Some may remember Michael Glatze from his ex-gay debut a couple of years ago. Formerly co-editor of XY Magazine, Glatze and boyfriend of ten years, Benjie Nycum, set out in 2004 to found YGA, another magazine designed for GLBT Youth. Nycum and Glatze also co-authored the book XY Survival Guide while still working with XY in 2000. YGA seems to have published only six issues and stopped publication after 2006.
While all this makes a fine resume for a thirty-something, there is no evidence that Glatze was ever the kind of major “gay rights leader” that conservative commentators claimed when presenting him to the world as having “left homosexuality.” While many had at least heard of XY, no one in this writer’s acquaintance had ever heard of Glatze until the World Net Daily article in July 2007.
Shortly after that article, and the small flurry of posts which followed, things began to appear a bit odd. While Glatze was supposedly getting spiritual and moral support from, of all people, Peter LaBarbera, we started getting some of the background on him. While Glatze was only 13, his father died of a heart condition. His mother followed while Glatze was 19.
Glatze was said to have made some poor choices in his 20s, and to have suffered from intense and frequent panic attacks prior to his announcement in 2007. Heart palpitations led him to obsessively consider that he might have the same heart issues that killed his father, and that his own death was imminent. His (former by this time) boyfriend, Nycum, was concerned about Glatze’ state of mind and well being. The image of a very troubled man was emerging.
It was perhaps these issues, along with the fact that Glatze became affiliated with the Mormon Church, that led conservative evangelicals to stop promoting him. Glatze quickly fell off the radar. He backed out of some interviews at the last minute, and refused further contact. The last major blip was an interview with Joseph Nicolosi published on the National Association for the Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) web site in September 2007 (though the actual interview took place the summer before). Little if anything has been mentioned publicly about Glatze since then.
Then, a couple of weeks ago, Glatze contacted GLBT rights activist Wayne Besen to ask for an interview. We have heard from others who say they have received a similar request. Besen declined, but relayed that Glatzed sounded a bit desperate to receive attention.
Sometime in the past five days, Glatze closed his Facebook account (cached version). Yesterday, October 7, he started posting to a blog. The posts are rapid and short, resembling twitter chat more than blog posts. Disjointed and some quite offensive, we thought it germane enough to relay to readers. Some examples:
Have I mentioned lately how utterly *disgusting* Obama is? And, yes, it’s because he’s black. God, help us all.
It’s a shame Obama is black. He could end up setting back race relations decades.
If Obama had a baby with Down’s Syndrome, he’d probably be frustrated that the child’s intelligence would never be enough to discern that his father is the Messiah. Knowing this, Obama would probably have his Down’s Syndrome baby killed, before it was ever born.
It is not possible to be a man, if you’re constantly wishing you could have a man.
I am tired of sitting here, writing nothing, hoping someone will connect with me. I’d rather go out and have sex with my girlfriend.
Interspersed with such comments are others like these:
I sing praises to the Glory of the Holy Father, God Almighty.
If you look to the East you will find the coming of our Lord. Yes!
What kind of place would you like to live in? Would it be a castle? A house on the beach? A nice cabin in the mountains? (I have the latter. For now!)
I’d have to say that the truth of the Kingdom is that you know, you KNOW, you are living in the place of your dreams.
What is going on here? We have checked the email used in his Blogspot profile against the one he used in his request to Besen and they do match. The image in his Blogspot profile is also the same as the one in his old Facebook account. There seems no doubt this is Glatze, but the comments indicate someone who may be even worse off than he appeared two years ago. If anyone out there knows Glatze, perhaps it would be wise to make sure he is getting whatever help he really needs.
At least we hope that any would-be Glatze promoters might think twice about placing him on the stage again. As Besen determined, that would be unwise and exploitative. Whether he is in need of help or is actually expressing genuine prejudice and hatred, giving him a platform would seem to be pointless and irresponsible at best.
According to their web site, Glatze is again working for The Shambhala Mountain Center, which has a Buddhist meditative theme. Between GLBTs, Evangelical Christians, Mormons and Buddhists, Glatze seems to be searching for something, but his recent ramblings make it unlikely he has found it.
