Exodus Executive Vice President Randy Thomas has posted his first open comments concerning the conference mess in Uganda. Most of the post is nothing new but there are a couple of sentences that have truly left me speechless.
It isn’t going to be a gay activist yelling at the Ugandan government that will actually get our ssa brothers and sisters out of jail. It will be people like me pleading with these leaders to recognize the Christ-likeness inherent in respecting self-determination and the dignity of every soul that draws breath.
There is nothing I can say right now.
I would say that this is “unbelievable,” but that would be a lie. I can believe this very much.
This would be laughable if not for the fact that real live Ugandans are suffering so much due to these Exodus supported human rights abuses. Randy and Alan would pretend now not to support these crimes against humanity while they sat on their hands during this horrid conference and sent a high level emissary (a sitting Exodus Board Member) to give this conference the Exodus International stamp of approval.
Randy has never stood up for justice for gay people. And I would love to see how long it would take for Ugandan authorities to toss him in the klink after they heard is lurid (ever changing) testimony of his pre-ex-gay lifestyle.
Under the newly proposed Ugandan legislation, Randy Thomas would be arrested for homosexuality under the terms of his current lifestyle. Some of the new legislative proposals make same-sex attraction illegal — not just behavior.
The lone (at least that he has let through) comment on Randy’s blog in response to this post pats him on the back for resisting the “constant hounding for a sound bite.” Nobody asked for a sound bite, that’s just all Exodus gives!
I’ve got to take a break tomorrow, this stuff is leaving me sick to my stomach.
I read Randy’s blog site for about 5 minutes. I have never encountered such a self-absorbing person in my life (thank God it was just on the internet and not in person).
He needs to add to his words so as to make his true thoughts match his wording…
the dignity of every sould that draws breath AND RENOUNCES THEIR SSA TENDENCIES AS SINFUL.
Randy cares about one thing: Randy. I doubt he would go to Uganda even if he won an all-expense vacation to it on a game show.
God help us from those who say they are helping God!
Randy Thomas – simply unbelieveable. Exodus needs to enter the 19th century, since they’re currenty operating in 4 B.C.
(I admit that I am upset with these kinds of statements. I already have to face a singing pastor in my country who thinks he is the answer to the “marginalized homosexuals”.)
A question to Randy Thomas, why the need to glorify yourself? So now it is “with Randy all things are possible” is it? Where is God in all your “ministry”? Apologies, but my relationship with Christ that affirms me is what saves me.
I do not need you to save people like me, when all you are doing is slated to make our lives more miserable, especially the Ugandans. We can also do without the brain contortions we have to face with your words and behaviour.
Jeez, cut the guy a little slack. Where would we be without Randy and Exodus’ brave and vital contribution to overturning sodomy laws in the US?
Think back over every advance in gay rights the world over, and try to imagine it happening without any contribution whatsoever from the ex-gay community. That’s just crrrrazzzy!
Good point, Boo.
I’m sure the Ugandan LGBTs, like us, want much less of their “help”.
Does anyone know of an organization providing real help that we can support/donate to?
Finally, my first thought (aside from “How dare he?!”) was, “From one prison to another…”
Perhaps, we should start a fund to send Randy Thomas to Uganda and fulfill his great desire to campaign on behalf of gay rights. Tickets cost about $1,200. However, once there, he must take advantage of our generosity by:
1) Telling his tawdry coming out story in churches, with the same shocking and voyeuristic detail he tells it in America.
2) He must publicly lobby the main religious figures who want to pass such horrible laws. This includes confronting the anti-gay group leader who threw the event in broad daylight and taking him to task for his persecution.
3) Thomas must lobby the most homophobic legislators in Uganda against passing such legislation.
4) He must throw a high profile press conference in Kampala – at the same fancy hotel where the conference took place. At this event he will renounce, on behalf of Exodus, all sodomy laws worldwide.
5) If arrested for promoting homosexuality, he can’t run to the U.S. Embassy for protection – since such protection is not afforded in Uganda. Why should he not be subjected to the same laws that his group has helped support?
I’m sure Thomas won’t mind going to Uganda and publicly lobbying to end persecution against gays. After all, if there is one thing Mr. Thomas is infatuated with (other than himself) it is hovering around powerful people and lobbying.
So, what do you think, Randy?
I feel stupid for not seeing that Exodus’s mission in Uganda was to decriminalize homosexualiity and end the persecution of gays.
Since we now know that those who think like Randy are the only ones who have the power to change things, I’m very keen to see a full record of Randy’s efforts to end the persecution of gays in Uganda. He can couple that with a detailed rundown of everything Exodus has done to end the criminalization of homosexuality.
Shall I hold my breath?
Alan S. said:
Well Alan, now you know what the rest of us have to go through by tracking his blog as often as we do. 🙁 Even his proclaimed desire to “help” is just a backhanded compliment to himself, at how HE is SOOOO “Christ-like” and “compassionate.” Lordy!
You’re exactly right, Alan. He needs to add this in order for the statement to be honest.
I think your’e right Jayelle. It’s interesting that the bulk of his choosing to not be gay anymore is based on how the “gay ideology” (read: lifestyle) was so pigeonholing and restrictive, unlike fundamentalist Christianity, which of course offers such freedom and variance. ¬_¬
Wayne, I doubt he would take you up on this offer.
Dave Rattigan, you shouldn’t hold your breath for that but you might be able to hold your breath waiting for him to post a passive-aggressive response to us.
Emily:
I’m glad you do it because I’d rather eat lead. But he does serve one purpose, and that is being a very good example of what Exodus is all about … self-absorbtion.
“Perhaps, we should start a fund to send Randy Thomas to Uganda”
ka-ching $
Please, people…
I know we said otherwise elsewhere, but we have reconsidered. (It took 10 minutes and two very dry Cinzano).
The last thing Uganda needs is Randy Thomas.
A country burdened by (in parts) hate and (in parts) hunger does NOT need to be Love-&-Buffet bombed by Randy.
Think of the green-house effect, if nothing else.
Could we not, instead, sponsor the (secular) education of several needy children for their life? Can we do that as a “We Will Do This Rather Than Send Exodus To Uganda Fund”???
Seriously — I think Wendy and Warren and “etc etc etc” may also willingly contribute. (Just don’t tell them we suggested it.)
And that’s just it folks. Not Thomas, nor Chambers or Lively for that matter have to LIVE THERE.
They don’t have to be so bothered with the consequences of interfering with an already deeply serious situation.
There is something of history repeating itself here…
As an aside, the same holds true when the anti-gays attempt to buffer their sanctimonious rants with the equalizing line: “we’re all sinners.” An insidious lie meant hide what they really think:
“We’re all sinners, but some of us are more sinful than others.”
Or, “We’re all sinners, but some of us are more repentant than others,” etc.
Animal Farm: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
———-
Back on topic (well, sort of):
So now I’m curious, was Don “married almost 50 years” Schmierer sent to the conference in lieu of Alan “still has temptations” Chambers, out of safety concerns?
I think that statement sums it up perfectly.
Alan Chambers has stated that he is not a sinner — salvation, he believes, conveniently absolved him of that status. The salvation of liberals does not have quite the same effect, for some reason.
Really? Perhaps Alan should read his BIble: ”
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. New American Standard Bible (©1995)