What does an ex-gay/reparative/conversion therapy leaders job look like?

One of few remaining Australia's ex-gay/reparative/conversion therapy ministries, Liberty Christian Ministries, is advertising for someone to work for the organisation (advertisement above). 

After 15 years of monitoring ex-gay organisations and knowing many ex-gay leaders (former and current), it made me think what a realistic job description might look like. Probably something like this.

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A Christian ministry, working with 'unwanted same sex attractions', seeks new leader.

Selection Criteria

Essential

• Your same-sex-attraction must be unwanted 
• Supernatural faith that God can make all people 'normal' (turn green eyes to blue, red hair to brown, make left handed people right handed and, of course, homosexuals heterosexual) 
• Excellent double-speak communication skills. Example 1: Say heterosexuality is not the goal but constantly talk about being married and having children with 'proves' you are no longer gay. Example 2: Say you are a 'former homosexual' and that any thoughts or feelings you have now towards the same sex are just thoughts and temptations. 
• Good knowledge of appropriate wording (appropriate words - homosexual, homosexuality, unwanted same-sex-attraction, sexual/relational brokenness. Inappropriate words – gay, lesbian, LGBT, sexual orientation. You can use the word gay when referring to gay activists or the 'gay lifestyle' however.) 
• Clearly understand the 'no-one is born gay' theory but that homosexuality is caused by a strong mother/weak father and/or sexual abuse and be able to source websites and articles that demonstrate you are right (whilst ignoring latest scientific research).
• Ability to link an individual's sexual addiction and abuse to their homosexuality and not be confused these as separate issues.
• Be prepared to accept the highest levels of accountability to make sure you are not secretly playing up behind the scenes. 
• Confidently and assertively communicate to people struggling with same-sex-attraction that they can never experience falling in love or having a life partner (celibacy is their calling). 
• Highly motivated to work with people who eventually give up. 
• Exceptional organisational skills to build a ministry that is becoming increasingly irrelevant. 
• Must be able to quote the Sodom and Gomorrah story, Lev 18:22 & 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, I Corinthians 6:9 by heart. And also demonstrate that these verses are about homosexuals today and have nothing to do with rape, pagan practices or temple prostitution.

Preferred

• Married to someone of the opposite sex and sired children which 'proves' you've been cured. 
• Experienced in running small support groups and managing the emotional trauma of participants sharing their deepest shame and failings.
• Have previously experienced sexual addiction, sexual abuse and/or at least dabbled in the 'homosexual lifestyle'. The more tragic the better. 

Successful applicants will have to answer these 20 questions

NB: No formal psychological or counseling accreditation required.

For more information on the work of Liberty Christian Ministries read here.

© Anthony Venn-Brown 

Twitter: @gayambassador 

Facebook: Anthony Venn-Brown - A Life of Unlearning

Facebook: Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International 

Website: www.gayambassador.com 

Email:  info@gayambassador.com 

Anthony Venn-Brown is the co-founder and former leader of Freedom2b, 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  was one of four finalists for the 2011 ACON Community Hero Award. He is also the founder and director of Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International.

Evergreen hook-ups and hang-ups

Evergreen hook-ups and hang-ups

Seth Bracken

Walking into the Evergreen International Conference at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, I felt butterflies in my stomach and took in my surroundings. It was my first time attending an event where the goal was to encourage participants to stop being gay and turn straight.

I was nervous, and all the preconceptions about the pious and faithful gathering were smashed just moments after walking through the door.

“Is this your first conference?” The plump, balding middle-aged man I was sharing an elevator with, asked.

“Yeah, it is. Yours?” I responded, happy to make a friend that might be able to show me the ins and outs of the conference.

“Nope, I’ve been to tons. I love ‘em. So many cute guys here, kind of like you,” he said as he took a step closer to me and smirked.

“You smell good, would you like to feel good?” He asked me as we landed on the ninth floor for registration.

Exiting the elevator quickly, I practically ran into another pleasantly plump, balding middle-aged man. Sensing I was flustered, he asked me if I was OK.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just had a very surreal experience. A guy totally came onto me in the elevator and I wasn’t exactly expecting that here,” I said offering my hand to my new friend, introducing myself.

“Well I can’t say that I blame him, you’re a cutie. What are you doing after the conference? I have my own place not far from here, would you like to come over for some fun?”

“Jesus Christ!” I blurted out far too loudly. “What the hell is going on? I thought all you guys were trying not to be gay.”

“We are, but no one is perfect,” he shrugged and walked away.

I was propositioned more times at a conference that was supposedly changing people straight than I ever have been at a Pride festival, gay bar or party. I had guys old enough to be my father putting their arms around me, bumping up against my leg and asking to take me home.

Throughout the day I was bombarded with religious dogma, but the overarching theme of the conference was that Lady Gaga is wrong: you aren’t born this way. False statistics were bantered about and the American Psychological Association was attacked and demonized.

As married men propositioned me for sex, and very confused teens sat with their parents in what had to be an extremely awkward day, it seemed that the crowd was challenging the speakers’ assertion through their very existence. No one there chose to be gay. The diversity of age, body type and personality also combated the idea that sexuality is not an inborn characteristic. People from all walks of life were gathered and I became friends with construction workers, business executives and bankers.

It quickly became clear that the Evergreen method did not work. But equally as clear was that the method and rhetoric being spouted was damaging. Rather than expressing their sexuality in healthy ways, these men were relegated to attending the conference just to find a partner for sex and some sort of connection.

And Chad, the last Evergreen Conference attendee to hit on me, was as shameless as a Craigslist post.

“Look, I really just kind of want to see you naked. I’ll let you do whatever you want to me, just don’t tell anyone, especially my wife,” he said.

“Why are you doing this to yourself? Why not just come out and drop the whole charade of being religious?” I curtly responded, growing tired of the hypocrisy of the situation.

“I can’t. I just can’t. It would be like admitting defeat. If I keep it hidden, it’s like no one will ever have to know,” Chad said as he scanned the crowd looking for someone else that might be interested in his proposal.

If you feel that you are tormented by uwanted same-sex attraction then the answer lies in loving and accepting your true self.....and offer you this suggestion. 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