“We’re here. And we’re not queer,” pronounced host Christopher Doyle on Monday night as he introduced the First Annual Ex-Gay Awareness Reception in Washington D.C.
Held during “Ex-Gay Pride Month,” the reception is just one example of a growing groundswell movement of faith-based former homosexuals publicly standing up for their rights against harsh criticism and harassment from the broader LGBTQ community.
This first-ever ex-gay reception was co-sponsored by Doyle’s non-profit organization, Voice of the Voiceless (VOV), which advocates for the rights of former homosexuals and encourages faith-based communities to love and support individuals dealing with unwanted same-sex attraction. Also co-hosting this unprecedented gathering of ex-gay community members was the Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX), a national organization dedicated to supporting ex-gays and their family members.
Mat Staver, Dean of the Liberty University School of Law and Founder of Liberty Counsel, was one such evangelical figure honored for his work alongside the ex-gay community. Together, VOV and PFOX awarded Staver the 2013 Ex-Gay Pride Freedom Award for his work as lead Counsel in Pickup v. Brown, which directly challenges the California ban on change therapy and forbids any counseling to minors seeking to shed their same-sex attraction or identity.
VOV expressed that the Ex-Gay Pride Freedom Award is presented annually to an individual who boldly defends “free speech, religious liberty, and the self-determination of former homosexuals seeking to overcome unwanted same-sex attraction.”
Upon awarding Staver the first 2013 Freedom Award recipient, Doyle announced:
We are thrilled to honor Dean Staver at the First Annual Ex-Gay Pride Celebration. He has been a champion in defending the freedoms of clients who pursue counseling to overcome unwanted same-sex attractions (SSA) and has tirelessly advocated for their God-given right of self-determination and Constitutional rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I can’t think of a better person to receive this award!
As for Christopher Doyle, he shared with IRD that he grew up in the Pentecostal/charismatic church and accepted Jesus when he was five years old. Today, he and his wife attend a “non-denominational grace-filled evangelical” church. And when asked how the evangelical community should respond to their gay neighbors, Doyle explained:
We need to love everyone regardless of their behavior and lifestyle choices, listen to their pain, and welcome them into our churches. However, we should not dilute the truth that 1) No one is born with homosexual feelings; 2) No one chooses to experience homosexual feelings; and 3) Change is possible. Ultimately, to adopt a “gay” identity is a choice that a person with same-sex attractions (SSA) makes. Somewhere along the line, they chose to embrace a “gay” identity instead of an identity in Christ, and rather than seeking to understand the meaning of their SSA and healing the wounds that lead to these feelings, they embraced and accepted that “gay” was who they are.
Assemblies of God minister and former President of PFOX, Greg Quinlan, was also among the evangelical leaders honored. Quinlan, a former homosexual, boldly spoke to the audience about the hypocrisy of the LGBTQ community’s refusal to recognize the existence of ex-gays. Regarding the extreme harassing treatment ex-gays received Quinlan stated:
While the media look the other way, the ex-gay community is being harassed and publicly denounced by unforgiving gay activists because of our unpopular sexual orientation.
However, Quinlin, PFOX, and VOV remain undeterred by gay activists’ bullying and continue to affirm that homosexuals can and do change to heterosexual orientations.
Harassment was clearly evidenced when gay activists tried to intimidate VOV and PFOX into cancelling the event. Originally scheduled for July, the reception was forced to change dates and venues after homosexuals threatened to use violence as a means of protest, according to Christopher Doyle. Harassment further ensued when gay leaders learned that political figures including former Senator Jim DeMint, Congresswoman Michele Bachman (R-MN), and Congressman Tim Heulskamp (R-KS) were listed among invited guests. Due to the massive number of threats, VOV and PFOX altered their guest list.
Apparently, ex-gays are truly the “tolerant, progressive” ones.
Comment by Tom on October 6, 2013 at 3:12 am
No probs with the central theme of the article, but as a side note, there is a frustrating inconsistency in the message from these groups on the question of change in sexual orientation. Granted it’s not a straight-forward matter, but still…
On the one hand we have statements such as above that “Quinlin, PFOX, and VOV … continue to affirm that homosexuals can and do change to heterosexual orientations.” and on the other hand, on the VOV website, we have statements such as “Unfortunately, not everyone who experiences unwanted SSA and seeks change is successful.” (http://www.voiceofthevoiceless.info/how-exodus-international-should-apologize-to-the-ex-gay-community/)
I wish that people would finally dump the “change is possible” slogan. It contains elements of truth, but ultimately it’s misleading. It’s misleading because although a degree of orientation change is not unrealistic, a complete change of sexual orientation is uncommon even for the most devoted Christian. And yes, a change in behavior is entirely possible, but many interpret the phrase “change is possible” to be about more than behaviour.
Comment by Carol on October 6, 2013 at 2:59 pm
What’s your problem with change Tom? VoV website people are very authentic. Although they themselves are living proof of the obvious possibility of change, still there are people who are not motivated into change and you can only expect their failure in any SOCE before even trying. I encourage you to learn more about SOCE before falling in traps of believing biased media. VoV men are for real. God bless 🙂
Comment by CKG on October 7, 2013 at 10:16 am
I guess I don’t see any inconsistency between the two statements, “homosexuals can and do change to heterosexual orientations,” and “not everyone who experiences unwanted SSA and seeks change is successful.” Some can and do change; others aren’t succesful. Where’s the ‘misleading’ in that?
If someone experiences SSA as problematic, shouldn’t they at least be allowed to try to effect such change as is possible for them?
Comment by joey on October 7, 2013 at 7:33 pm
Why try to fix something that isn’t broken?