October 15, 2013

The following excerpt is from the article “Sound Science (Not Politics) in the Post Exodus Era” written by Christopher Doyle and published on the Christian Post website: “… misinformation from gay activists, as was seen in Mr. [Gregory T.] Angelo’s article [Gay Rights in the Post Exodus Era], is responsible for the present clouding between science and politics.”

“Mr. Angelo incorrectly cited Exodus International as the ‘standard-bearer’ and Alan Chambers as the ‘poster boy’ for SOCE therapy. However, Exodus International never existed as a therapeutic organization, but rather, a network of faith-based ministries providing support for individuals seeking to leave homosexuality. One must be very careful to distinguish ministerial and pastoral care from professionally trained psychotherapists and psychologists that provide therapeutic services for those who experience unwanted same-sex attractions.”

“Furthermore, to label Chambers, a man with no therapeutic or psychological training, the ‘poster boy’ of the ex-gay movement, especially in light of the fact that he never received psychotherapy to overcome his own same-sex attractions, is disingenuous. It is no secret that Chamber’s poor leadership and lack of resolve to do his own therapeutic work played a significant role in the implosion of Exodus. Neither can Chamber’s or John Paulk’s personal failures speak for the many that have experienced change from a homosexual to a heterosexual orientation. …”

October 14, 2013

The following excerpts are from the Washington Post article “‘Ex-gay’ movement targets Va. universities, demands ‘conversion’ option be offered to gays” by Tom Jackman and Christopher Doyle’s response two days later on the Voice of the Voiceless website: “… But Doyle, who works closely with Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays, claims there are First Amendment and therapeutic issues here: That students have a right to hear from all sides, and that the university should not screen out those whose views they don’t agree with. He also noted that in proper and ethical counseling, ‘You take the client’s goals, and you work with their goals and you don’t impose your own values. It’s supposed to be value neutral.’ The Voiceless website says the group’s mission is ‘to defend the rights of former homosexuals, individuals with unwanted SSA, and their families.’ I think we would all agree that everyone deserves equal rights. And what is SSA? you ask. Same-sex attraction. Nothing to do with that abbreviation backwards. [This appears to be an underhanded slight insinuating that Doyle is an ASS for taking the position that students should be informed that therapy exists that can help a person change unwanted homosexuality] (more…)

September 11, 2013

Excerpt from the World Net Daily article “Law banning therapy for ‘unwanted attractions’ challenged”: … “Mathew Staver, chief counsel of Liberty Counsel, said the minors he represents ‘do not want to act on same-sex attractions, nor do they want to engage in such behavior. … They are greatly benefiting from this counseling. Their grades have gone up, their self-esteem has improved, and their relationships at home are much improved,’ he said”

“Staver said legislators and judges in California ‘have essentially barged into the private therapy rooms of victimized young people and told them that their confusion, caused by the likes of a Jerry Sandusky abuser, is normal and they should pursue their unwanted and dangerous same-sex sexual attractions and behavior, regardless of whether those minors desire their religious beliefs to trump their unwanted attractions.’” …

September 2, 2013

Following are excerpts from Christopher Doyle’s article “9th Circuit Court of Appeals Avoids the Real Question of SOCE Ban” on the Voice of the Voiceless website:… “At the crux of the Court’s opinion, they decided that SOCE is subject to rational basis review, which means that the law will not be overturned on constitutional grounds if the legislature enacted it for any good reason. If a standard of rational basis review is applied, the Court will provide no constitutional protection for the issue at hand as it is always possible to find some reason, no matter how small or controversial, for a law to be enacted.”

… “Thus, in the Court’s decision to employ rational basis review, they essentially punted on the question as to whether the basis of the law was actually legitimate: … This is perhaps the most troubling statement of all. The Court, in its use of rational basis review, completely disregarded the task of deciding whether there was sufficient evidence to ban a particular form of treatment. (more…)

August 30, 2013

The following excerpts are from Fay Voshell’s article “Conversion Therapy Law Threatens Christians” on AmericanThinker.com: “When Chris Christie signed a law against conversion therapy directed at counseling teens experiencing homoerotic feelings, he probably didn’t think he had just put New Jersey on a path similar to countries like Saudi Arabia, which forbids conversion from the prevailing Muslim faith.”

“But forbidding efforts to convert is essentially what the governor did. He expressly forbade conversion from the prevailing progressive religion, whose chief doctrine is that sexual behavior, including the homoerotic behavior of some children, is a sacred, infallible, and therefore unchangeable indicator of what human identity entails.” (more…)

August 29, 2013

Following is “NARTH Statement” reprinted in its entirety: NARTH finds today’s ruling by the court to be disappointing and plans to appeal this decision. If left standing, this ruling will constitute a serious intrusion by government on the freedom of minors and their families to choose their desired form of psychological care.

At a time when adolescents who experience themselves as being the wrong biological sex are allowed to pursue sexual reassignment surgery, licensed therapists who are willing to assist youth with unwanted same-sex attraction and behaviors will be prohibited from even talking to minors in a manner that could be construed as promoting the pursuit of change. (more…)

August 29, 2013

The following Liberty Counsel Press Release “Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Upholds Ban on Change Therapy” is reprinted in its entirety: San Francisco, CA—The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco upheld California’s ban on change therapy. Under this law that was scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2013, minors will not be able to receive any counsel from a licensed therapist which seeks to change unwanted same-sex sexual or romantic attractions, behaviors or mannerisms, or identity. Nor will licensed counselors be permitted to offer such counsel, despite the fact that their clients are currently benefiting from such counsel.

Liberty Counsel will ask the full Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to rehear the case or file a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court. (more…)

August 29, 2013

The following excerpt is from Cheryl Wetzstein’s article “Appeals court backs Calif. gay conversion ban” on WashingtonTimes.com: “California’s first-in-the-nation law banning so-called ‘gay conversion’ therapies for minors with same-sex attractions was upheld Thursday as a three-judge federal appellate panel rejected a challenge to the law.”

“The law ‘does not violate the free speech rights of practitioners or minor patients, is neither vague nor overbroad, and does not violate parents’ fundamental rights,’ wrote Justice Susan P. Graber of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. The unanimous ruling lifted a preliminary injunction against the law and sent the cases — Pickup v. Brown and Welch v. Brown — back to lower courts to be dismissed.” …

August 23, 2013

A thirty minute video documentary offering factual information on homosexual causation and homosexual attractions is now online. Those featured in “Understanding Same Sex Attractions” include psychologists, counselors, and those who have unwanted same-sex attractions. One of the licensed counselors in the documentary, Floyd Godfrey, articulated that the “easiest way to understand homosexual feelings would be by the definition that it is the sexualization of emotional needs and wounds.” The documentary is produced by Family Watch International and can be linked HERE.

August 23, 2013

The following excerpts are from the article “’Ex-Gay’ Non-Profit and Arizona Governor Are Victims of Internet Hoax Story with Made-Up Anti-Gay Quotes” on ChristianNewsWire.com: … “‘The fake story was apparently intended to embarrass Governor Brewer and People Can Change, and to encourage people to verbally assault our organization and our members,’ Wyler said. Within 24 hours, People Can Change was inundated with more than 150 hate emails and phone calls, many using extreme profanity and threats against the organization and its members, he said.”

“‘We have no programs for school children,’ Wyler said. ‘We never try to convince anyone to try to change who is happy being gay. We only support men who are intrinsically self-motivated to pursue change. (more…)