Activist/author Wayne Besen today criticized a new exgay book, “Closing the Closet: Testimonies of Deliverance from Homosexuality.”
The book, edited by pastor Talbert W. Swan II, includes a foreword by exgay religious activist D.L. Foster and an afterword by antigay doctor John R. Diggs Jr., M.D. (Google search).
From the book description:
The purpose of the book will be not to just inform the public at large about their testimonies, but to hopefully let the world see first hand, from the mouths of people that lived the homosexual lifestyle, that homosexuality is not an immutable trait and that through the power of God, anyone can be delivered from homosexuality.
Features exgay profiles of:
Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International
Dottie Ludwig, executive director of Eagle’s Wings Ministry
Tom Cole, executive director of Living Hope Ministries
Alan Medinger, former executive director of Exodus International
Stephen Bennett, Christian songwriter and recording artist
Mike Haley, Focus on the Family
Steve Rooks, dancer and professor at Vassar College
Comments on science by:
Sue Bohlin
Warren Throckmorton
Activist/author Wayne Besen responds:
AUTHOR CONDEMNS NEW EX-GAY BOOK URGING GAYS TO GO BACK INTO THE CLOSET
Gov. James McGreevey and Rep. Ed Schrock Scandals Show the Closet Destroys Families, Says Besen
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Activist Wayne Besen today condemned a new book by right-wing ministers that urges gay people to go straight — and straight back into the closet. “Closing the Closet: Testimonies from Deliverance from Homosexuality” features stories from 23 “ex-gays” who said they prayed away the gay.
The recent coming out of married New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey, D-N.J., and the resignation of married right-wing Rep. Ed Schrock, R-Va., after he was revealed to be gay, shows that this misleading book is mean-spirited and anti-family, says Besen.
“The families of James McGreevey and Ed Schrock know that the closet leads only to pain, suffering, shattered lives and broken homes,” said Wayne Besen, author of Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth. “It is terribly cruel and irresponsible for these ‘Closet Assistance Programs’ to trick people into believing change is possible when it is not. How many families will have to be destroyed before they stop promoting this devastating, politically-motivated gimmickry?”
Besen was also highly skeptical of the book because of its reliance on recycled ‘ex-gays’ who are on the dole of right wing political groups or make their living by sharing their testimony.
“Why did this book use a number of ex-gay lobbyists who get paid to say they’ve changed?” asked Besen. “It must be very difficult to find ex-gays who have normal jobs and normal lives and aren’t professional flacks for right wing political groups. I question whether ex-gays who are independent of fundamentalist political groups actually exist.”
“Closing the Closet” is a knock-off of a booklet of ex-ex-gay testimonials Besen edited for the Human Rights Campaign, “Finally Free: How Love And Self Acceptance Saved Us From the Ex-Gay Ministries.”
“I am horrified that this book pilfered ‘Finally Free’ and twisted the original idea to support ex-gay propaganda,” said Besen. “The only thing honest about this book is the title, which reveals its true agenda of sending gay people back in the closet.”
More information on the ex-gay myth can be found at, www.AnythingButStraight.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, Sept. 6, 2004
Contact: Wayne Besen
Mobile: 917-691-5118
E-Mail: Wbesen@aol.com
oh, I love Wayne, he’s sooo sexy, and smart too. 🙂
A book comprising profiles of professional ex-gays? Oh, my, how instructive.
It’s interesting that Mr. Besen criticizes a book that he has NEVER read and makes sweeping generalizations that are completely false. First, I have never even heard of his work “Finally Free” until I read his critique of “Closing the Closet,” therefore, how could I have “pilfered and twisted” something I have never read and prior to now never knew existed? Second, Mr. Besen states:
“Why did this book use a number of ex-gay lobbyists who get paid to say they’ve changed?” asked Besen. “It must be very difficult to find ex-gays who have normal jobs and normal lives and aren’t professional flacks for right wing political groups. I question whether ex-gays who are independent of fundamentalist political groups actually exist.”
