Prof. Warren Throckmorton of the conservative Christian Grove City College has produced a new exgay video.
The 48-minute program, “I Do Exist,” features interviews with researchers Robert L. Spitzer and Mark Yarhouse and testimonials by five exgay activists, including Noe Gutierrez and Greg Quinlan.
Prof. Throckmorton’s web site quotes several pro-exgay activists praising the video, and the religious-right news service AgapePress features a full story about the program.
Addendum, Sept. 13: The AgapePress story quotes Throckmorton objecting to an American Psychological Association resolution that advocated the legalization of gay marriage. It does indeed seem strange that the APA, a professional organization, would adopt a position on gay marriage. But Throckmorton does not substantiate his accusation that the APA adopted the measure without debate after it was put forth by a gay caucus within the APA. Nor does he acknowledge his own unscientific and political motives for opposing gay marriage.
From another AgapePress promo for the video:
Throckmorton says his film conveys a message that is often censored by the media and homosexual activist groups: “You can live consistently with a traditional view of sexuality, it’s not harmful to do so, and varying degrees of change is possible for people who believe that that’s how they should live,” Throckmorton says. “This film gives that option.”
Throckmorton’s comment is accurate up to a point; unfortunately, as he has done many times before, he overlooks scientific studies (Shidlo/Schroeder among them) indicating that some ex-gay therapies and philosophies are harmful. And in representing ex-gay programs as harmless, Throckmorton declines to offer valid options to those who have been harmed.
The timing of Throckmorton’s video promotion is intended as a response to those who encourage individuals to be honest about their sexual orientation:
Churches, colleges, and schools across the U.S. will be showing the film October 9-11 in an effort to counter “National Coming Out Day,” an event celebrated by homosexual groups. Throckmorton says the video counters the claims of activists who observe that event.
“The methods that they are promoting on that day [and during] that week are that the only healthy response to same-sex attraction is to ‘come out’ as homosexual and embrace a homosexual identity,” the researcher explains. “The film I Do Exist! gives the narratives of these individuals who’ve chosen a different path, one that is consistent with traditional Church teaching concerning sexuality.”
The AgapePress promo’s closing statement may seem ludicrous to youths who struggle with same-sex attraction in the nation’s schools:
Throckmorton says it will be difficult to get the film shown in high school health classes and public universities, where homosexuality is viewed as normal, legitimate behavior.
Throckmorton overlooks the rapid growth of Safe Schools programs and gay-straight alliances. These programs, confined largely to relatively tolerant urban areas, are a response to prevailing antigay school violence in cities otherwise known for growing tolerance. Throckmorton neglects to explain the absence of pro-tolerance programs from the nation’s less-tolerant heartland.
Addendum:
September 18, 2004, press release by Prof. Throckmorton
September 21, 2004, article at 365gay.com
List of video showings in 30 cities
The 365gay.com article inaccurately reflects the stature of Dr. Robert Spitzer’s studies, possibly confusing his research with that of Paul Cameron.
Yeah, did you see my comment 🙂 Pretty cool huh!
I’m famous!
Even though I’m not worthy anymore to be on your blog roll 🙂
It should have probably been titled “Dead Horse Beating VII” for accuracy.
I’m sure that Throckmorton will generate more than a bit of revenue for Grove City “college”
Hey Raj, I graduated from Grove City “College” as you put it, and you may disagree with Throckmorton, but please don’t disparage the educational value of the school itself… it is a highly competitive, academic setting where students can learn and are not merely brainwashed, despite some flaws in its philosophy.
Thanks.
Sorry, ck, but as far as I’m concerned, the bona fides of any institution that purports to be of “higher learning” that keeps a wacko like Throckmorton on its staff–and, as an assistant professor, it’s unlikely that he has tenure–are seriously in question.
And that ignores the question of the bona fides of any institution that purports to be of “higher learning” from a “christian perspective.” I’ve seen that, and it causes me to wonder whether, for example, there is a christian perspective to how computers work that differs from reality. Or to gravity, for that matter.
Raj, colleges seem to be chock-full of profs and instructors with political axes to grind. If GCC is a quote-college-unquote, then so is just about every other “college” and “university.”
Mike A.–perhaps. Fine with me. As far as I’m concerned, the bona fides of a degree from any “college” should be called into question. I have no problem with that. I wouldn’t give a lot of credence to a degree from Bob Jones University. Why would I give much credence to a degree from a “college” that purports to educate “from a christian perspective”? What does that mean?. As should be evident from my previous post, what does it mean to educate from a christian perspective? Does that mean that christians perceive reality differently from other people? To christians, does two and two equal five? Does the sun revolve around the earth? Did some unIntelligent Designer design people? (I refer to unIntelligent Designer, because, for those of us who have actually looked into the matter of ID, it is clear that the unID provided human beings with improperly designed eyes, although it knew full well how to properly design eyes, as is evident from the design of the mollusck eye.) So, query, what does it mean to educate from a christian perspective?
Or does it mean that the students are going to be held to their particular standard of conduct in their extra-curricular activities?