Addendum:
Apparently Glatze did finally find someone who would give him a platform. Just as I was about to post this, I noticed that there is a new column by Glatze in World Net Daily that appeared about 30 minutes ago. This is the same ultra-conservative, anti-gay web site that published the first story about him in 2007. Again, it is a disturbing rant which can only serve to emphasize the points made in this post.
I’m happy Glatze is happy with whatever it is he has now. Too bad he cannot return the favor without what seems to be bile in his throat.
It also looks like Glatze has cleared his old posts. He currently only has one posting (published today) on his blog.
“At least we hope that any would-be Glatze promoters might think twice about placing him on the stage again”
Obvious mental illness has never stopped the anti-gay groups from using James Hartline. And in order to be consistent to their principals, WorldNetDaily is treating Glatze the same. None of us should be surprised.
This is a troubled man. So much anger and desperation to be heard. That’s what his writing style tells me.
So, I heard there was a blog posting about me, here, and I thought it’d be interesting to come check it out. Yes, I do love it when people talk about me – who wouldn’t?
If anybody has anything they’d like to ask me directly, you can e-mail me at michaeleglatze@gmail.com. Obviously, the posting about Obama was a bit of acerbic sarcasm, aimed at the reality that ANY criticism of this man gets you labeled a racist. Obama’s not disgusting because he’s black, he’s disgusting because he seems to hate life, sanction evil, and want nothing more than to destroy America and re-make it in *HIS* image. Clear enough?
Keep calling people who tell the truth crazy, and you’ll only have your own guilt to deal with. Open up to the truth, and you might find you actually get to live, for once. But, don’t take my word for it, I’m just some “right-wing extremist whack-job” who not only hates gays but is racist to boot!!!!
Incidentally, I allowed that posting to remain on my blog because I thought it was just the right kind of fire to bring folks like you scurrying out of the darkness. So fun.
I agree Emily. You can definitely sense his bitterness towards the gay community. I emailed him about some things, so I’m hoping he responds back to shed light on some things he stated in his article.
It saddens me that he works for the Shambhala Mountain Centre, simply because I am a prospective Naropa student and part of the Contemplative Psychology program requirements is a Maitri retreat at the Shambhala Mountain Centre.
Sounds like Glatze is back in need of attention. I suspect he’ll do something desperate soon.
Whatever this fool is, I can see he’s an attention junkie of the lowest order.
Jessica, you’d still be more than welcome at Shambhala Mountain Center. We invite – and, are open to – people of all political and social views. It would be a pleasure to meet you.
Michael Glatze
Jessica, don’t let that discourage you. Keep up with your devotion.
Shawn, I think that’s exactly what he’s looking for; attention – but since you guys probably agree about stuff that others at XGW would never agree about, maybe you’re the right person to contact him.
It seems he’s stopped being Mormon. He was “taken off their list” or something. So now that he’s not involved with what right wing evangelicals consider a “cult,” and is instead with a “Bible Church” of some sort, they’ll want him at their side.
I’ve seen a lot of people grasping for any sort of attention, especially on the internet. They all seem to have the same sort of angry desperation. I know because at one point several years ago I was that same kind of person. I’ve grown up since then and professional help has aided me greatly. I didn’t seek help because I thought it was what “society” wanted me to do; I sought it out because I wanted someone else there to help me drag myself out of that anger and darkness. And of course everyone is a snowflake and humans aren’t turned out on an assembly line, so for everyone there are different issues at hand. But prof. help, as well as the support of my family and friends, was essential for coming through that period.
Michael:
How do you square your Christian/Mormon faith with your work for Shambala? This would seem to be a clear violation of the First Commandment.
Unless you personally evangelize at work, then working for and promoting Shambala at the very least would have the effect of leading people away from Christianity and thus salvation. That is a mortal sin. I am not sure how you justify this to your fellow Christians.
Emily,
Congratulations to you for getting through a difficult period in your life.
I’m interested in “attention,” because I do want to continue to get the message out that a) homosexuality is wrong, and b) people can, and do, leave that lifestyle and have relatively normal, happy, and stable lives.
