Fridae

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.

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."