In December 2006, Ex-Gay Watch asked some questions about the lack of protections for youth in ex-gay programs. Alan Chambers, the President of Exodus International, responded in the comments section. He claimed that pro-gay groups do have problems but that Exodus does not:
I went to a group in Orlando as a teen and saw plenty of inappropriate, even illegal, behavior going on between adults and youth. We hear from parents and teens all the time about such practices. I am not going to say this is always the case, but there is illegal activity where youth are concerned going on in gay sponsored programs. There isn’t in Exodus sponsored ones—and I pray that there never is.
However, it now has come to our attention that six months prior to this statement Peterson Toscano spoke with Alan Chambers about three separate incidents of very inappropriate activity.
On June 26, 2006 I initially left voice messages for Alan Chambers of Exodus International and another national ex-gay leader about inappropriate incidents that affected youth at an Exodus member ministry. … The shocking details of the third situation compelled me to contact Alan and this other national leader. …
E-mails went back and forth including one in which the program director of the Exodus member ministry acknowledged the situation did occur, and since being alerted about it by Alan, shared some of the steps he took to address it. After multiple phone conversations with Alan’s assistant and more e-mails, Alan finally agreed to speak with me on the phone. The other national leader declined to speak with me out of concern for possible legal liability issues.
These stories do not agree.
Either Peterson did not make Alan personally aware of the incidents (and it appears that he has email correspondence to support his claims),
or else Alan was fully aware of incidences of inappropriate and possibly illegal activity in Exodus affiliated programs while he was claiming that they did not exist.
UPDATE
Alan posted the following on Warren Throckmorton’s website
Timothy,
Nothing slipped my mind—there wasn’t an incident at an Exodus Member Ministry. Two people met there and months (maybe a year) later they actually hooked up.
As for dropping a ministry, that happens at renewal. Come February, I imagine there will be fewer Exodus Member Ministries.
Alan
Dear folks at XGW: You know how I feel about EXODUS and that I don’t trust Alan Chambers as far as I could throw him. I have no doubt that abuses have occured (and still occur) within EXODUS. I am certainly not defending EXODUS in any way. In fact, I am much inclined to completely believe Toscano and am sure he has the evidence to back up his claim that he notified Chambers.
However, I am still concerned that Toscano seems to be strangely reluctant to say whether or not he notified the police. He would only say that he “appreciated my concern and would share more if necessary.”
Since the details of third incident were shocking enough to compel Toscano to contact Alan Chambers and another national leader — and serious enough that EXODUS was worried about its legal liability, doesn’t it only make sense that the details should also have been given to the local police to protect other potential victims? I am confused. Why not just say “yes” or “no”?
Until such time as Peterson decides to share more details, we’ll have to accept that his actions were appropriate. I’m certain that if Peterson were to divulge more, you would be satisfied with his actions.
My focus on this thread is not about whether or not we can guess about Peterson’s communication with authorities, but instead it is on why Alan chose to make a claim that appears on the face of it to be less than, well, true.
And if his comments about Exodus’ record are inconsistent with the facts, can we then believe his claims that protections are being put into place this month? I am hoping that was not simply a claim in the same manner as “there isn’t in Exodus sponsored ones” or “we hear from parents and teens all the time about such practices” both of which appear to have little basis in fact.
I’m hoping that Alan wasn’t just trying to quell criticism but instead has a plan ready to be put in place that will protect children.
Michael, I have to admit that I had some of the same concerns. I’m not sure I would have given Alan nearly as much time to rectify what is apparently such a dire situation, especially if youth may be in danger. However, Peterson has shown himself to be a credible, sincere person of good character. I’m deferring to his judgment for the moment, especially since we don’t have all the details yet.
I’m convinced that his main concern is for the safety of youth going through those programs, and that he believes this course is the best way to ensure that with the least emotional damage to those who may already have been harmed.
Only time will tell, but between Alan and Peterson, the fruit test leads me to go with Peterson.
Update: 1/14/2007
After discussing this further with Peterson, I am convinced that he is handling this appropriately and any concerns I may have had were simply from lack of information. Please disregard my earlier comments on this. Thank you.
