Is an new ex-gay group coming to Australia

Some of us received a disturbing newsletter from the LGBT activist group AllOut yesterday saying.

They're coming to Australia. This week, an extremist religious group is holding workshops for gays and lesbians on how to hate themselves for who they are. These type of "therapy sessions" collect cash for one purpose only: to sell the idea that people who are not straight should stifle it.

On Sunday it's happening in Sydney. But we can shut it down. Already almost 50,000 people around the world have taken a stand against these harmful and unnecessary treatments - and All Out members successfully called governments to action in France and Argentina. 

We're setting off a global domino effect to shut down these sessions and ban "gay cures" for good. Will you call on the Australian government, and the governments at every tour-stop, to stand against "gay cures"?

Immediately I began getting emails and messages from people distressed and angry about this news. 

This was disturbing to many of us because:

1. Those of us who have been monitoring ex-gay activities in Australia for many years knew nothing about this.
2. The newsletter gave the impression there was a new push in this country when clearly ex-gay ministries are in decline here. Two thirds gone in the last decade.

All my inquiries and research within Australia came up with nothing.

I was eventually able to speak a representative at AllOut in New York. AllOut's initiatives globally have been and are important projects worth supporting. One of their projects is to follow Desert Streams seminars around the world and do activism in those countries by engaging with the governments and making them aware of the dangers of associated with ex-gay programs.

Unfortunately the information in the AllOut newsletter sent to Australian's wasn't entirely correct.

They're coming to Australia. ....They is referring to Desert Stream.......but they are not coming here. Desert Stream is branded Living Waters here. It is not a Desert Stream organisation as such but uses Andy Comisky's Living Waters programs and are affiliated.

On Sunday it's happening in Sydney. An error has been made here. AllOut got this information from this page assuming this was a Desert Stream initiative as they are doing in other parts of the world (Europe, USA & Asia). As I pointed out to the AllOut representative, these programs have actually been running regularly for the last 20 years in Australia (and appears to gettiing less and less attending).......so this is nothing new or a US/Desert Stream initiative as expressed in the newsletter.

I will continue to keep you informed about progress here in Australia. 

We will be contiue to determine ways we can effectively overcome misinformation and ignorance about sexuality and gender diversity here in Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Your support to make this happen will be greatly appreciated. 

Anthony Venn-Brown

Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International

E: info@gayambassador.com

Twitter: @gayambassador

ABOUT ANTHONY VENN-BROWN

Anthony Venn-Brown is a founder of Freedom 2 b[e], Australia’s largest network of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people from Christian backgrounds and is currently director of Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International. He is an educator, consultant and commentator on LGBT/faith issues and been committed to deconstructing the ‘ex-gay’ myth in Australia. Anthony’s journey from married, high profile preacher in Australia’s mega-churches to living as an openly gay man is detailed in his autobiography 'A Life of Unlearning'. Anthony has been twice voted ‘One of the 25 Most Influential Gay and Lesbian Australians’ (2007 & 2009) and was one of four finalists for the 2011 ACON Community Hero Award.

'Former' Homosexual Ron Brookman Misleads National Senate Inquiry

'Former' Homosexual Ron Brookman Misleads National Senate Marriage Equality Inquiry

Sydney 28 May 2012 – The Senate Same-Sex Marriage Inquiry called the National Marriage Coalition last week to speak to their submission against marriage equality. Joining Christian Activist Bill Muehlenberg, was Reverend Ron Brookman, whose ministry, Living Waters, works with people who have 'unwanted' same-sex-attraction. Rev. Brookman told the committee 'For over 30 years I was homosexual' and that he had experienced a 'transformation of my sexuality to heterosexuality'. Others challenge the truth of that statement.

Anthony Venn-Brown, a former married, Assemblies of God minister and now gay community leader says that Brookman has not been completely honest to the inquiry and that his heterosexual marriage is not an indication of a change in his sexual orientation.

'Ron and I were filmed for a Bible college presentation presenting both sides of the debate on homosexuality. Ron freely admitted, more than once, that he got sexually aroused reading my autobiography. Whenever pressed whether he still experiences homosexual thoughts or feelings Ron admits it still happens but he doesn't act on them. This happened when Ron was interviewed for the recent documentary The Cure. Telling the Senate Inquiry that he is now heterosexual and also encourages others into heterosexual marriage is not only dishonest and misleading it is irresponsible' said Venn-Brown.

