Love Won Out: No News
There was a big "ex-gay" conference called Love Won Out in St. Louis this last weekend, and I figured there'd be some news from it. But all I can find online is a couple of press releases from Focus on the Family, and a couple of "newspapers" that published them more or less verbatim.
The first Family Blah Blah press release, I see, came out a few weeks ago. The big news: Love Won Out Comes to St. Louis; City-Wide Billboard Campaign Precedes Conference on Homosexuality. They put up a lot of billboards, all over the city. Now there's news for you, billboards in St. Louis, Missouri. I'm not sure that's what the people in the Show Me State really wanted to be shown.
Then, another press relase, dated yesterday: Conference on Homosexuality Met with Vandalism, Protests; Despite Controversy, Record Attendance Anticipated at Saturday Event.
For some reason, with 1,300 people at this conference, the story they wanted to publicize was that somebody had thrown eggs at the church where they were meeting, and had defaced some billboards. Typical wording:
Dude, nobody cares if you want to call yourself a "former homosexual." More power to ya, good for you (polite applause), do whatever it is you need to do.
What people don't like is for you to go around telling others that they should be ashamed of who they are, that they're not good enough, that they need to be more ... like ... you. People don't like that, in general. It has nothing to do with pretending you're not gay, it has everything to do with telling people there's something wrong with them, and that they should do what you're trying to do. Can you see the difference there? Nobody minds if you go back into the closet, that's your decision.
So .. that's the story. Somebody threw some eggs, somebody threw some paint on a couple of billboards, everybody discriminates against these poor guys.
The first Family Blah Blah press release, I see, came out a few weeks ago. The big news: Love Won Out Comes to St. Louis; City-Wide Billboard Campaign Precedes Conference on Homosexuality. They put up a lot of billboards, all over the city. Now there's news for you, billboards in St. Louis, Missouri. I'm not sure that's what the people in the Show Me State really wanted to be shown.
Then, another press relase, dated yesterday: Conference on Homosexuality Met with Vandalism, Protests; Despite Controversy, Record Attendance Anticipated at Saturday Event.
For some reason, with 1,300 people at this conference, the story they wanted to publicize was that somebody had thrown eggs at the church where they were meeting, and had defaced some billboards. Typical wording:
Speaking of the planned protest, Haley said that opposition is common in cities Love Won Out visits. "As a former homosexual I can attest that I have faced much more intolerance since leaving homosexuality than before," he said. "But I and thousands of others know that change is possible -- we have the right to share that message and the love of Christ with those who want to hear it."
Dude, nobody cares if you want to call yourself a "former homosexual." More power to ya, good for you (polite applause), do whatever it is you need to do.
What people don't like is for you to go around telling others that they should be ashamed of who they are, that they're not good enough, that they need to be more ... like ... you. People don't like that, in general. It has nothing to do with pretending you're not gay, it has everything to do with telling people there's something wrong with them, and that they should do what you're trying to do. Can you see the difference there? Nobody minds if you go back into the closet, that's your decision.
So .. that's the story. Somebody threw some eggs, somebody threw some paint on a couple of billboards, everybody discriminates against these poor guys.
posted by JimK at 10:43 AM
22 Comments:
Let me see. Not too long ago, Jim had scoured the countryside and found a family of sadly misguided people who protested at gay funerals but never committed any violence- and was acting as this was a story of national importance.
Now, he finds a story of actual violence (albeit mild) against people who repented of gay behavior and says, "What's the big deal here?" Then, he even goes so far as to say the ex-gays deserved the treatment because they dared to suggest others should follow their example.
Man, do you ever look in the mirror and say, "what a hypocrite I am"?
Good save, Anon. I'll bet Your Side is proud of you.
JimK
"So .. that's the story. Somebody threw some eggs, somebody threw some paint on a couple of billboards, everybody discriminates against these poor guys."
Liberals would be outraged if this behavior was directed at any other group.
Anonymous, It must be very satisfying to say something bad about "liberals." I understand that there are guys on the radio all day long who do that. I have read some quotes by Ann Coulter saying things about "liberals."
It must be very satisfying.
Did your comment have something to do with this story, or have you just been listening to the radio and decided to satisfy yourself in this way?
JimK
"Did your comment have something to do with this story, or have you just been listening to the radio and decided to satisfy yourself in this way?"
Let's try it this way, Jim: If someone was throwing eggs at gays and paint at their billboards, you'd be turning reddish purple. People with a message different from you appear to fair game for abuse in your view. At least, if they don't keep it to themselves.
I used to seeAnn Coulter on Bill Maher's show years ago but I didn't know she had a radio show. Does anyone know the channel?
You guys have a misconception about me. I don't listen or watch much conservative media. I read the Wall Street Journal and the op-ed in the Post. Other than that, just observation of the facts.
So when you said "liberal" -- you meant me to take that personally? You don't know me, do you.