We obviously don’t have enough information to determine if anything criminal occured at this point. We don’t know the state or states these 3 incidents occurred in, the exact behavior, the age of the youth, the age of the Exodus personnel or clients involved, or whether the activity was consensual. If the activity was consensual and the youth was under 18, but above that state’s age of consent, it would not be a criminal matter, but it would still be a very serious situation. Exodus would still need to remove the involved adult or adults and not allow them further participation with youths. They would also have to make sure that inappropriate activity in youth programs never happens again.
Peterson apparently has the information. If he even thinks that it might be criminal, I think it should be immediately turned over to the police. If it isn’t criminal, then putting pressure on Exodus to put firm guidelines in place to protect children is the best proactive thing a person can do.
Trying to deal with these sorts of things quietly can be the worst way to proceed. The Catholic sex abuse was only really addressed and dealt with when brought out into the open. The same applies to Rep. Foley.
Exodus and it’s leadership doesn’t have a very good track record of doing what they say they are going to do, or being honest and open. They are only going to do the right thing, if they have no other choice.
Ironically, I was just looking at Alan Chambers blog where he comments on the Rep. Foley matter. Interesting reading when you know that he doesn’t seem to be making any priority of getting these guidelines for Exodus youth programs out.
John, I think you’re making some hasty assumptions. We don’t know whether there were acts of verbal or physical assault, sexual intimidation, sexual misconduct, or something else. Sexual activity is just one of many possibilities, and personally I doubt that was the issue.
Mike,
You are correct. Given the subject matter of an ex-gay program, I assumed that the behavior that bothered Peterson so much was sexual in nature. When I read his post on his website, that was what I immediately thought. There are other forms of abuse, and we do not know which category the misconduct fell into. Perhaps over time, we will learn more.
Peterson has an additional post on his blog, added yesterday, that I believe addresses some of the questions here – especially the nature of the offenses which he describes as non-criminal. He stated in the post that he is leading a Quaker retreat for youth this weekend and so has limited access to the internet.
Alan Chambers is making claims about ‘pro gay groups’ and abuses within them, but isn’t specific.
Not only that, it’s been a LONG time since Chambers was a teen.
Now there is a big difference between an outright criminal act of an adult on a minor.
His claims insinuate inappropriate sexual behavior, but make no specifics.
And his time frame renders his claims suspect even more so.
However, it is clear….that the aim, and entire purpose of Exodus, the ex gay industry, is EMOTIONAL BLACKMAIL on vulnerable people.
Put in this most elemental and basic term.
And emotional blackmail has no legal protections, especially on a non criminal class.
This doesn’t work on people with CLINICAL and professionally diagnosed problems either.
And such methods are not applied by professionals, or shouldn’t be.
It’s taking a while, but Chambers and company will be in trouble.
His claims should have been subject to a police investigation, but as some one pointed out in another post, inaction by a religious based group towards a criminal act, MUST be reported.
Here in Los Angeles, Cardinal Roger Mahoney has yet to cooperate with the police, and his lack of such, is allowing the statute of limitations to run out on cases of priest abuse.
And he was personally responsible, when, instead of encouraging submission to police, he gave priest time in an ‘conversion’ or ‘de programming’ retreat, then moved them on to another situation.
Chambers is dancing with similar liability with Exodus, and instead of blaming the way gay men in particular will behave, he needs to understand the risks he’s taking with OTHER PEOPLE’S vulnerability, whether they be an adult or teen.
And Exodus is in no position to be taking such risks, or engaging in the very emotional blackmail that EXACERBATES these risks.
I hope he’s catching my thread.
Avoiding the law, dodging challenges and interventions by other authorities isn’t the work of God protecting his work, but the acts of a coward and liar taking refuge among the weakest and weariest, and unwariest of the flock.
Yeah Chambers, I said it.
There comes a time when intelligence and charm and a kind face-are merely a thin shell covering something deeply disturbing.
However, I am still concerned that Toscano seems to be strangely reluctant to say whether or not he notified the police. He would only say that he “appreciated my concern and would share more if necessary.”
Peterson would absolutely notify the police if he thought the conduct in question rose to that level. He’s only making this public now because he is concerned it could, if not appropriately addressed, and he isn’t getting any response from the Exodus folk that it is being appropriately addressed. I trust his judgement on this absolutely. I think we all can.