Brookman also told the inquiry 'In the last six months I have celebrated the weddings of two ex-gay men who have married beautiful wives and two couples who have given birth to babies who would never have been born had they not transitioned from homosexuality'.

Venn-Brown works with gay men in heterosexual marriages and says he is very aware of implications of taking the path Brookman is suggesting and the disastrous results this can lead to.

'There are often enormous religious, cultural or family pressures upon these men to conform and they enter the marriage believing it will solve their 'problem'. But over time these types of marriages become unstainable as the gay man feels fragmented and deep down inside knows he is living a lie'. For many men it begins to fall about around midlife. But I have also worked with men who are coming out in their 50's and even 60's, Venn-Brown said.

'The devastation when reality is faced can be horrific to all concerned. People often say to me, well at least you have your children but I always tell them that whilst I’m grateful for the years of married life and my lovely daughters, I also have to live with the knowledge that I have been the source of the greatest trauma, pain and shame in the lives of the people I cared most about'. Venn-Brown added.

Ron Brookman may have a harmonious loving relationship with his wife and overcome his sexual addiction but turned from gay to straight; I don’t think so. This is nothing more than what I have termed 'situational heterosexuality'; a level of heterosexual functionality not a change in orientation. Christian groups like the National Marriage Coalition wheeling Ron out to demonstrate homosexuality is a choice and that anyone can change have only undermined their own credibility, Venn-Brown concluded.

A five minute interview Ron Brookman gave after the inquiry is on the Australian Christian Lobby website.

Media inquires

Anthony Venn-Brown

M: +61 (0)416 015 231

E: anthony@gayambassador.com

W: Ambassadors &  Bridge Builders International

Twitter: @gayambassador

Daniel in the Lion's Den - Exodus Leader Comes Clean

SYDNEY, Australia, Jan 20. Time, reality and commonsense continues to erode the credibility of long-held beliefs within some religious organisations that they possess a kind of sexual orientation magic wand, according to respected LGBT affairs commentator, Anthony Venn-Brown.

So convinced are they with the outcomes of their smoke and mirrors routine that a new category of ‘ex-gay’ has been established for those ‘successfully’ processed!

Venn-Brown said two key recent events have sent shock waves through the evangelical, ex-gay and gay Christian worlds.

In December 2011 Christian World Magazine named Alan Chambers, director of Exodus (the world’s largest ex-gay organisation), Daniel of the Year in recognition of his stand against homosexuality.  

The unthinkable happened last week, when Chambers appeared on a panel along with three former ex-gay leaders at a gay Christian conference and admitted that no-one he knew had changed their sexual orientation.

Chambers told the Los Angeles Times in 2007 that “by no means would we ever say change can be sudden or complete," adding that he was uncomfortable with the term 'ex-gay' as he didn’t believe he’d ever met one.

But his latest bombshell came during hot-off-the-press panel chit chat.

“The majority of people that I have met, and I would say the majority meaning 99.9% of them have not experienced a change in their orientation,” Chambers told the conference.

Venn-Brown, an ‘ex-gay’ “survivor” who has become a widely respected authority on the ;ex-gay’ movement, said Chambers’ comments only serve to accelerate the crumbling credibility of the ‘change is possible’ message preached for decades by groups like Exodus.

“It’s been a slow evolution over nearly four decades,” Venn-Brown said.

“There have been three main phases the ex-gay movement has evolved through. First it preached the supernatural miracle of gay to straight, then it went into a therapeutic model and the last phase has been to give people the option of celibacy or being in a heterosexual marriage; knowing there is always the potential to ‘fall’.”  Venn-Brown said.

He said Chambers’ honest admission is what many had been hoping for, but it just wasn’t enough.

“We want groups like Exodus to either completely redefine themselves or cease to exist. But no one jumps overnight from anti-gay to gay affirming. It can take years,” Venn-Brown said.

“We have seen many ex-gay leaders both overseas and in Australia come out and some have apologized for their past involvement.”

The most recent figure to take this momentous step was John Smid, the former head of the ‘ex-gay’ residential program, ‘Love in Action’.