Also, I know gays get their share of eggs and worse, and, y'know, you don't read about it here. But it is funny you should mention it; you won't find people defacing their billboards because -- they don't put up billboards telling other people to be like them.
The fact is, this conference was a bust, there was nothing to say, so they tried to put out press releases to make people feel sorry for them.
And I'm wondering, why don't these macho men just stay home with their beautiful, loving wives? This reminds me of a conference of a thousand or so ex-junkies. Uh, no, of course, nobody's going to shoot up. And when somebody does, the others aren't gonna think hey, why not, are they ... Here's a whole conference of guys struggling not to have sex with other guys. Does this sound like a good idea to you?
JimK
Keep slithering, Jim. We all notice that you are justifying persecution of people for nothing more than sharing their experience.
How do you sleep at night?
"And I'm wondering, why don't these macho men just stay home with their beautiful, loving wives? ... Here's a whole conference of guys struggling not to have sex with other guys. Does this sound like a good idea to you?"
What makes you think their wives didn't come?
You've probably noticed- guys are everywhere.
As usual, the people who get screwed by these guys -- their wives. In Anon's world, women count for nothing. After all, guys are everywhere, as you've probably noticed.
This is purely hypothetical. Dr D is ignorant here. I know people like this. Their marriage seems fine.
"As usual, the people who get screwed by these guys -- their wives."
Is this a set-up or something? Seems too easy.
That is the kind of marriage I really want- my husband struggling not to be with a man- and taking me as second best. If that is your idea of a fine marriage- well, that is very sad. Sort of like all of Anon's ideas.
The Love Won Out conference attendees mostly comprise family members of gay people who want them to change; there are a few people who are thinking about getting involved in the ex-gay movement (I met one at a conference and he spent the weekend with me; I gave him a tour of the highlights of our capital city. We still keep in touch.). Most of the speakers are straight activists in the ex-gay movement, though there are a few ex-gay speakers (such as Cohen, etc.). Again, like PFOX, it's mostly family members of people who don't accept their relatives.
Robert
"That is the kind of marriage I really want- my husband struggling not to be with a man- and taking me as second best. If that is your idea of a fine marriage- well, that is very sad. Sort of like all of Anon's ideas."
Many marriages have someone struggling with a desire to be with someone else. It's not limited to ex-gays. Straights whose wives have let themselves go. Wives who want to try something adventurous. It's all common and can be dealt with. No tragedy.
Interesting, Anon, how you only give examples which blame the wives.
You are a very cruel man if you don't give a damn about setting up a woman with a closeted gay man. I feel for your wife, assuming you have one.
You know, there are women who like gay types. For women, sex isn't as paramount.
Based on your logic, though, we might be cruel to allow drug users to marry.
"You are a very cruel man if you don't give a damn about setting up a woman with a closeted gay man."
There are a lot of lonely women out there. They'd be more than willing to chance it for a shot at a good relationship- and there's no reason it can't work. If he's gay, he's probably squeamish and sticky so they already know what they're getting into. They already know they might not wind up with Prince Charming.
Anon,
It is a fact that virtually all women are aware they will never end up with Prince Charming, because he doesn't exist.
I would expect that if a man presented himself as clean but were actually an addict that it would be grounds for annulment.
Yes, there are women whose primary purpose in life is to save men, so I suppose there are those who want to save addicts, and even religious fundamentalists who would hire themselves out to save gay men as well. It takes all types, but I expect they will soon come to regret their choice. Still , if they know what they're getting into, it's their business.
Dr D always comes through in the end.
anonymous said, "There are a lot of lonely women out there. They'd be more than willing to chance it for a shot at a good relationship- and there's no reason it can't work. If he's gay, he's probably squeamish and sticky so they already know what they're getting into. They already know they might not wind up with Prince Charming."
Now why should anyone "just settle" because you or any other bigot says so? Did you just settle?" Maybe that explains alot.
Homosexuals/heterosexuals all want Prince Charming or even Princess Charming..but good luck in finding that.
Anonymous said...
"Many marriages have someone struggling with a desire to be with someone else. It's not limited to ex-gays. Straights whose wives have let themselves go. Wives who want to try something adventurous. It's all common and can be dealt with. No tragedy."
Tell me anon, has your wife let herself go? Has she gained weight, let her hair go grey, and stopped jobbing to stay trim for her man? Or, maybe, she wants to try something -- or someone -- more adventurous than her own overweight, out of shape, greying man at home. Who are you struggling NOT to be with? You say it with such conviction, I can only assume that this stuggle, is your struggle. Maybe you should seek counseling.
I was at the protest outside this conference. It probably didn't get more coverage becuase they do these conferences about one every couple of months. The news media has a short attention span.
I feel we need to fight these ex-gay groups and we need to fight them hard. The main problem I have is not with ex-gays themselves but with these organizations. On the Love Won Out website is says "A dynamic one-day conference addressing, understanding and preventing homosexuality." They don't say treat or cure, they say prevent. Their focus is on abusing youth with thier programs and workshops.
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