In case you missed it I highly recommend it. Also because public opinion polls show that 56% of Americans and 11% of gays erroneously believe that homosexuals can switch their sexual orientation, and I want to review several important facts.

1. The theory underlying the religious counseling is based on outdated Freudian speculation about child development. Further, its techniques are based on very narrow and inaccurate stereotypes. For example they encourage men to dress in more "manly" ways and play sports and for women to dress in more feminine ways and wear make up. I guess they haven't heard of gay body builders or lispstick lesbians?

2. Even by its own data the Exodus success rate is only 30%. Even this low number is suspect since the group forbids long term, follow up research.

3. What constitutes success is somewhat uncertain. Marriage or at least abstinence from homosexual behavior for two years seems to be the primary goals. Actually developing desire for the opposite sex is mentioned only as a possibility. This point is tricky for the Christian right to talk about since they only believe in sex after marriage and believe that even masturbation is a sin whether its homosexual or heterosexual in orientation.

4. Ironically there have been spectacularly embarrassing failures within the organization which are not well known but speak to the futility of the enterprise. For example in 1979, three years after co-founding Exodus, Michael Busee and Gary Cooper fell in love and left the organization. Not an isolated incident as, to date, 13 "ministries" have closed due to group leaders returning to their homosexual life.

5. Beside Christian approaches there have been secular attempts at "reparative" therapy for many years, and none have worked. Most recently Masters and Johnson's famous sex clinic claimed it could change dysforic gays and lesbians but later withdrew its claim closed its clinic.

6. Finally and most significantly, the topic of homosexuality and the question about the legitimacy and effectiveness of changing homosexual orientation has been examined and researched by the American Psychological Association for many years. In 1997 the APA officially ruled that reparative therapies, which would include Exodus' approach, to change sexual orientation were ineffective and possibly harmful. 

This is true because many of the folks who come seeking help are desperate and near the edge. Seeking definite answers and someone to tell them what to do can feel very comforting and secure. 
Nonetheless, it is important to realize that gay persons are vulnerable and can be exploited and taken advantage of. 

In addition to correcting false notions I want to recommend that politicians and religious leaders
stop condemning homosexuality and think about the impact of their behavior.  As the Newsweek article
notes and personal clinical experience bears out, many of the Exodus clientele are young, confused
and desperate and are prime candidates for exploitation .  Think about it for a minute.  
 
Given the prejudice and hate in this culture, what would you do if you were 18 and gay ?  Or, what
would you do if you were a parent who discovered his/her child was gay  and were told there was a way
to change him/her ?   It is understandable that folks would try a program . This is much like the way
folks buy diet pills that make outlandish claims.  But what happens when the program doesn’t work ?  
Studies show that the failure is crushing and pushes people into depression and even suicide.  Also if
changing is the only option offered by parents irreparable damage is experienced by families.   It is
ironic for all the concern that has been expressed for children by the religious right, there is little
awareness or interest in the harm faced by those who are pushed by a hostile and unaccepting attitudes to the brink of suicide.

Rather than casting gayness as a disease, it needs to be seen as a legitimate difference on the psychosexual spectrum. Rather than demanding that our children change, love, understanding, and
acceptance need to abound so that our children may grow into what they are  not what we think they should be.  The recent pastoral letter from the American Catholic Bishops says it best when it
encourages parents to accept and  love their gay and lesbian children as gifts from God.

Rev. Michael Heath, Fayetteville NY - 8/17/97