Venn-Brown said it had taken years for John to come to a place of honesty and admit publicly he was gay, even though in a straight marriage.

“I do feel that Alan Chambers is on a similar journey behind the scenes. He just can’t admit it publicly at the moment. Only time will tell”. Venn-Brown added.

“We wait for the day when Alan, like so many of us, no longer sees his same sex orientation as something evil, dysfunctional or unhealthy and begins to live authentically”.

“In the meantime though, sadly individuals, families and marriages will be harmed by the false hope these groups have proclaimed.”

“As any person involved in gay rights knows; some things are inevitable. The decline and eventual non-existence of these groups is one of those.”

The question is, what can we do to hasten the day?” Venn-Brown concluded.

Media inquires

Anthony Venn-Brown

M: +61 (0)416 015 231

E: anthony@anthonyvennbrown.com

Twitter: @gayambassador

ABOUT ANTHONY VENN-BROWN

Anthony Venn-Brown is a founder of Freedom 2 b[e], Australia’s largest network of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people from Christian backgrounds and is currently director of Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International. He is an educator, consultant and commentator on LGBT/faith issues and been a leader in deconstructing the ‘ex-gay’ myth. Anthony’s journey from married, high profile preacher in Australia’s mega-churches to living as an openly gay man is detailed in his autobiography 'A Life of Unlearning'... Anthony has been twice voted ‘One of the 25 Most Influential Gay and Lesbian Australians’ (2007 & 2009) and was one of four finalists for the 2011 ACON Community Hero Award.

If you feel that you are tormented by uwanted same-sex attraction then the answer lies in loving and accepting your true self not rejecting or self loathing. The term 'unwanted same-sex attraction' adds to the denial. It is not an attraction it is an orientation. It is far deeper than just an attraction or behaviour and is a part of your brain wiring, thought processes, hormones and behaviour. People nedd to examine the 'unwanted' part of the statement not the orientation itself.

Before you invest the time, money, emotional energy and possibly years of your life trying to go from gay to straight, ask the ex-gay leaders what guarantee they can give you that it will work. If they are honest with you, the best they will be able to offer you as a degree of ‘heterosexual functionality’, but the gay never actually goes away. Then ask yourself what would be the best way to spend your time, money and emotional energy…..rejecting yourself or accepting yourself.

After 22 years of trying to change including ex-gay programs, exorcisms and 16 years of marriage, I came to the realisation that loving myself was far healthier than hating and rejecting my true self. Like 1,000’s of others today, I finally discovered that I can live a wonderfully fulfilling, moral life as an openly gay man and still have my faith.

Anthony Venn-Brown

Christian spin on 'ex-gay' study divides families and creates harm

A recent study “A longitudinal study of attempted religiously-mediated sexual orientation change.” published in The Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy has been hailed by conservative US Christians in publications and websites as a breakthrough. A Christian political group in Australia, the Salt Shakers, was quick to follow, announcing ‘Homosexuals Can Change’. A leading expert in the field of ‘ex-gay’ ministries in Australia has a different opinion; he says the study is misleading and the promotion of such creates mental health issues in individuals and breaks families apart.

The authors of the study, Stanton Jones and Mark Yarhouse, are both professors at conservative Christian universities. The study was taken over several years of 98 participants who were part of Exodus International ministries. Exodus International is an umbrella organisation of ‘ex-gay’ ministries worldwide which believe homosexuality is a sin and, as their slogan says, ‘change is possible’.

Anthony Venn-Brown has been working with ‘ex-gay’ survivors (gay and lesbian people who once tried these programs but eventually came to accept their same sex orientation) for over 10 years and is deeply concerned about the impact this false promotion can have.

According to the Salt Shakers website, more than half were reported as successful in the programs and 23 percent reported a complete change in orientation after six years. ”This is not just misleading, by ignoring the fact that 37 people (38%) left the programs, it’s downright dangerous” Venn-Brown said. “When you do a thorough analysis of Yarhouse and Jones findings you are lucky find 14% who had some degree of change. But of course we need to define what ‘change’ or ‘success’ is. According the study change is celibacy, a suppression of homosexual desires, rejection of a gay identity or having sex with a woman. This is not a change from a homosexual to a heterosexual orientation as Christian conservatives are boldly stating”, Venn-Brown added.