If Mr. Besen wanted to make an informed critique he should have at least read the book. He would have known that of the 23 testimonies printed many have “normal jobs and normal lives” and are not, as he so condescendingly puts it “professional flacks for right wing political groups.” Clearly, the college professor, housewife, students, military photographer, probation officer, professional dancer, and gospel singer should answer his quetion of whether “ex-gays who are independent of fundamentalist political groups actually exist.”
Mr. Besen completes his diatribe of the book by suggesting that there is “nothing hones” about it. It’s sad that he would questions the honesty of an individual’s personal testimony. 23 individuals were brutally honest about their lives as homosexuals and about the process by which they were delivered from that lifestyle. Their personal testimonies should not be considered as an attack on anyone, they have a right to tell their stories! Why does Mr. Besen fell so threatened by their stories?
I personally have never struggled with homosexuality, however, I am proud of the men and women who are willing to share their lives with others in order to proclaim the message that God loves everyone and that their is nothing that He cannot deliver us from. For those who want are truly interested in the contents of the book please get a copy and READ it. Don’t take the word of a man, who obviously has one mission, to silence the mouths of the men and women who proclaim that their is deliverance from homosexuality.
Rev. Talbert W. Swan, II
Editor, Closing the Closet: Testimonies of Deliverance from Homosexuality
Pastor, Solid Rock Church of God in Christ
Indian Orchard, MA
http://www.srcogic.com
I agree Rev. Swaln, God can deliver us from anything, including a lifetime of lying and living in the closet. It certainly took me 20 years to finally hear God, to realize he had answered my prayers, but he answered “No” when I asked to change, when I begged to change. God wants me to be gay, and if that could only be explained to the “ex-gay” movement, we would all be better off.
There Mr. Swann goes again with his patent dishonesty. It seemed everyone he featured in his press material was indeed a professional ex-gay. I welcome a full list of these folks to see who is truly independent. Further, he is less than entirely honest about the intention of ex-gays when he says:
“Their personal testimonies should not be considered as an attack on anyone…”
He failed to mention that he, as well as many of these folks in the book, are political lobbyists who have worked to deny gay people equal marriage rights. Mr. Swann’s interest is not in changing gay people – which isn’t possible – but changing laws that would protect us from discrimination. Why is it so hard for these folks to just tell the truth? For a preacher, he sure has trouble with the Biblical verse about bearing false witness.
I second Wayne’s sentiments.
You know, I could give a shit whether homosexually oriented individuals want to remove themselves from the gay community, call themselves “ex-gay,” stop entering into meaningful or meaningless same-sex relations. Or even, “gasp,” try getting married to members of the opposite sex (which I don’t think is a good idea — but if their respective spouses know what they are getting into, then they’ve assumed the risk, and I feel less sorry for them than I would for a spouse who really thought she were marrying a man who could love her like a “normal” man could, but instead married a closet case). If you want to be “ex-gay,” more power to you.
The fact is, the religious right is interested in using these “ex-gays” to foster their own anti-gay agenda. And even prominent “ex-gays” like Anthony Falzarono have taken the religious right to task for this (and suffered professionally for it).
The religious right’s argument is something along the lines of, “if ex-gays really exist, then somehow, gay rights are somehow illegitimate,” which is itself a faulty and illogical premise.
I distinctly remember seeing Stephen Bennett furthering this faulty premise on some talk show where he claimed something along the lines of, (I’m paraphrasing; I don’t remember the exact quote) “my existence demonstrates why there should be no gay rights.”
Once again Mr. Besen makes felonious claims that he knows are not true. He calls me a “political lobbyist” and asserts that I “bear false witness.” Ironically, he quotes the Bible in his infantile attempt to impugn my integrity.
Mr. Besen, I challenge you to respond to both my book and my character on the basis of FACT. I have never been a political lobbyist in my life nor do I “bear false witness” against my neighbor. Mr. Besen and I have NEVER met, talked, or even exchanged emails, yet he purports to be an authority on my book, my life and my intentions. I wonder how he has gained so much insight into a man he has never seen or heard.