Those who are against this view will say everything they can think of to hide that truth, including any thing they come up with against me, personally. But, as is the catch-phrase of everybody’s favorite demon, Wayne Besen, “truth wins out.”
I hope that, in this case, that happens for even of few of you hard-nosed liberals.
David,
I am not a Mormon, and have not been in a very long time. Well, for me, it seems like a very long time (roughly two years.)
I do have Scriptural conversations with folks here, and I do worship to both visitors and even staff here. As has been said, I’m sure you know, “the Lord works in mysterious ways.”
‘Hope that answers a bit of your question?
Michael
Michael: Because your own life was unhappy and conflicted, you need not project that on to the rest of us. There are millions of us out here living completely (not “relatively”) normal, happy and stable lives. I have no self-hatred. I don’t despise myself. And I don’t live a “lifestyle.” A lifestyle is, for example, retiring and traveling the country in an RV. My “lifestyle” – if I have one – is living quietly in a nice, suburban neighborhood with my partner and our dogs.
Hard nosed liberals? Really? If this country were run by the conservatives and held “true” to a conservative set of values and a Christian belief, would your Shambhala Mountain Center be able to exist out in the open? Not hardly. It’s us “liberals” that keep the open mind and receptive attitude.
Making blatantly racist comments about the president seriously undermines any arguement that the commentator’s objections to the president aren’t rooted in racism. Non-racist criticisms would probably have been more effective. It leaves me (and I am srure most others who read Mr. Glatze’s words) with the impression that Mr. Glatze probably is a racist.
Guys, don’t feed the troll. We don’t need to justify anything to him.
Oh, and I don’t consider myself a political liberal. I mean I guess believing that gay people aren’t pariahs makes me “liberal” to certain people no matter WHAT. Ok. So be it.
Actually, I think a good portion of the people who visit XGW are on the conservative bent, acceptance of LGBTQ’s aside.
Guys, don’t feed the troll. We don’t need to justify anything to him.
I’m not sure the label is accurate exactly. We wrote about Glatze, so he has the right to drop in and comment. As long as those comments are civil and germane, as we require generally, then we shouldn’t discourage it.
That said, I have observed that many suspect there is a pathology of some sort at work here, so responses should be attenuated with that possibility in mind. Thanks, however, for pointing out the fallacy that everyone here is a “hard-nosed liberal.” LOL
When I first read this post I was horrified by what Michael wrote but then I clicked on his website which in turn led me to several articles that Michael had written. Once I read his comments ‘in context’ they made more sense. Personally I feel that David should have presented Michael’s comments in context rather than as stand alone as I believe many people reading this post will not click on the website to see where Michael is coming from. I’m not so sure I agree with the extreme tactics Michael uses but I do agree with him that for me personally I feel I too was deceived by homosexuality and I could never find peace with it and it felt like walking in darkness for me. Now that I have walked away from it, I feel much peace within and no longer feel the darkness I experienced while in the midst of it.
Moderator Note: “Melissa” apparently used a false email address while commenting, something we do not allow. This, along with the location of the originating IP, causes us to be suspicious of this comment. It will be left up for now to maintain context for those that follow.
Melissa, the commentary Glatze has added was not there when this post went up. Upon finding what I wrote, Glatze simply removed most of his posts (they were mostly one liners). Later today he replaced them all in one post and added “explanations.” I put that in quotes because prior experience with Glatze and his statements cause me to simply doubt he is being truthful. He originally claimed authorship and then said someone else posted the distasteful ones. Now he has offered what you call “context.” At this point I don’t really think he cares about what is and is not truthful, he is just babbling.
If you believe our concern here is mainly over his ex-gay claims, you would be mistaken. I would ask that you read over my post once more, and perhaps follow the links to view a little bit of Glatze’ history. As to the new material on Glatze’ blog, we have linked to it, he has commented here and you didn’t have any problem finding it. We certainly aren’t hiding it, and I’m sure people will give it the weight it deserves.