Venn-Brown’s claims are backed up by a statement on the researchers own website which says “change of homosexual orientation may be possible through involvement in Exodus ministries, either a) in the form of an embrace of chastity with a reduction in prominence of homosexual desire, or b) in the form of a diminishing of homosexual attraction and an increase in heterosexual attraction with resulting satisfactory heterosexual adjustment. These latter individuals regard themselves as having changed their sexual orientation; the former regard themselves as having re-established their sexual identities to be defined in some way other than by their homosexual attractions”.

Jones also clarified their findings by saying “A typical hetero male finds himself attracted to a wide range of females. But among the successful people who reported conversion the typical response was I’m very happy with my sexual responses to my wife, but I don’t experience much hetero attraction to other women. Also, when asked and pressed about whether they still find attraction to men, they will say: ‘Yes, if I let my mind go in that direction.’

Venn-Brown calls ‘ex-gays’ that get married and have a level of heterosexual functionality nothing more than ‘situational heterosexuals’. “Just like some heterosexuals might have same sex experiences in an environment like prison. This is not a change in orientation it is a behavioural change in a particular situation”. Venn-Brown asserts.

“The thing that concerns me the most about conservative Christian groups like the Salt Shakers making false claims that homosexuality can be cured is the impact this has on individuals and families. If you are in an anti-gay conservative Christian culture there is a dearth of ignorance about sexuality and enormous pressures to conform. When an individual is struggling to come to terms with their homosexuality this kind of irresponsible spin increases the likelihood of mental health issues, depression and suicidality. Also Christian parents are given ammunition saying ‘see, this study says you can change, it’s a choice’ and they put enormous pressure on their gay children to convert. They may even throw them out of the house when they accept being gay and come out. I know too many examples where all of these things have tragically occurred.” Venn-Brown said.

“In Australia, the most extreme cases I have come across, the parents have paid for prostitutes to try and convert them, flown them to the US for treatment or even beaten them. These have all occurred in Christian households.” Venn-Brown concluded.

Media inquires

Anthony Venn-Brown

M: +61 (0)416 015 231

E: anthony@anthonyvennbrown.com

Twitter: @gayambassador

Anthony Venn-Brown is the co-founder and former leader of Freedom 2 b[e], Australia’s largest network of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people from Christian backgrounds. He is also an educator and consultant on LGBT/faith issues and leader in deconstructing the ‘ex-gay’ myth. Anthony’s autobiography 'A Life of Unlearning', details his journey from married, high profile preacher in Australia’s mega-churches to living as an openly gay man. Anthony has been twice voted ‘One of the 25 Most Influential Gay and Lesbian Australians’ (2007 & 2009) and this year was one of four finalists for the ACON Community Hero Award.

Ex-gay Stories All the Same - common themes

Ex-gay (overcome unwanted same sex attraction) stories are all prettty much the same. In the video below is someone who proclaims they are 'ex-gay', that is, changed from gay to now being a heterosexual, married person. The common themes in these stories include:

• It's my parents fault I'm gay - my father didn't love me and/or my mother was overbearing.
• I was sexually abused
• I hated myself as a gay person
• I had substance abuse issues and mental health problems
• My life was completely messed up and was really dillusioned the  'gay lifestyle' (whatever that is)
• I had numerous meaningless sexual encounters and therefore lacked any sense of morality or self respect
• I couldn't maintain a long term relationship/relationships
• Testimonials are often sensationalized and over dramatized. In this story below two 11-12 year old boys playing/experimenting together is called sexual abuse. Sometimes people talk about having been drug addicts but in truth they were drug users.This is obviously different but not as dramaitc.
• There is no mention of falling in love with wife or husband. This is what God wanted apparently.
• The person now has a ministry that rescues or works with people struggling with 'unwanted same sex attraction'. This creates added pressure to maintain the façade or live in denial or they will lose their identity/ministry/source of income.

