In the April 2005 issue of Exodus’ monthly Impact newsletter (not available online), exgay author and Exodus speaker Joe Dallas joins president Alan Chambers in pressuring Exodus ministries “to become involved in the battle over gay rights.”

Following Chambers’ front-page call to action, Dallas frames own his article as an answer for Exodus ministries to the question, “How should we respond (to the pressure)?”

Dallas begins with a mix of unfounded accusation and envy:

Consider for a moment the clout the the gay lobby has already attained, and then consider their tendency to silence anyone who opposes them.

Proceeding from these two undocumented claims — that gay people’s political organizations possess undeserved clout, and that they somehow tend to silence people — Dallas insists that unless Exodus ministries become more active in far-right politics, they will be suppressed by the homosexual “agenda” and forced to declare homosexuality “acceptable.”

“What can I do?” Dallas asks.

  • Dallas holds up his wife Renee as one example: She testified before her State Board of Eduation to protest “inappropriate sexual material in our schools.” Dallas does not disclose what was allegedly inappropriate.
  • Dallas also pats himself on the back for co-authoring a ballot measure opposing “pro-gay ordinances” and for working closely with Focus on the Family’s political operatives. He does not disclose to readers what the ordinances actually sought to do.
  • Dallas encourages ministries to oppose city anti-discrimination laws, warning — without explaining how — that exgay ministries may face civil lawsuits if such laws are passed.
  • Dallas encourages exgay ministries to write letters of encouragement to “Christian” candidates who take a stand for “biblical morality.” Dallas does not suggest hospitality of any kind toward Jewish, Muslim, or Buddhist candidates, nor to candidates who respect the freedom of religion that is afforded to all Americans by nonsectarian governance.

Dallas concludes:

I’m not sure we can defeat the pro-gay lobby or prevent their goals from being achieved. But win or lose, I don’t want to stand before God and say I did nothing when I had the opportunity to fight.

Dallas’ battle cry on behalf of discrimination amounts to a demand that exgay ministries put aside some of their work to help struggling individuals change. The new mission: Pro-actively oppress gay people first, nationally and locally, just in case some unidentified gays, somewhere, become too secure, too equal, too vocal.

That mission does not help exgay ministries repair their tattered credibility in the world of counseling and therapy. It does call into question whether their goal is to help confused and wounded souls — or to punish people who don’t seek the ministries’ help.

While Dallas never substantiates the claim that gay people as a class are out to suppress anyone who disagrees with them, his own article substantiates the fear among many gays that Exodus is out to suppress them.

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