Former NFL player Roy Simmons came out as gay in 1992. (Google search.)
After disappearing from the public eye for a decade, he now tells The 700 Club that he lived out a prolonged nightmare of childhood molestation, drugs, prostitution, and sex with men and women — and he blames homosexuality as much as, or instead of, his own behavioral choices.
Sometime after discovering he was HIV-positive, Simmons was born-again spiritually. The 700 Club wishes for its audience to believe Simmons is a former homosexual:
Roy has learned much from his pastor about his former lifestyle.
"We spoke on and learned about homosexuality and the connotations and everything that go along with it. It’s really against God’s will," Roy states.
Simmons has not had sex in three years — perhaps a wise decision, given his stated difficulty in moderating his behavior. But Simmons agrees with a pastor who has encouraged him to blame his sins — drug abuse? prostitution? nonmarital sex? — on "homosexuality."
The 700 Club article argues that does not ask one very obvious question, nor does Simmons volunteer an answer:
1. To which gender is Simmons now attracted?
If he is indeed happy and secure in his faith, and celibacy is nothing to be ashamed of. So it should not be difficult for Simmons to answer this simple question.
But I do not expect to see Simmons’ answer promoted on The 700 Club.
(Hat tip: Aaron)
I don’t read anywhere in that article that Roy Simmons is now ex-gay. Searching the internet, I don’t find any indication of that either. That’s especially in light of the fact that even as recently as the summer of 2004 he is quoted as being gay, not ex-gay. The story talks about Roy saying he’s left his former lifestyle behind. I’m guessing Roy meant his lifestyle of promiscuity, drugs and binge drinking. I can easily see how 700 club regulars would reinterpret his conversion to a healthy lifestyle and towards a faith with Jesus as a conversion of his sexuality. It’s a shame that the 700 Club couldn’t have cleared up that ambiguity for their viewers. As you said though, its hardly shocking.