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Gay Author Visits Utah, Denounces Evergreen By Hugo Salinas, February 2004 Evergreen International, Exodus International, and Homosexuals Anonymous were some of the groups denounced by nationally recognized activist and author Wayne R. Besen in his recent visit to Utah. "The pain that these groups have caused is immeasurable, the families they have destroyed cannot be underestimated," Besen said February 20 at an event held in the Salt Lake Community College. Besen's lecture was part of a national tour promoting Anything But Straight, a comprehensive exposé of the so-called "ex-gay" movement. Besen spent four years exploring the people and the methods behind "ex-gay" ministries--religious groups for gays and lesbian who want to abandon homosexuality. "The founder of every single ex-gay group has either come out of the closet, been scandalized, or had to step down and now says it doesn't work," said Besen. Besen's book begins with the story of ex-gay poster boy John Paulk, who in 2000 made national headlines when he was caught and photographed cruising at Mr. P's, a gay bar in Washington DC. "These ex-gays aren't trying to change gay people as they claim," said Besen. "They are trying to change laws that would protect GLBT Americans from discrimination. They are in the forefront of taking away rights. They lobby against same-sex marriage and against hate crimes laws. They are not about persuasion, as they claim, but persecution; they are not about conversion, but coercion. This is why we have to fight and get the truth out." More information about Anything But Straight can be found at <www.anythingbutstraight.com>. |
www.affirmation.org