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22 Aug 2007

ex-gay watch group warns of ''politically motivated'' study

A group that was set up to "expose the ex-gay ministries as a hoax" warns of a soon to be released bogus study that will prove the "success" of ex-gay therapy and urges ex-gay groups to "back up their outrageous tales of transformation."

Truth Wins Out, a watch group that dispels myths of the so-called ex-gay movement, has alerted news organisations that a new "politically motivated" study citing the supposed success of Christian-based reparative or ex-gay therapy will surface later this year.

Wayne Besen is the founder and Executive Director of Truth Wins Out, and author of Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth.
According to the group's statement issued on Aug 21, the report is being published by psychology provost Stanton Jones, a controversial "researcher" at Wheaton College, said to be a right wing religious university.

Titled "The Thomas Project," the 5-year study will survey handpicked testimonials from "ex-gay" lobbyists and ministry leaders who will be asked once a year if they had "changed" on the telephone.

The group cited receiving unconfirmed reports that the study has a sample of as few as 100 to 150 participants in contrast to Exodus's claims that they represent "hundreds of thousands" of ex-gays.

"Any 'ex-gay' study that does not include physical components that measure truth are essentially meaningless," said Truth Wins Out's Executive Director Wayne Besen.

The statement says that there is no indication that key physical measures or tests were included, such as a "No Lie MRI," which is a scientific truth-detecting brain scan.

"We challenge Dr Stanton Jones to submit his so-called ex-gay subjects to the 'No Lie MRI' because we believe that ex-gay ministries are consumer fraud and his reported study may be invalid. Our direct challenge is a unique opportunity for ex-gay organisations to back up their outrageous tales of transformation and prove us wrong once and for all. What are they afraid of?"

"After several key ex-gay leaders have been caught in sex scandals, their tales of transformation lack credibility," said Besen.

"It is folly to suggest that telephone interviews can be considered genuine research. News organisations should avoid covering such a mockery of the scientific method."

Truth Wins Out has also set up respectmyresearch.org to appeal to researchers who have had their work distorted, cherry-picked or exaggerated by right wing organisations, particularly Focus on the Family to report infractions. The groups have been found to intentionally misquote legitimate scientific research to support their political aims. "In the past year alone, James C. Dobson, leader of Focus on the Family, has conflated, purposely misconstrued or cherry picked research from at least six esteemed academic scholars who have publicly condemned him for misusing their work. Sadly, the mainstream media has not held Dobson or others of his ilk accountable."

Reader's Comments

1. 2007-08-22 19:36  
i think the left wingers should pray HARD for the right wingers to 'wake up' and 'do not lie anymore' since liars will not go to heavens either, am I right?
2. 2007-08-22 20:46  
Queer! film festival 2007 will be held in Jakarta this month!!
Book now......
http://www.qfilmfestival.org/

C U in Jakarta!!
3. 2007-08-23 18:57  
fridae's no fun anymore.
4. 2007-08-24 03:25  
Well this is all good on paper, but if few or none of the mainstream media pick up on this story it means jack all if the right-wingers get their 'survey' reported first, or more heavily. Keep in mind it's right-wingers generally calling the shots at mainstream media companies.

On a lighter note, if all these religous right-wingers are all going to Heaven, surely no self respecting gay wold want to go there with them? If Hell is no great alternative, please let there be a gay-Heaven or something of the likes for us to go spend eternity in. Undoubtably, we'll decorate it with more than just the generic Pearly Gates and fluffy white clouds.
5. 2007-08-24 12:55  
Hell will definitely be way more fun... heck with the sodomy and shit I have committed I'd ONLY wanna be with the other sodomites!

Besdies we'll have way better music there.....
Comment #6 was deleted by its author
7. 2007-08-24 15:25  
From my observation those 'ex-gay' groups seem to be acting like attention-seeking media whores, but hey, that's not a bad thing either:p
Constant publicity-seeking & broadcasting of the same old tired 'facts' or 'research' with no fresh viewpoints other than to "overcome temptation by God's grace (no offense to Chistians, just quoting fr what they say)" would eventually bore the largely apathetic public, just wait & see- anyone remember Joseph McCarthy? It seems that they are the only ones obsessed with this issue...vanity & narcissicm??? lol

While I strongly support & commend Truth Wins Out their effort to expose those philosophies disguised as scientific facts, it would do better for them to not try & outdo the 'ex-gay' publicity machine. It's best those stuff are exposed to the hilt until it turns into over-exposure to the largely apathetic public. Besides, people are so much smarter & questioning these days, it's not likely (with an exceptional few) they wld buy whatever others tell them if it doesn't make much sense.
8. 2007-08-24 20:21  
You need to be careful with this kind of writing. I disagree completely with the position ascribed to Stanton Jones. However, the article has a somewhat breathless and hysterical tone (as does the Truth Wins Out website) which leaves the impression of an attack based entirely on the politics of the position taken rather than the facts of the matter. This contrasts starkly with the description of Jones given on the Wheaton College website which describes him in simple straightforward terms. A neutral person wishing to make an honest assessment of the facts could very well dismiss the article as being simply politically motivated, If we want to convince open minded people (generally the only ones convincable) of the evils of the ex-gay movement it's far better to take a more measured tone.
9. 2007-08-27 16:08  
look at cnn for the gay conversion....kinda interesting

wat ex gay...no such nonsense

even straight men like anal sex
10. 2007-08-31 21:46  
hey stonedog,

too bad.. there is only one heaven.. you like it or not. so we got to forgive and forget when we see the right wingers there and then. anyway there will be no more str8 and gay in heaven, and there will be peace. so don't fall into their trap and let them make you bitter. be smart, be receiving, be loving and be forgiving.

dougchew,

it sounds great but fire will separate all groups into individuals in hell, and how are you to get f*** and be f***ed by each other? -_-
11. 2007-09-05 22:22  
Maybe there are more sexy bodies in hell; you only find fat babies in heaven, hahahaha!

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