Does Glatze understand what sarcasm is? I love sarcasm and often employ in ways too subtle for some to appreciate, but I cannot mangle sarcasm from that in a way that makes sense.
And we all (non-sarcastically) hope you do show how normal and stable ex-gays are.
Something doesn’t add up. The Shambhala Mountain Centre is a well-known Buddhist retreat. Christian fundamentalist adamantly believe that Buddhist are a Satanic cult and their meditation techniques demonically inspired. There is no way a born-again Christian would be communing with Buddhists.
If I take a stone and throw it hard to rock solid ground, it will never bounce up 10 feet high. That is truth.
I find it irritating that someone throws a rubber ball to the ground for it to bounce up to 10 feet, and then make claims that the ball is actually a rock, and call it “truth”.
It is absolutely astonishing for anyone, to then believe that a rock can bounce off the rock solid ground back 10 feet high, and calls it “truth”.
And it is ultimately appaling for anyone to market that belief, calling it “ex-non-high-bouncing-rock”, calls rocks that do not bounce that high a “lifestyle”, and insists on everyone to adopt the belief of “high bouncing rocks” a.k.a. rubber balls as the “truth”.
Belief can never be truth. Because in the end however much emotions you put to a rock thrown down to solid ground, can never make it bouce 10 feet high, no matter how many times you choose to call it “truth”. Ex-gay claims have never been truthful. It has always been only a belief. And unfortunately, that is the real truth.
people can, and do, leave that lifestyle and have relatively normal, happy, and stable lives.
And you’re not one of them!
Why would anyone bungle off their own happy and stable life to follow in the footsteps of a f***-up like Michael Glatze?
Please try to watch the language Scott.
It’s obvious to me that based on Mr. Glatze’s monitoring and commenting of this site’s post as well as Box Turtle Bulletin, Truth Wins Out and Warren Throckmorton’s sites that he’s trolling for attention.
He threw a bomb, now we’re all looking at him and he gets to respond.
I’ve watched my 5 year old nephew pull the same attention stunts many times.
Yes Michael, we see you. Now here’s a cookie, please go away now.
Why does Glatzke remind me of 90s attention whore Luke Sissyfag?
David Roberts,
I think Melissa is saying something quite honest, here, and I of course feel similarly, that it would certainly be nice if you represented me squarely, rather than in some snaky way to make me look particularly – “shockingly” – evil.
As you well know, I have been honest and open, more honest and open than many, about where I am coming from both on the topic of my own dealings with homosexuality, as well as on the topics addressed in my small blog, which center around some of the “hot-button” issues of our day. I *think* I have made myself quite clear on my intentions around responding to the constant call of “racism,” any time someone so much as suggests B. Obama is anything less than “The One,” and – though you might disagree with my views, I would be pleased were you to be man enough to actually represent me fairly.
I don’t think I’ve posted anything on any medium insinuating that you intended anything that you clearly do not.
But, I am just asking. You, obviously, have no obligation to reply, other than to continue shaming me, calling me “insane,” and trashing my name in order to suit your own angry agenda, should that be your desire.
Michael Glatze
Melissa,
Thank you. Though I don’t know you, and do not want to make the slightest assumption, I will tell you that it is my intent to raise awareness to a range of issues, including homosexuality and racism. I am just a man attempting to share some of his views, based on some of his experiences.
I am aware that my “style” draws venom from some folks, and that is partly why I continue to do it – to bring out the anger to the surface. I was also thinking: how could I draw more attention to the fact that I have written a “two-years-later” article for World Net Daily… thus, my friend and I came up with some ‘captivating’ blog postings.
I remember Sarah Palin saying that Russia could be seen from Alaska. Tina Fey turned it in to “I can see Russia from my house!” People remember that. Sarah Palin, however, is remembered by people who are interested in actually looking at reality for all of the other intelligent things she has said, and the wonderful things that she has done.
Just a thought.
So David, I would ask that you print a statement of apology for fanning the flames of hatred against me. I don’t expect you to do this – maybe just because I’m going on what little I know of you, from a few postings on this site, as well as the tone in the longer piece above — but, I would LOVE to be pleasantly surprised.