Interesting to note that:

• Many gay and lesbian people had and still have wonderful relationships with their parents but are still gay. Many straight people also had poor relationships with their parents but are heterosexual.
• Abuse is abuse but it doesn't make a person gay. Certainly not during experimental phases of puberty with people the same age. 
• Around 40% of people have had a same sex experience but obviously not 40% of the population are gay.
• Heterosexuals also can lead self-destructive lifestyles and be promiscuous etc but if they have a conversion experience don't feel the need to blame their tragic past on their sexual orientation.
• When straight married people talk about their partners and how they met they usually talk about how they fell in love. And even that they are still in love. This is not a part of ex-gay stories. They love their partners like a best friend.
• Gay men and lesbians can exist in heterosexual marriages but this is not a change in orientation it is situational heterosexuality.
• Amongst gay and lesbian people is a spectrum of morality as there is amongst the straight community. Many gay and lesbian people live in long-term, committed, monogamous relationships. These ex-gay stories assume the opposite because of their own personal experience - often of many meaningless, unfufilling sexual encounters.
• Gays and lesbians have not cornered the market on sex by any means. An alarming number of married men and women have extra-marital affairs.

If you feel that you are tormented by uwanted same-sex attraction then the answer lies in loving and accepting your true self not rejecting or self loathing. The term 'unwanted same-sex attraction' adds to the denial. It is not an attraction it is an orientation. It is far deeper than just an attraction or behaviour and is a part of your brain wiring, thought processes, hormones and behaviour. People nedd to examine the 'unwanted' part of the statement not the orientation itself.

Before you invest the time, money, emotional energy and possibly years of your life trying to go from gay to straight, ask the ex-gay leaders what guarantee they can give you that it will work. If they are honest with you, the best they will be able to offer you as a degree of ‘heterosexual functionality’, but the gay never actually goes away. Then ask yourself what would be the best way to spend your time, money and emotional energy…..rejecting yourself or accepting yourself.

After 22 years of trying to change including ex-gay programs, exorcisms and 16 years of marriage, I came to the realisation that loving myself was far healthier than hating and rejecting my true self. Like 1,000’s of others today, I finally discovered that I can live a wonderfully fulfilling, moral life as an openly gay man and still have my faith.

Anthony Venn-Brown 
More details about ex-gay/conversion/reparative therapies and organisations here 

'Ex-gay' lectures canned

http://www.mcv.gaynewsnetwork.com.au/news/ex-gay-lectures-canned-008632....
Written by Ron Hughes | 01 April 2011

A visiting 'ex-gay' speaker has had three lectures in Australia cancelled in the space of two days following pressure from LGBTI rights activists.

A Brisbane Catholic school and two Melbourne councils have cancelled planned events at which Adam Hood - an American who claims he was "cured" of homosexuality - had intended to speak.

Hood has come under fire because of videos posted to YouTube in which he calls homosexuality "an abomination" and said homosexuals deserved to be damned to Hell.

St Columban's College in Caboolture said they had immediately cancelled the group's booking when activists brought the theme of the lectures to their attention.

"Immediately the college became aware of this, I withdrew permission for the meeting to be held on college property," college principal Ann Rebgetz told the Sunshine Coast Daily.

"St Columban’s College is a caring, inclusive community, and we will not allow our facilities to be used by those seeking to promote views which are not in line with the Catholic Christian ethos of our community."

A lecture in Prahran in Melbourne's Stonnington council area and one in the Greater Dandenong district were also nixed after their mayors were contacted by activists.

Mayor of Stonnington Melina Sehr, told LGBT advocate Anthony Venn-Brown, Stonnington is "a supportive, inclusive and vibrant municipality that embraces diversity."

"Given the nature of the event and the safety concerns that have been raised, Council has requested that New Hope Foundation cancel the event."

Venn-Brown told MCV councils and their staff needed to be educated on in LGBTI issues.

"Most of all, they need to learn about the impact outdated and negative views have on LGBTI youth," Venn-Brown said. "Not just that, but these views also encourage other young people into bullying those they perceive as LGBTI."

The third lecture in Noble Park was also cancelled.

Brisbane psychologist Paul Martin – once an 'ex-gay' leader himself - told MCV he had spoken to Greater Dandenong mayor Roz Blades. At first the council intended to uphold the hiring agreement but then realised the exact nature of the event.

"I told her about the psychological damage these 'ex-gay' programs can do to people. I've been working in this field for 15 years," Martin said.

"After considering the arguments and having received a number of emails and phone calls, the mayor told me the council would cancel the meeting."

"If you rally enough support together, people do listen," Martin said. "It's a very good result."