The truth is, I am interested in spreading the message that gay people CAN CHANGE. The testimonies in my book provide proof of that. Mr. Besen unfortunately could not capture any photos of the contributors to “Closing the Closet” running out of gay bars so it must be frustrating for him to face the reality that real change is possible.
Mr. Besen states:
“I welcome a full list of these folks to see who is truly independent.”
Well Mr. Besen, trust me when I tell you that we are not trying to keep the identities of the book contributors a secret. Selling the book would give that away, wouldn’t it? If you are truly interested you can check the full list of contributors at http://www.closingthecloset.com. Of course this may cause some unecessary scrutiny on the lives of these fine individuals as Mr. Besen may choose to call out the ex-gay patrol and private investigators to see if they have truly been delivered.
Be that as it may, deliverance is possible and there are thousands of so-called “ex-gays” to prove it.
Peace and Blessings
Pastor Talbert W. Swan, II
http://www.srcogic.com
Swan:
Non sequitur
Just because some ‘ex-gays’ cannot be found roaming in gay bars doesn’t imply that a ‘real change’ in sexual orienation is possible.
Swan:
Why is that unnecessary for such a controversial topic? A book really means nothing if the idea and the people behind it lack serious credibility. Like it or not, these people made themselves public the second they’ve approved the publication of their testimonies.
1. Closing the Closet is a book of testimonials. Why is someone’s first hand account of THEIR lives so threatning to activist gays like Wayne Besen? Only he knows the real reason.
Rev. Swan is being “patently dishonest”? HOW? Just because Wayne Besen says he is? Besen should be a little more intelligent than to make such a juvenile assertion about us and our lives and about a man he does not know nor has even met.
2. Additionally, Besen fails to explain how one becomes a so-called “professional exgay”. (I’d really like to know!) What credible source determines such a moniker? What criteria is used? And unless one has himself been a professional exgay or exgay at all for any length of time, how would he/she truly know what being an exhomosexual is like? Instead of attempting to be fair and balanced about his examinations of former homosexuals, he engages in typical fear based commentary. I call exgayphobia. An irrational fear of the message of change from homosexuality. Every person has the right to reject or accept our message.
3. Exgays are not monolithic in our approach to ministry to affected people. That’s no big secret. Some people use the information we present to them and make monumental changes in their lives. Some do not apply it, “fail” and return to being “gay”. Thats no big secret either. People flunk out of Yale and Harvard all the time. That doesnt mean those institutions are bad or unfit to continue serving those who WANT an education from them. So it goes with us. If you dont want to stop being gay or you dont believe that people can change, thats your call.
There are plenty of people who do believe they can change and do want our help. And we will help them, God willing.
“Be that as it may, deliverance is possible and there are thousands of so-called “ex-gays” to prove it.”
This compared to the millions (tens of millions) of gays out there. Hmmm. Chances aren’t sounding so great.
Rev. Swan- you do believe that gays can become straight? Do you also believe that there should be no laws protecting gays from discrimination?
“There are plenty of people who do believe they can change and do want our help. And we will help them, God willing.”
Yes Darryl and those that don’t want to “change” will be pummeled by professional ex-gays like yourself via the legislative process.
FYI, anyone who makes a buck (or several) going from legislature to legislature and sticking their noses into the lives of gay taxpayers giving their “testimony” in a desperate attempt to limit the well being of others qualifies as a “professional ex-gay”.
Ring any bells?
“Thousands” of “ex-gays” Mr. Foster? I wonder where are they?
Where are the people who were forcibly tortured in mental hospitals during the 40s, 50s and 60s – why have they not come forward to proclaim the wonderfulness of being “free” from homosexuality after their “cures”?
And why was it that Robert Spitzer could identify fewer than 250 people who were willing to claim to be “ex-gay” and fewer than 20% of those actually claimed a “complete” change of orientation?
