This post was written by David Roberts and Emily K.
While the situation in Uganda continues to spiral down, Exodus has issued a response of sorts by way of a post by Vice President Randy Thomas to the official Exodus blog. He refers to the constant pleas by those of us who have been working to avoid the inhumane pain and bloodshed that the coming laws will provide an already repressive society as “North American noise,” and to us as “American militant gay activists.”
What little we have seen come from Exodus on this matter has been weak and filled with attempts to cover their collective posteriors. These “militant gay activists” contacted Exodus behind the scenes in plenty of time for them to call, email, fax, etc, Don Schmierer and ask him to avoid participating. He was to appear with some truly despicable characters for what no one with the ability to form coherent sentences could possibly have mistaken for a positive event. To say otherwise is simply shameful.
That said, it is interesting how American militant gay activists demand that Exodus has no right or authority to speak into public policy here in the states (where we have 230+ Member Agencies facing potential threats to their religious liberties) but then demand that we speak into public policy in other countries like Uganda where we have 0 Member Agencies.
The comparison made here is between some imaginary loss of liberties for the Exodus Network in the United States and the arrest and execution of gay men and women, their supporters, friends, and family in Uganda. Arrest and execution for doing nothing more than living their lives with some degree of integrity and freedom. This comparison is beyond self-centered, it is disgusting.
These same “American militant gay activists” privately informed Exodus of the situation in Uganda, and the danger of Schmierer speaking there, and did so in plenty of time for Alan Chambers to have contacted Schmierer himself and ask him to bow out. This would have been the position of integrity, showing some true interest in the well being of the people Exodus claims to care so much about. If this had happened, these same “American militant gay activists” could have and would have written a positive story about what Exodus had done when presented with the facts.
Scott Lively is a holocaust revisionist, conspiratorial nut and part of a hate group. Richard Cohen is a joke and has been discredited more ways than can be represented here. So, Exodus, what is your excuse?
Randy’s response to the conference was this self-righteous statement:
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. If I had the opportunity I would go directly to the jail and visit these people and plead for their freedom. It wouldn’t matter if that ssa person identified as gay or agreed with me … they should not be in jail and I would try everything I could to get them out and safe.
He has yet to book a flight, even after this recent turn of events. Randy became somewhat self-concious of his statement and “clarified” with the following:
I know that I like to play around with how groovy I am. I also like to twitter my thoughts on world domination but apparently I think I am also the only one who can create a cultural revolution in Uganda. (joke.)
Well, the “joke” isn’t funny. Not then and especially not now, where people’s lives are on the line. While Randy is spending his time at Exodus’ second-highest post blogging and twittering, Uganda’s sexual minorities will spend their time wondering if their deaths are imminent.
Just be specific for a change. You screwed up, royally, and it has caused damage. Admit it, ask forgiveness and then take some action to correct it. Aside from a dwindling choir, no one is impressed with what you are saying right now.
He and his organization have no moral clarity and no sense of perspective, and they arrogate responsibility over others’ lives to themselves anyway. How awful. This is worse than nothing. This is someone who thinks that another American citizen using the same rights he does in service of a different viewpoint is at least as bad as the murder and imprisonment of innocent people abroad! Well, you know, at least the Ugandans are conveniently far away, not all getting in his face and making him think and stuff. That’s the important thing.
The thing is, I do think he has a point, saying that a conservative Christian can probably do more to help Ugandans than an openly L, G, B, or T person. But he doesn’t really seem interested in helping, only covering his ass. If he did want to help, he’d be booking a flight for someone to go to Uganda. After all, they managed to have that conference there. He’d be sharing what Exodus has been doing to plead the Ugandan government for mercy. He brags about everything else.
I don’t think I can be any angrier, sicker, or sadder. I know there is much movement between the two blogs, but I recommend that if anyone here hasn’t already gone to Box Turtle Bulletin and used the list of contacts Jim Burroway generously provides to send letters, please do so. The world is watching Uganda, and the world is watching you, Randy Thomas.
