Mike Airhart was the founding editor of Ex-Gay Watch, until he left in 2007. He has returned as a contributing writer. He is a project manager and data scientist for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and an interfaith advocate, living near Phoenix, Arizona.
Each of us has struggled with our sexuality in one way or another. These “ex-ex-gays” were just unfortunate enough to have entangled themselves with organizations that sought to rob them of their full humanity and to delude them that the heterosexual norm is (1) a desireable lifestyle and (2) necessary for their spiritual/moral well being.
Of course, I guess we could always call them “born again gays”!
My favorite part is when he claims that just cause the kids are fine at 15 doesn’t mean they might not be screwed up at 18. This guy actually has a PhD *shudder*
Boo- thanks for that NARTH link. The fact that NARTH is putting that on their website is very telling about their feelings about homosexuality. I can’t believe that such an ignorant piece of work would ever be supported by real researchers or doctors. The article openly attacks and mocks gay familes and the gay community at large. How sad to see.
I didn’t even get beyond the first few paragraphs of the article Boo posted. I had to question the scholarship of anything that uses sarcasm in its opening statements.
Let me see if I get the opening statement in the article: I am an “activist” if I disagree with NARTH — and I devote my LIFE to trying to convince myself that I am “normal”. Really? How on Earth does NARTH know what I devote my life to? I don’t make presumptions about what they do with their time. Here’s what I have “devoted” my life to so far this week:
Laundry, watering my plants, checking the internet for interesting items, soaking beans for soup, counseling 12 AIDS clients, helping to set up and walking in the local AIDS Walk this past Sunday (by the way, there were lots of “church groups” in the walk — both “pro” and “con” on gay issues, but in TRUE Christian spirit ALL united against AIDS), going to church, going to choir practice(s), having a BBQ with my friends, petting my cat, watching TV, going with my daughter to a Bridal Fair” to plan for her upcoming wedding, etc.
Oh yeah, I also slept with my boyfriend. No sex this week. We were both worn-out from “devoting” ourselves to other priorities.
Given how a lot of “normal” straight folks behave, I am not that interested in “normal” anyway. The way I see it, it’s just another setting on my washing machine.
I love the first line: “As it is well-known, activist homosexuals and lesbians devote their lives to their Great Ideal: convincing themselves and others of their normality.” It starts with a bandwagon–that this is a something everyone would acknowledge. I don’t know any gay people who are trying to “convince themselves and others of their normality.” Let me be clear–I am not normal. I have never considered my normal, and frankly I don’t care. I do not try to present my life as normal. And I could care less what people think about that–I still should be treated as fairly as possible. What is normal? Let me be very clear that my lack of normality has zero to do with my homosexuality. I am a former Mormon Missionary who speaks two languages (one of which is hated in our culture). I am a punk/postpunk that dresses in the college classes I teach like a punk. I have a very dark sense of humor and can tolerate pain very easily. I am a strong agnostic, and I don’t pledge the flag. Ok–those things make me a freak in society. My gayness is so minor.
In it Regina Griggs seems to be implying that PFLAG preaches conditional love of parents for children, and that groups like PFLAG are somehow against parents loving their children if they don’t approve of their sexual orientation.
Is there a funky symbol to go along with it?
I’d say “finally happy”.
After what they have gone through, I would say very tired and in need of a big hug!
“Free at last. Free at last. Thank God Almighty, we’re free at last.” MLK
OW! I hurt my thinking muscle!
I was going to make a Prince joke, but Boo beat me to it. 🙂
How about just calling them “gay”?
Each of us has struggled with our sexuality in one way or another. These “ex-ex-gays” were just unfortunate enough to have entangled themselves with organizations that sought to rob them of their full humanity and to delude them that the heterosexual norm is (1) a desireable lifestyle and (2) necessary for their spiritual/moral well being.
Of course, I guess we could always call them “born again gays”!
Latest weirdness from NARTH:
https://www.narth.com/docs/sciencegames.html
My favorite part is when he claims that just cause the kids are fine at 15 doesn’t mean they might not be screwed up at 18. This guy actually has a PhD *shudder*
Boo- thanks for that NARTH link. The fact that NARTH is putting that on their website is very telling about their feelings about homosexuality. I can’t believe that such an ignorant piece of work would ever be supported by real researchers or doctors. The article openly attacks and mocks gay familes and the gay community at large. How sad to see.
I didn’t even get beyond the first few paragraphs of the article Boo posted. I had to question the scholarship of anything that uses sarcasm in its opening statements.
Let me see if I get the opening statement in the article: I am an “activist” if I disagree with NARTH — and I devote my LIFE to trying to convince myself that I am “normal”. Really? How on Earth does NARTH know what I devote my life to? I don’t make presumptions about what they do with their time. Here’s what I have “devoted” my life to so far this week:
Laundry, watering my plants, checking the internet for interesting items, soaking beans for soup, counseling 12 AIDS clients, helping to set up and walking in the local AIDS Walk this past Sunday (by the way, there were lots of “church groups” in the walk — both “pro” and “con” on gay issues, but in TRUE Christian spirit ALL united against AIDS), going to church, going to choir practice(s), having a BBQ with my friends, petting my cat, watching TV, going with my daughter to a Bridal Fair” to plan for her upcoming wedding, etc.
Oh yeah, I also slept with my boyfriend. No sex this week. We were both worn-out from “devoting” ourselves to other priorities.
Given how a lot of “normal” straight folks behave, I am not that interested in “normal” anyway. The way I see it, it’s just another setting on my washing machine.
I love the first line: “As it is well-known, activist homosexuals and lesbians devote their lives to their Great Ideal: convincing themselves and others of their normality.” It starts with a bandwagon–that this is a something everyone would acknowledge. I don’t know any gay people who are trying to “convince themselves and others of their normality.” Let me be clear–I am not normal. I have never considered my normal, and frankly I don’t care. I do not try to present my life as normal. And I could care less what people think about that–I still should be treated as fairly as possible. What is normal? Let me be very clear that my lack of normality has zero to do with my homosexuality. I am a former Mormon Missionary who speaks two languages (one of which is hated in our culture). I am a punk/postpunk that dresses in the college classes I teach like a punk. I have a very dark sense of humor and can tolerate pain very easily. I am a strong agnostic, and I don’t pledge the flag. Ok–those things make me a freak in society. My gayness is so minor.
Another weird article about PFOX:
https://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/9/142006a.asp
In it Regina Griggs seems to be implying that PFLAG preaches conditional love of parents for children, and that groups like PFLAG are somehow against parents loving their children if they don’t approve of their sexual orientation.