Methinks your estimates of these “ex-gay” people (in reality celibate homosexuals or bisexuals who have chosen to limit themselves to one gender) may be a tad high.
Mr. Swan is a Pentecostal minister in a major Pentecostal denomination. That background is (for me, with my own Pentecostal pulpit background) adequate cause to view his book with the closest scrutiny, if at all. The Pentecostals still hold to the notion that “homosexuality is sin”, and if it’s a sin then it’s a choice, and if it’s a choice then they can change their mind, and if they can change their mind then they should because (after all) homosexuality is a sin, and if it’s a sin it’s a …..
Been there, done that, woke up, got over it.
Pentecostals (or their publishers) have nothing to tell me about being gay or ‘ex-gay’. I’ve heard it all before. If the ‘ex-gay’ phenomenon were a reality, rather than a religiously-based myth, there would be plenty of peer-reviewed science to back it up. Anecdotal testimonies have to stand up to scrutinity. The more outrageous or incredible the claim, the more important it is to actually prove it.
Here is the statement on gay marriage by Rev. Swan’s Pentecostal denomination (Church of God in Christ)
We, the Presiding Bishop, the General Board and the Board of Bishops of the Church of God in Christ, solemnly proclaim that the institution of marriage was established and ordained by God (Genesis 2:24). Therefore “God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:27). He created “the woman for the man” (I Corinthians 11:9). Therefore, “marriage is honorable” (Hebrews 13:4).
We believe that since the beginning of recorded history, in most cultures of the world; marriage has been defined as the lawful union of one man and one woman. The traditional form of marriage is one of the bedrock institutions of most societies. We, therefore, affirm the preservation of the present definition of marriage as being the legal union of one man and one woman as husband and wife.
We believe that, “Children are a heritage of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” (Psalms 127:3). In order to provide for continuation of the species, God created within male and female the potential for bearing children. The first commandment given to Adam and Eve was to “be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.” (Genesis 1:28). Marriage between male and female provide the structure for conceiving and raising children. Compliance with this command of God is a physical and biological impossibility in same-sex unions. We, therefore, believe that only marriages between male and female, as ordained by God, is essential for the procreation of mankind.
We believe that the homosexual practices of same-sex couples are in violation of religious and social norms and are aberrant and deviant behavior. We believe that these unions are sinful and in direct violation of the law of God in that they are a deviation from the natural use and purpose of the body. “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which is due.” (Romans 1:26-27 NKJV). We believe that to legalize such unions will signal ecclesiastical and social approval of homosexuality and sexual deviancy as legitimate lifestyles.
Therefore, in spite of the progressive normalization of alternative lifestyles and the growing legal acceptance of same-sex unions; we declare our opposition to any deviation from traditional marriages of male and female. Notwithstanding the rulings of the court systems of the land in support of same-sex unions; we resolve that the Church of God in Christ stand resolutely firm and never allow the sanctioning of same-sex marriages by its clergy nor recognize the legitimacy of such unions.
Wayne Besen doesn’t speak for all gays. I am gay but believe it is by choice and not by god-given design. I believe that certain circumstances in my life led me to be attracted to other men and I respect the right of Rev. Swan and those who give their testimonies in his book to share their experiences and knowledge on the subject.
Often, we in the gay community can get as vile and hateful as those who oppose homosexuality. Wayne is an extremely bitter man who will not listen to anyone who doesn’t share his viewpoint.
Henry, how do you define ‘gay’? You may choose your identity, but explain us how can you choose your attractions to the same sex?
Henry, can you also explain us why should we compare isolated cases of people queer community who are as vile and hateful as the gargantuan and organized anti-queer movement? No one here condones them, yet to brand Wesen as someone who is vile and hateful simply because he exposing charlatans and kapos is rather excessive.
Henry, you seem to contradict yourself in this statement-
“I am gay but believe it is by choice and not by god-given design. I believe that certain circumstances in my life led me to be attracted to other men…”
You say that you did not choose to be gay, but then you say certain circumstances in your life LED you to be attracted to men. Are you choosing to actually be attracted to me, or are you really just choosing to act on those attractions. If you are choosing these attractions, why not choose to be attracted to women? Wouldn’t life be easier?
