Time is running short to register for The Ex-Gay Survivor’s Conference to be held June 29-July 1, 2007, in Irvine, California.
Why hold a conference of former ex-gays? As the conference web site states: Creating a communal space for ex-gay survivors to tell their stories allows us to share what led us into an ex-gay lifestyle and ways we have been able to recover from it.
Workshop facilitators and speakers include:
- Christine Bakke, ex-gay survivor and co-founder of Beyond Ex-Gay
- Darlene Bogle, former Exodus leader and author of A Christian Lesbian Journey: A Continuation of Long Road to Love
- Jim Burroway, founder of Box Turtle Bulletin
- Jason Cianciotto, research director for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
- Musicians Jason & deMarco
- Rev. Phil Lawson, United Methodist minister and veteran of the 1960’s civil rights movement
- Jeff Lutes, MS, LPC, executive director of Soulforce and licensed psychotherapist
- Jallen Rix, Ph.D., ex-gay survivor, Doctor of Education in Sexology and musician who focuses on healthy sexuality and recovery from ex-gay experiences
- Peterson Toscano, ex-gay survivor and performance artist
- Rev. Nancy Wilson, moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches
Topics include:
- Building Healthy Relationships after an Ex-Gay Experience
- Telling Our Stories Creatively: Writing, Blogging, Video, etc.
- What the Bible Says & Doesn’t Say About Homosexuality
- Courting Justice: Ex-Gays and the Law
- Mental Health Professionals Round Table: Best Practices from the Ex-gay Survivor’s Conference
- Impacting the Media: Successful Strategies for Sharing Your Story with Confidence
There will be a film forum hosted by directors, including:
- God and Gays (Luane Beck & Kim Clark)
- For Such a Time as This (Lisa Darden)
- This is What Love in Action Looks Like (Morgan Jon Fox)
- Fish Can’t Fly (Tom Murray)
- Me and God (Esteban Rael)
I will be attending the conference as an audience member and supporter. I am eager to meet many former ex-gays, their families and friends, and the readers of XGW. We can look forward to a weekend of personal journeys of struggle and personal and spiritual renewal.
For more information and to register, visit Beyond Ex-Gay.
Addendum: Related Media Coverage
Ex-gay or just exploited?
By Marla Jo Fisher, Orange County Register, June 17, 2007
I look forward to meeting you.
I wish I could go just to meet you, and these other courageous folks! alas, I’m on the east coast, lacking much time or money. But kudos and godspeed!
Jim…honey I am SO in and I’m saving up a big, huge HUG for you!!!
Emily, cyber hugs….((((Emily)))…
Wish you could be there too. I’m sure there will be lots to report.
I’m hoping Autumn Sandeen can make it.
See ya!