Einstein said “The serious problems of the day cannot be solved by the consciousness that created them.”
Randy Thomas, you’re an asshole.
1. For saying that gay people say that Exodus shouldn’t interfere with public policy in other governments, but then take gay people to task for demanding that you and your org, should do just that.
It was reps from Exodus that went to Uganda and promoted that gay people should renounce being gay, not the people who are talking to you now.
You blame gay people for anti gay sentiment in the world, but it wasn’t gay people who created it.
Set up and punch, that’s what you’ve done to innocent gay Ugandans and those that care about them.
It figures you’d hide yourself safely over here after all the damage done by your cohorts.
T
Oh my. And I’d thought this couldn’t get much worse.
Exodus should be ashamed. Randy Thomas should be ashamed, for his name-calling and disingenuous attitude.
(That word’s going to get you into trouble here Regan, but the feeling is well and truly shared by us. Randy is a maggot, and Exodus stands exposed for what it is. Again.)
No Randy — what we are demanding is that Exodus RE-speak into public policy in Uganda.
Exodus has already spoken to public policy in Uganda: you did it when your Board member went to that country with two other anti-gay North American activists in support of a campaign of further persecution.
Exodus could have said no before the time. Exodus could have spoken out in support of gay men and women, and against persecution, at the conference. Exodus could have sent their Board member armed with a strong statement that condemned the criminal laws in Uganda.
But you did none of those things.
I guess I got my street cred now…. Randy Thomas evidently deleted my comment to his Ugandan post. I was pointing out the incongruity between Thomas’ quote of Schmierer said he preached and had people “soften up” and “come around” to his ‘compassionate ideals’ – and what Langa and the FLN had been doing. Happily though, Thomas still has the trackback from Throckmorton’s blog that does the same thing!
The original list of contacts for those who want to express their opposition to this law is here.
According to their twitter feeds, Alan just got done shopping for a new Volvo, and has left with the fam for some time in So Cal (quote, “I just love bi-coastal living”). Randy, who recently returned from a little jaunt to Mexico, will be holding down the fort. Does it ever seem that Exodus exists just to keep those two living in some sort of bizarre ex-gay fairyland? Isn’t it about time for a change of guard?
And no, I am not petty enough to ask what Randy had to go all the way to Mexico to get.
I need to shut up. This entire thing has got me very upset.
Nice to see that peoples’ hard-earned donation money is being put to good use!
(Though given what they’ve done to Ugandans and to teenagers here when they do apply themselves, I guess I actually would rather see that money used to buy Alan Chambers a Volvo and Randy Thomas whatever he went to Mexico to get.)
My comments also mysteriously disappeared from Exodus’ blog. So, much for “trying better ways to foster dialog“.
Warren Throckmorton, who is probably the farthest from being a gay activist, has also criticised Exodus’ board member’s involvement in the Ugandan anti-gay conference.
It’s odd that Thomas argues that it is unfair to expect Exodus INTERNATIONAL to comment on their board member’s actions internationally. More oddly, his blog post then refers to Exodus Global Alliance which has an even less clear position regarding the criminal prosecution of gays.
I wonder how Randy would feel if we called him a militant anti-gay activist? I’m so sick of this guy.
Randy keeps saying that although Don Schmierer is a board member they don’t have control with what he does apart from Exodus. Really, so you mean if Don had decided to speak at a white supremacist rally along side of the Aryan Nation Exodus wouldn’t have had a problem with that and they would have used the same logic? I doubt it.
Those were my thoughts as well.
Sitting next to those on a panel who openly support the criminalization of any expression of, or support for those with SSA, IS giving one’s implicit approval of—with the “credibility” of EI—those who do support such criminalization, and by default, make it have everything to do with Ugandan law.
