegedly asked Ben Unger and Chaim Levin to undress in front of a mirror and fondle their genitals while he watched, saying this would help them affirm their masculinity.

Downing is a close associate of JONAH, the Jewish ex-gay organization whose leader Arthur Abba Goldberg was exposed as a convicted Wall Street felon earlier this year. He has also run courses and retreats for the controversial Mankind Project., and worked with the gay-to-straight outreach People Can Change and its affiliate Journey into Manhood.

Downing is ex-gay, but admits he is still attracted to men, according to TWO.

First Goldberg, then George Rekers, and now Downing–they’re falling fast this year.

See also Wayne Besen’s follow-up editorial at Huffington Post: Ex-Gay Therapy Is Scandalous.

-The National Organization for Marriage’s summer marriage tour continues to draw embarrassingly small turnouts in Albany, Providence, Trenton, Annapolis and Columbus.

-Warsaw, Poland hosts the 2010 EuroPride festival.

-President Mary McAleese signs Ireland’s civil partnership bill into law.

-Gay teen Derrick Martin organizes Project LifeVest to help other LGBT teenagers facing discrimination.

-Two former clients of ex-gay counselor Alan Downing accuse him of sexual misconduct.

-The United Nations grants consultative status to the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission.

-Outed California State Senator Roy Ashburn apologizes for his past opposition to gay rights.

-Rob Tisinai takes fellow activists to task for taking cheap shots at Maggie Gallagher’s weight.

-Lt. Dan Choi is formally discharged under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

-The ACLU sues the state of Montana for legal recognition for same-sex couples.

-A gay man is severely beaten outside of a nightclub in downtown Albuquerque.

-Comic-Con attendees upstage Westboro Baptist’s latest demonstration in San Diego.

-Manhattan borough president Scott Stringer announces plans to marry in Connecticut to protest New York’s lack of marriage equality.

-The University of Illinois decides not to renew the contract of a professor who spoke negatively of gays and lesbians.

-The Southern Nevada Health District severs its relationship with Canyon Ridge Christian Church due to the church’s ongoing partnership with anti-gay Ugandan pastor Martin Ssempa.

-Many Tea Party activists support the court decision striking down portions of the Defense of Marriage Act.

-Argentina becomes the first Latin American nation to legalize same-sex marriage.

-The Washington, DC Court of Appeals upholds the city’s rejection of an attempt to repeal marriage equality via ballot initiative.

-Georgia Republican gubernatorial candidate Karen Handel displays her prejudice against gay couples.

-A group of US House Democrats reiterate their support for comprehensive immigration reform including protections for LGBT couples.

-The National Organization for Marriage draws minimal turnout on the first two stops of its “Summer for Marriage” tour.

-Luxembourg’s Governing Council takes a step in the direction of marriage equality.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Well said.

Hat Tip: BTB

An article from the UK’s Daily Mail bears this title: How I went from committed lesbian to a happily married mother of four. It describes British comedienne Jackie Clune’s winding testimonial as a woman who, once “committed” to her lesbian identity, decided to “try men again” after growing tired of lousy relationships and rigid, self-imposed stereotypes. In a 2005 article from The Times entitled Love, etc. Clune called lesbian culture “dictatorial and intimidating” and “the opposite of the sapphic fluffy nirvana [she] expected.” She married a man and finally had a family, something she “never thought possible” as a lesbian.

The title of the article has the first red flag. Clune describes her girlfriends and her former self as being “committed lesbians.” As if being attracted to the same sex makes one a member of a club they then must commit to. This is as absurd as thinking that when one comes out they are given a copy of the mysterious “Gay Agenda™” or that if they “convert” others into members they’ll be rewarded with new toasters. More stereotypes and generalizations follow. At first attracted to men as a young woman, at age 22 Clune made a very important conscious decision.

I had studied feminist literature at university and it opened my eyes to the possibility of sexuality as a life choice.

She then “threw [her]self into the fullblown lesbian lifestyle – gay clubs, bars and pubs:”

From 1988 until 2000 I lived in lesbian households, drank in lesbian pubs, went on gay rights marches and viewed my long-term future as being exclusively with women.

During those 12 years she entered into several long-term committed relationships with women. Usually, if it’s a male ex-gay telling the story, they’ll say they entered into multiple short-term sex-centric trysts with men, because this is what is stereotypical. But among female gays, it is the long-term relationship that is the stereotype, and it comes with its own set of constricting features. This is just the beginning of Clune’s stereotypes and sweeping generalizations.

The women I went out with were by and large more inclined to be insecure and to need reassurance and I found myself in the male role of endlessly reassuring my girlfriends.

She complains of having terrible, “turbulent,” “exhausting” relationships with women – as if this is unique to lesbian relationships.