It has indeed been a very long time since Chambers was in any kind of gay group and it’s ridiculous that they don’t have standards of behavior written out clearly. If he had been a part of Youth Guardian Services, the teen peer support group for which I serve as Board Chair, he would see that we have strict guidelines, not the least of which is that we have established a firewall between adults and youth — and even between age groups of youth. For instance, as Board Chair I not only do not have access to the email support lists, I don’t even have access to the names or email addresses of any youth participants. Each peer group is monitored by youths of the same age as the participants, and when they “age-out,” they are elevated to the next older age group.
These kinds of protections are in place in our pro-gay support groups. Yes, they take time and energy. Yes, we have to constantly train new young people coming up through the ranks as each monitor ages out, but it provides us with a mentoring chain where young people are not only getting the peer support they need, but are being trained to become GLBT leaders in each succeeding generation.
The recklessness of the Exodus message, where GLBT persons are demonized and shamed into trying to become straight is exactly the kind of atmosphere that leads to abuse. As for Chambers, it’s hard to engage yourself in this kind of necessary and time consuming work when your main goal is becoming a religious political leader in order to get more time on TV.
I know from experience with the LAPD, that sometimes absent evidence, it’s hard to make an accusation (without courting charges of slander) against someone, or an organization.
I”m sure that those in Exodus WOULD try to do something punitive or litigously threatening against Peterson, unless he had something to show, to keep them from doing so.
Weighing his options on that, makes sense.
That’s the tricky thing about bringing in the police.
They might have the authority to investigate, but how Exodus would respond to their accuser (Peterson) is something else again.
It still would be more important to investigate the industry that Exodus IS, not just anecdotal incidents (if any) within.
It is right and fair, to set things in motion that could make them implode on their own.
They are as outmoded as the medical establishment using leeches to cure ‘women’s hysteria’, so to speak.
And WOULD the medical community get away with such treatment of women?
I think not.
Apologies for having just spotted this, and for what it’s worth…
Peterson, I think we need to be above reproach on these matters.
To be honest with you, the vague information you have released borders on the type of cultural vilification that Exodus — and Alan Chambers himself — engages in about gay men and women.
It’s one of those “Even though most gay men aren’t child molestors, but…” type of statements that Exodus themself are notorious for making.
Don’t take this the wrong way: I wouldn’t trust anyone in Exodus leadership if they were at the other end of a 40 foot barge pole. They, and Alan himself sepcifically, are proven liars; and IMO will do all they can to hide themselves and confuse others even when it’s simply embarrassing (albeit not illegal) occassions that are made public.
(As but one example, Alan Chambers claim at Warren Throckmorton’s site to have broken the Exodus links with Richard Cohen from the get go of his presidency… when even a cursory check actually shows that it was Chambers who took Exodus into a working alliance with Cohen’s IHF and 9 of the usual suspects.***)
I don’t doubt that Exodus runs a very loose ship with its member organisations in this regard, but it’s not good enough to raise allegations without being prepared to either make them public or pass them onto someone with the authority and expertise to properly deal with the matter.
Sorry Peterson, but we all must either “put up” or “shut up” at such times.
Too vague allegations are not appropriate. As people at the blunt end of Exodus’ efforts we, above-all, should understand that.
–
*** the “usual suspects” include Homosexuals Anonymous: The PATH blurb even has the gall to mention Colin Cook as founder and “ex-gay”. Without any mention of Cook’s disgraceful history of “massage therapy” with underage clients, of course…
I am confident that Peterson Toscano has acted with meticulous integrity behind the scenes in handling the information that he possesses, and notifying the people who need to be notified.
I also am confident that Peterson is smart enough to line up material facts to present if Exodus continues to renege on its promises to be ethical.
The last couple of days have been made difficult mainly from misunderstandings and lack of knowledge. It is expected that a subject such as this, the welfare of youth, will cause justifiable, emotional concern from many directions. Any comments made here by Mike or myself came from a genuine desire to ensure that all that should be done was being done to remedy this situation. The only fault I feel is for not making a greater effort to contact Peterson before making my comments.
After finally discussing this in more detail, I am confident that Peterson is doing exactly what should be done both ethically and practically. It is my sincere hope that Alan Chambers will take heed and do what he must certainly know is right. There should be no need for further debate Alan, just do the right thing.
This thread will remain, but comments are closed. Let’s go forward from here.