Ex-gay ministries credibility around the world is being substantially challenged as an increasing of number people come out with their stories saying – it doesn’t work. In fact, scientific evidence suggests that reparative/conversion therapy causes harm that can take years to overcome.
Anthony Venn-Brown, whose autobiography A Life of Unlearning details his experience in ex-gay programs, recently released statements from ex-gay leaders in Australia saying they had not seen reparative therapy work. These statements come after 3 former ex-gay leaders apologized at the Ex-gay Survivors Conference in Los Angeles.
The statements Mr. Brown released were as follows:
Paul Martin Psychologist (Former Exodus Leader – Melbourne): ‘During this time, there was not one person that I met or worked with who, in any genuine way achieved the fundamental transformation from homosexual to heterosexual they so desperately desired. The stress of attempting to change their sexual orientation however increased risk of suicidality, and absolutely led to erosion of self-esteem and increased levels of depression and self-deprecation at a very deep level.’
Vonnie Pitts (Former Christian City Church Pastor/Living Waters Leader): ‘I began my own research into the causes of homosexuality and found there was mounting evidence that sexual orientation is determined in the womb. Now I have absolutely no doubt that homosexuals are born gay and don’t need to change. If I were to see any of the people that I took through the ‘Living Waters’ program again, I would say sorry. My intentions were to help you through your struggle but I acted in ignorance.’
John Metyard (Former Exodus Asia Pacific & Living Waters Leader and on the International Advisory Board of Exodus): ‘Whereas once I was ardent in my opinion that homosexual orientation was unquestioningly a result of the ‘fall’ and God’s intention was therefore always to heal the same-sex attracted believer and help them to be ‘whole’, my position is now somewhat different.’
Wendy Lawson (Former Exodus Leader Melbourne): ‘Today, more than 15 years, after I stepped down from leadership of the X-Gay ministry ‘Exodus’ I have come to know that nearly every member of that group is now living their lives openly as a homosexual person (20 people).’
Kim Brett (Former Exodus – Associate, Former Leader – Living Waters and Liberty Inc.): ‘There had been an increasing uneasiness in me since 2005 that what I was teaching was harmful to people. I had become tired and ill-at-ease with always feeling that this part of my life and others attending the group (same-sex orientated) is broken and in need of fixing. For a long time I had been witnessing peoples (and my own) growing frustration that no matter how repentant, prayerful and committed we all were to living a life as an ex-gay Christian, the changes we all sought and were taught possible never really materialised for most. Some people I knew were married and had married but most seemed to still be dealing with homosexual feelings.’
Mr. Venn-Brown told OUTinPerth that he hoped the release of these statements would validate those who had left such programs and further persuade ex-gay ministries to change the language they use and acknowledge that sexual orientation cannot be changed.
‘My motivation is to stop people from wasting years of their lives to do the impossible, which is try and change their sexual orientation,’ he said.
