-Same-sex couples begin marrying in Iowa.
-Support for gay clergy continues to grow within the Presbyterian Church (USA).
-Ex-gay survivor Christine Bakke responds to her mother’s decision to start an ex-gay ministry named after Christine’s blog.
-Graduate student Scott Boscoe-Huffman seeks same-sex couples to participate in a research study.
-The New Hampshire State Senate passes a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. Governor Lynch has not yet announced whether he will veto it.
-Support for marriage equality in the United States has increased dramatically in recent months, according to a new poll.
-Congresswoman Virginia Foxx attempts to rewrite the history of Matthew Shepard’s murder.
-Ex-gay survivor Maris Sants to speak at a psychotherapy conference in London.
-The Maine State Senate votes in favor of same-sex marriage. The bill now moves on to the House.
-Miss California and National Organization for Marriage spokesperson Carrie Prejean declines to state whether she would date an ex-gay man.
Oh, I’ve asked so many ex-gay ministry supporters whether they would date an ex-gay person or be happy if their child or sister did, and they always get really cagey! I’m tired of the whole Carrie Prejean thing–I wouldn’t miss either her or Perez Hilton if they were abducted by aliens–but that question was gold.
Good news about marriage and lots of it–awesome possum!
And that is, to say the least, really low of Christine’s mother to do.
Christine’s blog, Rising Up Whole, states “I don’t know if it’s an ex-gay ministry or just a general counseling ministry”. I believe Christine has chosen her words carefully because she is not certain what her mother’s purpose is in establishing “Rising Up Whole Ministiries”. I think it best to tread cautiously when addressing this as it is probable her family reads Christine’s blog and also to not lose sight of the incredible work Christine has done by being so public with her story and becoming whole.
We honestly cannot work out why Christine Bakke is such a generous soul. Grateful, of course, but cannot work it out. By all rights she should be bitter and half way to sociopathic.
I guess it just reminds us of the importance of having decent people around you. If not family, then friends and colleagues. ‘Gay Family’, or what ever sort you create.
But we cannot help wonder — simply from our own relationships. If one of our mothers was to do this type of thing, she would do it in full knowledge it would be very hurtful. Hence, she would not do it. Or hence, the response would come as no surprise.
We just don’t treat one another like that. Cannot imagine actually doing it, frankly.
Perhaps Christine is simply a much better person than either of us. I don’t know — she’s not got our mother/s, and we don’t have hers. But we can’t see why anyone need deal with Christine with such hostility. She seems nice enough for us to like.
I must say that I don’t feel sorry for Christine; I feel sorry for her mother.
Christine seems to be at a place of wholeness and strength that her mother clearly hasn’t reached (and at this point may never reach). Her mother seems stuck in a bitter place, lashing out in whatever way that she can to try to harm Christine. I wish Christine the best.