The group Exodus International, a Christian ministry that tried to ‘pray away the gay’ (which I have to admit is a pretty catchy slogan) has suddenly announced that they are closing shop. But that is not all, they are closing because they are admitting that they were wrong and their head Alan Chambers has issued a statement explaining his reasons and in the process given an apology that is remarkable for its unequivocal nature.
Please know that I am deeply sorry. I am sorry for the pain and hurt many of you have experienced. I am sorry that some of you spent years working through the shame and guilt you felt when your attractions didn’t change. I am sorry we promoted sexual orientation change efforts and reparative theories about sexual orientation that stigmatized parents. I am sorry that there were times I didn’t stand up to people publicly “on my side” who called you names like sodomite—or worse. I am sorry that I, knowing some of you so well, failed to share publicly that the gay and lesbian people I know were every bit as capable of being amazing parents as the straight people that I know.
…
You have never been my enemy. I am very sorry that I have been yours. I hope the changes in my own life, as well as the ones we announce tonight regarding Exodus International, will bring resolution, and show that I am serious in both my regret and my offer of friendship. I pledge that future endeavors will be focused on peace and common good.
It must be a blow to the anti-gay members of the evangelical Christian community to lose what they had considered a stalwart ally.
Wow. Is that real?
Astounding.
I’m surprised he didn’t merely express that he was upset that there had been a controversy, though. (Yes, everything is CFI now — and it shows you just how lame CFI is when a freaking evangelical loony can out-apologize you.)
I hope he finds peace — and that the victims of his antics find peace as well. Though I’m not sure I’d be able to offer forgiveness if I were in their shoes.
They also posted a Lisa Ling video about the apology (http://exodusinternational.org/2013/06/sneak-peak-lisa-ling-special-report-god-gays-with-alan-chambers-video/), so it seems unlikely to be a hack job. Whoa.
I feel compelled to note that your title could be improved with “Hey, ” at the beginning.
Someone must have prayed the Gay Conversion Therapists away.
So one interesting thing is that Chambers has made clear he still thinks that it’s a sin to act on homosexual impulses, and he intends to continue in a straight marriage.
I actually think this is maybe okay. I’m not sure it’s the healthiest thing, but if people really want to (for whatever reason) have sex that does not align with their sexual preferences, they should be told that they can do that but that their preferences will probably not change. If that is the message that is communicated, it is probably not tremendously damaging… and in the spirit of harm reduction, maybe it is okay. I dunno…