Similarly, I would love for you to engage me in any sort of dialog personally – at michaeleglatze@gmail.com, or here in these comments — if you would like to clear something up. I am just offering that to you, and will do everything in my power to offer you the same courtesy.
Michael
Mr. Glatze,
May I say something? I have to tell you, as a black woman, I empathize more than you might realize on how one’s self esteem and social connectedness is in sexuality.
I’m heterosexual, I’m middle aged now. Black women share minority status…and lots of rejection or face competition for suitable mates and life companions. That’s the lot of being a rarer person, taken for granted.
Much is stacked against us when you add societal prejudice that determines you must disconnect from those like you.
It’s hard to find love with someone who would or should, understand you and those outside forces that attack you best.
We’re taught from youth that the standards of beauty, sexuality and pair bonding has to meet a very narrow standard, one in fact, we could NEVER meet.
It’s NOT any better BEING straight. Not having any relationships at all, or not socializing with your own that YOU are rejecting, doesn’t work either.
You simply enter ANOTHER zone, of being a PARIAH.
You will find that just when you think you’re part of the tribe of which you so badly belongs, THEY do something to remind you, you certainly do NOT.
It’s exhausting to be us in this society. It’s tougher to be gay, a woman…black…especially of certain time periods all within recent memory.
I’ve had my days when I was younger of hating being black, or female. Because the dominant culture WANTS it, demands it.
The dominant culture demands that you hate being gay, and other gay people.
Beware.
Beware.
Your alienation will be more profound because you will have betrayed utterly who and what you are, yet look like a beggar by those straight people you want to be like.
It’s mask. It’s facade.
I don’t know if you ever grew up with blacks or talked to any who grew up around Jim Crow. I had aunts who were light enough to pass. And there are “ex-blacks” who could and did completely renounce their families and any social connections that were black.
But there is no understanding if those same former blacks turned their social action to retain Jim Crow and followed the party line of segregationists to continue and further damage the lives of black people.
Beware.
Former gay people, especially those who show disrespect and disdain and go into political action against gays that continues Jim Crow like inequality are ALWAYS morally wrong to do so.
Jim Crow was implemented and enforced essentially around black sexuality. The fear, paranoia and anxiety around it that is so similar to the same around gay sexuality, they are nearly one and the same.
White people were obsessed with black sexuality, as are straight with gay sexuality.
You have no reason to be yoked by the shame straight people FORCE on you or every other gay child born.
Heterosexuality gives no more moral or intellectual superiority to a person than white skin ever did over black.
People with make up shit to rationalize their cruel intentions.
Beware.
History is not and won’t be kind to you and those you follow.
And this you heard from a straight black woman in the trenches of looking for acceptance.
It’s fine to want it, but as the saying goes: “what does it profit a man that he have the world, and lose his soul?”
You feel me?
Michael, I’m not going to address your statements in detail because when you are in these phases you are all over the place. I’m also not going to let this post thread morph into a stage for you. I said you had a right to make some civil comments in response to a post written about you, but now I feel as though we are enabling you and that’s not something I am comfortable with.
I wrote the facts, others may follow the research and come to their own conclusions. Your latest claim that you might actually have orchestrated the entire sequence of events to support your latest WND post, well it strains credulity to say the least. It also indicates a rather inflated view of your own abilities, which in itself might be telling concerning whatever ails you.
This one-dimensional ranting about the President, about gays, about anything you fixate on at the moment, it is available in large quantities all over the web. No matter where one lands on the ideological or political spectrum, what you bring to the conversation is just not worth debating. You don’t see that now, but you might in a few weeks or months. Do yourself a favor, stop now before you embarrass yourself more and get some help.
The show is over here.
It’s so tragic that Michael has strayed so far, and that he actually believes the tripe he is peddling. I pray for him everyday, and wish the best for him.
Well, this is quite a surprise because the last time I talked to MG in late 2007, he was devastated over a man who’d broken up with him. Sounds like a serious case of self-hate mixed with “if I say enough bad things about gayness I won’t be gay.” Kind of like cutting your throat so you won’t drink…good luck with that.