On a slightly different but related issue, as far as I’m concerned, if a college allows its untenured instructors to use their association with the college in their commercial activities–as Throckmorton is doing–then they are complicit in those commercial activities. Colleges have a bit less latitude with their tenured faculty, but not so with their untenured faculty.
There’s no point me in arguing with you. Since you haven’t attended GCC or taken a look at its credentials, I can’t convince you. But just look at the website sometime, recognize that ‘secular’ ranking systems like US News and World Report have good things to say about the school, and consider that none of us are coming to anything without a perspective, so we might as well be up front about it.
And since GCC doesn’t even have tenure, I’m not sure what your point is about the school. They’re well aware of their professors’ activities (they have links to all of their Op-Ed pieces).
(Oh, and we learned in my “College” not to misrepresent your opponent through straw man arguments such as the assertion that they believe the sun revolves around the earth.)
Ex-gay and happy!
I do not understand you people who want freedom to chose but deny it to others. If those whose chose the ex-gay lifestlye are happy then why flip-out? Maybe you would lose a few supporters who are not happy with the gay lifestlye?
Let those who chose to go the ex-gay road alone just as you have cried for 40 years.
Keith, I see no one here flipping out over ex-gays or attempting to deny them free choice. You are engaging in a strawman argument — accusing people of saying things that they have not said.
The real question, Keith, is: Are you (or Prof. Throckmorton, for that matter) willing to oppose discrimination against same-sex-attracted individuals, regardless of declared orientation, and refrain from strawman argumentation?
I agree with Raj. I definately consider a degree from a back-water college coming from a job applicant as a negative trait on his resume. The school has a responsibility of maintaining an foundational integrity for its former and current students. When you reside controversial figures such as Thockmorton, then you are automatically corroding that integrity.
OK, OK, I’m not going to engage in debate here any longer. The funny thing is that I’m an EX-ex-gay, a graduate of the same college that Dr. T teaches at, and have a little bit of first-hand perspective in some of this.
No, it’s not a “back-water” college. No, it’s not a “college.”
Yes, ex-gays have the right to define their sexuality and their actions just as gays do. Yes, one’s religion (or lack thereof) DOES influence the way one sees the world.
No, that does not make one’s perspective therefore immediately invalid. If it did, that would mean we could and should stand on the other side of the massive perspectival gap and point fingers, crying, “bias!”
There is a lot of hypocrisy, snap-judgments and poor thinking in Exodus, at Grove City College…. and dare I say at gay organizations and secular colleges as well.
I thought that a board like this would be a good place to post thoughtful discussion and reflection.
Apparently it’s not…
Again, I agree with CK: There’s plenty of hypocrisy all around, and I see nothing particularly substandard about GCC.
I pray for those who abide by this ‘ex-gay’ mentallity. I promise, you were never ‘gay.’ Fore, if you were indeed a homosexual, you would still be so today. You know, I tried to be ‘straight’ for the longest time, maybe I should establish an ‘ex-straight’ political front? I mean, y’all have been running your so-called sanctity of marriage into the ground since days of Abraham and his multiple wives. It is about time that we enact laws penalizing those who participate in this faux-marriage bullshit.
I’ve gotta disagree with you Tyler, it’s my opinion that the many ways that human experience and human instinct interact are far more complex than a ‘one size fits all’ ideal. The idea that ‘I did/didn’t do this and so can you’ is the same argument often used by the exgay groups.
I for one am gay and would be unhappy dating a woman, how much of that is instinct and how much is environment, I don’t know, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t people who are gay and can later change, that really depends on the basis of their attraction.
My problem with the exgay agenda is the apparent lack of humanism, of a true desire to help someone find what they want to be, but rather an attempt to use these people, regardless of the harm done to them, to further a political/social agenda, regardless of if that agenda is morally dubious, morally righteous, scientifically founded, the dreams of a madman, or otherwise.
Oh, this thread just came up again. I missed something a few months ago.
Regarding
Mike Airhart at September 13, 2004 08:36 PM
Again, I agree with CK: There’s plenty of hypocrisy all around, and I see nothing particularly substandard about GCC.
do you find anything “standard” about Grove City College? If, as CK states, GCC does not have tenure (which is highly unusual in a college setting) one might seriously ask whether GCC is “substandard.” Much of the more upscale colleges and universities gives their faculty tenure. It appears that Throckmorton uses his affiliation as a stepping-stone to advertise his “therapy” practice.
CK said:
I thought that a board like this would be a good place to post thoughtful discussion and reflection.
It actually is, CK. Please don’t be intimidated by Raj. He likes things rather black and white and, as best I can tell, someone must have attacked him with a King James Bible with full concorance as a child, but he’s ok 😉 Give yourself some time and you will understand people here better. They really are a great bunch.
David
Don’t worry David… CK isn’t intimidated by too much (IMHO).Except herself :P(that was for you CK! hahahaha Hope you’re coping with the the Xmas leadup. Ugh, ick. Pfft!)