Back home, we would then spend the next four hours arguing about our relationship and my feelings of loyalty, fidelity and so on. It was never-ending. It may sound prosaic but when you add female hormones into the mix, the problems are even worse. Can you imagine waking up beside a woman when you’ve both got raging PMT?

Wow, it’s a wonder they even let us gals vote. But Clune goes further, blaming lesbians outright for their own woes.

I also believe the very fact of being in a lesbian relationship adds to the problems of jealousy and insecurity. With so few role models and no cultural support, it’s hard to know how to behave or what expectations are reasonable.

Well, as time goes on, there are many more role models and much more cultural support. But the solution to the problem is stated right there: Be more supportive of someone’s same-sex relationship and provide more positive role models. Other people’s negative reaction to a gay relationship can hardly be blamed on the people in the relationship. They’re only doing what is natural to them, and harming no one else.

Don’t worry, Clune views the male set with just as much disdain.

I am convinced that while men are usually entirely driven by sex when it comes to choosing a mate, women are often attracted more by the emotional side of the relationship and I was excited by the close bond a relationship with another female could bring.
…
Unlike most men, women, of course, offer each other endless support and there’s hardly ever any lack of communication.

She gives lip service to the state of bisexuality, but refuses to apply it to herself, “certainly not now that [she's] married,” because doing so implies that she would cheat on her husband with another woman. Apparently if you’re heterosexually married that’s supposed to evaporate any sexual feelings for anybody other than your partner, forever. But Clune describes her “committed lesbian” self, whether she realizes it or not, as bisexual: It’s not that I stopped liking men, just that I felt a relationship with a woman would be a richer experience. After all, given the choice I would choose a woman over a man for a really great chat, an inspiring conversation or to share emotional problems with. A physical relationship with a woman seemed a logical progression. [emphasis mine]

“All men are this, all lesbians are that” seems to be her schtick, in not so many words. Same-sex attraction for her was her entire identity, replete with stereotypical lesbian relationships, bar and pub hopping, and militant dykiness. In the words of Katy Perry, she “just wanted to try [it] on.” And try she did, for 12 years, engaging in a rigid stereotypical lifestyle that would leave anyone tired.

A quick Google search shows that several anti-gay news sites and blogs have picked up Clune’s story, labeling her an ex-gay, even though she admits she never was truly gay and does not give herself any label except “straight.”

The article is featured at the Exodus blog and ex-gay Randy Thomas is delighted, of course. He feels it confirms his belief in his version of a “post-gay world.” But he is only reiterating his incorrect use of “post-gay.” Peterson Toscano, well-versed in Queer Theory, explains its true meaning in a thorough blog post. Randy (and Peter Ould, who first attempted to re-coin the term) use post-gay as a label for someone who tries to change their sexual orientation but is unsuccessful. The term post-gay is one that sounds like said person is “over” calling themselves gay and having gay sexual activities, but not quite able to honestly call themselves straight (or even opposite-sex attracted). People like Randy and Clune only see being attracted to the same sex in terms of specific aspects of gay culture, such as Pride parades and gay-centric clubs.

But what Clune describes is far from “post-gay” – it is a world obsessed with labels and roles.

-London mayor Boris Johnson comes out in support of marriage equality.

-Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle vetoes the state’s civil unions bill.

-Britain’s Supreme Court rules that gay immigrants who fear violent retribution in their home countries have a right to asylum.

-The Presbyterian Church USA moves toward greater inclusion of its gay and lesbian members.

-Jonathan Rauch raises controversy by arguing that civil rights don’t always trump the will of the majority.

-A federal judge rules that portions of the Defense of Marriage Act are unconstitutional.

-The Pentagon distributes a survey on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell to 400,000 service members.

-NBC’s Today Show opens its Modern Day Wedding Contest to same-sex couples.

-Anti-gay icon Anita Bryant schedules an appearance at a rally in Oklahoma City.

-The Montana Republican Party joins its Texas counterpart in calling for the reinstatement of sodomy laws.

-The National Organization for Marriage aligns itself with anti-gay activist Louis Marinelli.

-The US Supreme Court refuses to grant legal immunity to the Vatican in child sexual abuse lawsuits.

-Henry Schalizki and Bob Davis get married in Washington, DC after 62 years together.

-The US Supreme Court rules that a California law school can legally deny recognition to student groups that discriminate against gays.

-A group of doctors experiment with a treatment they think can prevent homosexuality in female babies.

-TWO’s Evan Hurst reports from a rally hosted by anti-gay evangelist Lou Engle.

-The Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously upholds the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.

-Members of the Marin Foundation practice reconciliation at the Chicago Pride parade.

-Google to compensate gay and lesbian employees for the taxes they have to pay on domestic partner benefits.

-The Irish government passes a civil partnership bill.

-The British Medical Association recommends that the National Health Service not fund conversion therapy.