The only trust-of-conscience “credibility” that Randy Thomas and Alan Chambers could hope to regain after their involvement with this human rights disaster, is if they openly called for Schmierer’s immediate resignation, and/or, resigned themselves.
This situation underscores the impotent nature of Exodus’ Presidential and VP positions.
Are they little more than glorified spokespeople, or do they have little to no conscience to speak of?
Happy Halloween
I know some might not take this to heart, but I feel the need to do this. Know that I am honestly speaking from my heart here.
“I’m sorry. I was wrong. I should have spoken up earlier about these issues, but I have failed to do so. I am truly sorry.”
I do not work for Exodus, but I am a Christian … a part of the Church. Not only has Exodus been silent about this, but the Church has as well. On behalf of them, I seriously want to apologize for the message we have been sending – especially in regards to the situation in Uganda.
Please know, though, that there are many Christians outraged at this – I am one of them.
What Exodus has done (and has not done) frustrates me to no end. Above and beyond all things, they are supposed to be a Christian ministry – devoted to bringing the hope and love of Christ to all people. They are supposed to speak out against such inhumane cruelty in EVERY part of the world; regardless if they have “associations” with such places or not. Jesus told His disciples to go out into all the world and preach the good news … the whole world, implies the entire world … not just those places that “support” you.
I could go on (and I will on my blog) but I wanted to let you know that there are Christians who agree with you all, and who ARE standing up against what is going on in Uganda.
I will be heading there at the end of November, to speak in front of several Church leaders. Here is a write up I did on my blog about my trip … https://six11.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/going-to-uganda/
Again, on behalf of the Christian community, I am very sorry. Our actions (lack of actions) have not shown the true heart of Jesus. I pray that as I go to Uganda, I can help change that perception.
-SH
I also just posted this response, as well.
Shwn,
If this law is in ful force by the endof November, you will be riskng a prison sentence for speaking up about persecution of gay people in Uganda. I am sure there will be no exception under the law for foreigners. You may want to think long and hard about whether you want to spend a few years in a jail in Uganda.
I have read on one blog from a Ugandan gay (cannot remember which one it was right now) that the bill has been tabled until January 2010. If the bill were to become law, as I read it, the bill would not apply to a foreigners unless they were in Uganda itself. It would, however, apply to any Ugandan citizen anywhere in the world.
Right. I understood that too Lynn. But thanks for the warning, John. I am trusting God wholeheartedly on this.
-SH
Since Randy’s on GOogle Wave, I waved (?) him with the bill but only silence.
Does anyone else notice the same people who complain about “militant” gays or liberals also bring loaded guns to peaceful protests and scream treason when Washington DC cracked down on guns?
Shawn,
Are you going to Uganda or not? Your post left me with the impression that you were going there at the end of November.
If you are going, you should invite Alan and Randy to join you.
Does anyone here seriously think that any Exodus head will come out with an authentically Christ-like position on this whole sad affair? Uganda is an American dominionist’s wet dream. Dobson and the Focusoids would enact draconian anti-gay laws in this country in a heartbeat if we didn’t have a judiciary that keeps the separation of church-state. I am sure the lea$h is kept very tight on the Exodus leaders to make sure that they take no position at variance with their owners.
What does it profit a man if he gains a new Volvo or Mexican vacation, but loses his soul in the process?
Yes, John, I am going. (Not sure where the confusion is.)
As for Exodus … I can’t speak for them, but I am pretty sure no one will be going with me. Even if I invited them.
Besides I have a full plate already, with what else I will be doing there.
Shawn, I encourage you to contact the State Department and request some support and/or protection from them. Even if the law does not apply to foreigners, “justice” in Uganda is flexible enough for authorities to do as they wish — and if they don’t, vigilantes may do the authorities’ dirty work for them.
Raising the attention of the State Department may also prompt them to intervene against this legislation.
Up to now, Truth Wins Out has been working some informal Congressional and diplomatic channels. We are awaiting some responses, and pondering next steps.
Best,
Mike Airhart
TWO