Saying being gay (i.e. having same sex attractions) is not a choice does not also imply that the attractions are God given. Many other variables are involved that may not be part of God’s design. So many people seem to thing it is either God made me that way (I was born that way, etc.) OR I chose to be gay. The two are not mutually exclusive.
Henry, your post is amazing. I’ve never met anyone from the GLBT community who has said that their sexual orientation was a choice. It’s incredible to think that you would willingly choose to be a member of a community that is openly discriminated against. And then to say that people such as Rev. Swann has a right to fuel this hatred with facts that he cannot prove.
It makes me wonder if you’re really gay at all. Your post sounds like it came from a “straight” point of view.
Regan: What a wonderful way of expressing diversity and the strength that comes from diversity. Thank you for posting this.
People,
Why is it that you have little tolerance for differnce of opinions even among those of us who are gay? It seems that if people don’t endorse the “born gay” point of view they are maligned by the GLBT community – why is that? I believe people like swan have a right to speak based on their religious convictions. People who disagree can do so withot doing it in a hateful manner.
When I listened to the radio debate between Swan and Wayne Besen, Besen was vile and hateful. He was extremely disrespectful of the Rev., who kept his composure the whole time, and wouldnt allow him to speak without interuption. Besen was trying to force his viewpoint down the man’s throat and really embarassed me as a so-called spokesperson for the gay community
Henry,
When you address your message to “People” I’m not sure who you’re talking to. Could you be more specific?
I don’t think all gay people are “born gay,” though it appears (from limited scientific study) that some gay people were born that way.
I agree that people should be able to disagree in a civil and respectful manner. Activists on both sides of the culture war need to work harder at that. I did not hear the Besen-Swan interview, but I have seen other occasions when Besen has been civil.
Henry- I don think “born gay” is the issue. I think there are lots of people that are gay and dont believe they were necessarily born that way. But, it also doesn’t mean they chose to be gay. That is what I have an issue with. Do you care to explain how you chose your attractions to the same sex?
Henry, perhaps you weren’t born gay. Perhaps you even consciously chose it (which is a completely different thing). I strongly suspect that you’re actually bisexual in attraction and are only choosing to limit yourself to one gender, but regardless of the correctness of my suspicions, more power to you.
Something to remember, though, is that your experiences don’t reflect those of the majority of gays. While I can only say that I strongly suspect a genetic basis of my own homosexuality, what I *can* say, for a fact, is that my homosexuality was never a choice. Rather, it was thrust upon me by fate/God/whatever you believe in. Even supposing it was brought about by my upbringing, it was set in stone long before my frustrating pubescent attempts to force myself to appreciate the female models in Playboy.
What’s more, I think you fail to appreciate how threatening the ex-gay movement is to someone who doesn’t have any choice in their sexual orientation (i.e. most people except you). To those who are incapable of change, the rhetoric used by the ex-gay movement advocates nothing less than the denial of humanity. They would have us believe that gay relationships are incapable of love, compassion, fidelity, and respect, and that straight relationships are morally superior because they do not lack those aspects. Based on this false premise, they argue that complete celibacy is preferable to a gay relationship — that the complete absense of loving human contact is healthier and more moral than living a full life, if you are gay. Furthermore, on the grounds that homosexuality should be strongly discouraged by society, they advocate against laws that would prohibit discrimination (even when they would protect against “perceived sexual orientation” — many ex-gays are still perceived as gay because of stereotypes, and suffer discrimination because of it).
Frankly, whether you choose to be gay or not, you should be as offended as Besen by that position. The ex-gay movement thrives on the false belief that *all* gay people (not merely a fraction) are like yourself and choose to be gay. You should dispel them of that notion; even as you say that you chose your own sexuality, you should acknowledge that some others did not, and celebrate that diversity of experience.