Homophobic Minnesota Lawmaker Proudly Introduces Close 'Ex-Gay' Friend on House Floor: VIDEO

As we noted earlier, hearings are underway in Minnesota House and Senate panels on a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage there.

In late February when the bill was introduced, Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen (R) appeared at a press conference to tell the media that gay people who say they're "born that way" are lying.

Said Gruenhagen:

"We're talking about gay marriage. We're not talking about an immutable characteristic like the color of your skin. The human genomap was completed in 2003. There is no gay gene. Okay? So the concept that you're 'born that way' and it's an immutable characteristic is an unscientific LIE. Okay? The human genomap has been completed. I urge you, as the news media, to give both sides a fair and open hearing on this debate because it has tremendous ramifications not only for our society but for our children in general."

Yesterday, as a "point of personal privelege", Gruenhagen took a moment to introduce the entire Minnesota House to his "ex-gay" friend Kevin Petersen, who helped Gruenhagen try to pass the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage last November.

Said Gruenhagen to the House:

I have a close friend here — the last couple years — his name is Kevin Petersen. Kevin, why don’t you stand up and say hi? The interesting thing about Kevin is he was active in the gay lifestyle for about 10 years, and then he left it, got married, and he now has three children. Thank you.

Watch Gruenhagen introduce his "ex-gay" buddy, AFTER THE JUMP...

(clip via think progress)

Focus on the Family 'Ex-Gay' Denounces Gays for Trying to 'Silence' Victimized Christians - VIDEO

Focus on the Family commentator and self-identified "ex-gay" Jeffrey Johnston defends anti-gay discrimination with FOTF's CitizenLink host Stuart Shepard,  denouncing the evil gays who are trying to shut down Christian businesses and "silencing Christian voices in the public square."

In fact, it's the so-called 'Christian' business owners who are refusing to serve gay customers.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

(via good as you)

'Ex-Gay' Therapy Video Approved by State Regulators and Shown to Maryland Students is Pulled

Students taking seventh grade health classes in the Prince George's County Public Schools system were shown a video espousing "ex-gay" therapy as a viable option for students who are LGBT and bullied, Washington City Paper reports:

Betsy Gallun worked as the supervisor for health education in Prince George's County Public Schools until she retired last year, and she thinks information about gay-to-straight therapy should be available to Prince George's County students. "I feel very badly that it's coming under scrutiny, to be honest with you," says Gallun...

...Six health classes have shown "Acception" since last fall, according to PGCPS spokesman Briant K. Coleman—and more were expected to use it this year, says Doyle.

State education regulators also approved the video, according to Coleman. But on Wednesday, PGCPS pulled the video pending further review, only to terminate the program permanently later that day.

Gallun was introduced to the 21-minute anti-bullying video (stills from it above, and right) "Acception" by "ex-gay" quack Richard Cohen:

[The video] at first appears to promote the acceptance of gay children. In the video, four students are assigned a project on homophobic bullying, with the group splitting up to study the issues of bullying and the origins of homosexuality. Two of the students encounter a cavemen parable about the origins of bullying, but the teens researching same-sex attraction soon find themselves in a different kind of scientifically dicey territory. While the video initially explores gay teenagers being bullied and a young man coming out to his parents, it soon features a student talking about how his once-lesbian cousin used therapy to become attracted to men. Then, the students in the video "watch" an interview with a gay-to-straight therapist.

"If someone wants to live a gay life, I respect that, and if someone wants to change from gay to straight and choose a different path, I respect that too," says the character, played by an actress. The success of "reparative therapy" is touted elsewhere in the video: In a portion of the video you can watch on YouTube, a woman who once felt attracted to other women says that growing closer to her mother and female friends—a trope of sexual orientation-switching theory—helped her become attracted to men. Discussion questions provided to teachers using "Acception" feature scenarios in which sexual orientation is changed through therapy.

Watch a trailer for the video (which does not show the part where it veers into ex-gay therapy) and a clip from it, AFTER THE JUMP...

(via anthoony catalino)

'Ex-Gay' Blogger for the 'Christian Post' Caught on Grindr, Admits His 'Disobedience to Christ'

Activist Zinnia Jones, via one of her readers, revealed a Grindr profile yesterday belonging to someone who appeared to be Matt Moore, an "ex-gay" blogger for the Christian Post, who has written much about his departure from the "gay lifestyle".

Like this:

God commands me to repent of my sin not because He’s an evil dictator, but because He’s a loving Father who knows that my sin will destroy me in multiple ways. Mentally, emotionally, physically, and ultimately eternally. If you don’t think homosexuality hurts anybody, just check out the statistics. Check out the number of murders among the gay community. Check out the addiction rate among homosexuals. Check out the average lifespan of a male homosexual. Seriously, just google it. You can see for yourself. …

I can, in truth, firmly say that the longer I keep turning away from my homosexual desires, the less in strength they become. My homosexual feelings have definitely diminished since the night God started drawing me to Himself in September of 2010. Are they completely gone? No, they are not. Will they ever be completely gone? I do not know. …

The main thing that I struggle with the most still is pornography, but even that is changing. I don’t get the same satisfaction that I used to from it. My stomach actually turns at the site of homosexual “relations.” But I also know that if I continue to watch it and harden my heart toward the Holy Spirit’s conviction, I will start to see things again through the eyes of my sinful flesh rather than through the eyes of the Spirit.

Zinnia has a few more examples on her blog. Anyway, after exposing Moore, he wrote her:

The grindr profile was really mine. I’ve been on it on and off for the last couple of weeks.

Like I told the guy who sent you the picture, I am wrong in having been on grindr. I haven’t changed my views on homosexuality, the bible, etc.

Creating a grindr profile and talking to guys on it was major disobedience on my part….disobedience to Christ.

Disobedience to a loving and gracious God. Thankfully, I believe that He forgives me for this disobedience. I believe the blood of Christ covers this disobedience. And I won’t be on grindr again….ever.

The pastor of my church and the church body I am a part of were informed about me being on grindr (I told them) before all of this came out, publicly.

As we all know, Moore is not only deluding himself, but his writings are dangerous to others who may be reading them with questioning feelings. Hopefully, he'll see the light at some point and realize there's no such thing as "ex-gay" and preaching that there is only does harm to others. In the meantime, look out for him on Grindr.

'Ex-Gay' Former Adult Film Actor Explains How the Devil is Born: VIDEO

Joseph Sciambra, an "ex-gay" Christian who now runs his own website, once gave birth to the devil, and it damaged him so badly it required surgery.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

(via huffpost)

California Gov. Jerry Brown Appeals 'Ex-Gay' Therapy Ban Injunction

The Los Angeles Times reports that California Gov. Jerry Brown, a long-time LGBT ally, today filed an appeal against a court order that halted a California state law banning ex-gay therapy for minors.

The notice of appeal was filed on behalf of Brown and the Medical Board of California by state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris with the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which decided Dec. 21 to block the law that took effect Jan. 1 pending a decision on its constitutionality.

A small group of therapists and religious groups argued that the law infringes on their rights to free speech, but Harris has called conversion therapy "unsound and harmful."

Harris asked the court Wednesday to look at a recent decision by U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller upholding the law.

"Defendants wish to apprise the 9th Circuit of a related case currently pending before it … denying a motion for a preliminary injunction that would have enjoined enforcement of Senate Bill 1172," Harris wrote. "Both appeals involve the constitutionality of Senate Bill 1172 and raise the same and/or closely related legal issues."