Just Say No To Ex-Gay Shenanigans

Featuring, a tale of two Janets, a "Triple Threat," And a couple of opportunities to spend over a thousand dollars to learn the toxic ex-gay worldview. Plus, BOO! Kentucky.

I’ll start posting more regularly about current ex-gay leaders and their followers. I want to be clear that I don’t hold any ill will or personal vendettas against them. What I hate is what empowers this cultish movement. Ex-gay ideology sells hope and “freedom” but is really a religious gilded cage for already hurting people.

It might appear to be a source of relief, a “godly” perspective, and inspiring, but it’s still the church’s version of a closet.

Kentucky chooses conversion therapy over the safety of LGBTQ+ youth

Kentucky GOP ends state ban on ex-gay conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ youth

Kentucky, you did wrong and should be denounced for this move.

But, but, our threats are loving! (Janet Boynes)

Wanna rent ex-gay apologists’ video for $1500 to $4000? Janet Boynes and two friends (they affectionately call themselves the Triple Threat) has you covered. Here are the names of their video teachings and a few of my thoughts:

• Compassion Without Compromising: From Homosexuality to Wholeness by Janet Boynes. (ex-gay ministry leader)

I dunno, sometimes compassion calls for compromise. The biggest part that is bothersome about this title (to me) is that Janet will tell you she doesn’t do conversion therapy. Truth is “From Homosexuality to Wholeness” exposes that as a lie. Janet sees homosexuality as broken. Therapy (as a general term) seeks to heal something broken or hurt and change its state of being to her version of healed or “wholeness.” Janet does not accept that LGBTQ+ people are already as “whole” as any other human being.

Conversion Therapy Defined In Under 602 Words

• An Apple in Modern Eden: The Biblical and Emotional Truths About LGBT Issues by David Pickup (license counselor)

In the Bible, the apple was the mechanism that Satan used to tempt Adam & Eve into sin and therefore plunging the world into darkness (ignorance and evil). The title implies that LGBTQ+ issues are the mechanism that Satan will use to plunge people into darkness; which is a lie and does nothing but reinforce religions’ stigma against gay people. It’s a shame David chooses to use his skillset to hurt LGBTQ+ people and their families.

• Faith’s Fight for Godly Culture: Navigating Religious Liberty versus the LGBT Agenda—A Christian Perspective on Defending Biblical Marriage and Sexuality in Public Life by Johnathan Alexandre (lawyer)

Of course, a Christian Nationalist lawyer is part of the “triple threat.” This is nothing but political red meat for the far right and MAGA. It’s also a stigmatized threat against my marriage and my core state of being. For them, it is simply a Christian perspective on public policy; but to me, it’s a direct personal threat to who I am and my marriage (and many other things).

Plus, I see all these types of arguments as pseudo-intellectual and lazy. There is nothing new being said and simply uses hostile provocation that reinforces hatred and dehumanization.

Janet Mefford

Staunch far right activist and mouthpiece for all things anit-LGBTQ+, Janet Mefford is getting a taste of her own medicine.

…The crux of all the criticisms that the Christian Nationalist-captured and Christian Nationalist-adjacent crowd have lobbed at me over the past two years basically comes down to some version of this: “Janet used to be so conservative. She used to be concerned about all the cultural issues that we’re trying to fight, yet she’s turned on us! What happened to her? She’s insane now.

…In fact, I’m still a staunch conservative who’s never changed any of my positions on any cultural issue I ever tackled on Christian radio…

Well… that’s interesting. I wondered when I would see evidence of the religious far right trying to escape the Christian Nationalism their beliefs built and propped up. And while I can’t stand Mefford, I am glad she wants that distance. It’s so ironic she is upset that people are judging and condemning her in the same way she built a career off of doing the same to everyone she’s ever disagreed with.

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My Journey Into and Thankfully Out Of Christian Nationalism

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Living Waters wants to train you to do their version of conversion therapy in July

Costs $1295 or $1595 (plus food and travel) to attend. From their email newsletter:

Why come to Kansas City in July? Maybe it's time to renew your "yes" to Jesus for this work of Living Waters! I’m excited about equipping lay leaders from both Catholic and Protestant communities with the essence of our Living Waters approach for the purpose of healing the broken. We need more than just powerful thinking and impactful preaching—we need a community of believers whose "yes" to Jesus invites the transformative presence of His kingdom..

Another example of ex-gay indoctrination. It’s clear that they believe an LGBTQ+ person’s “yes” to Jesus means they accept this false belief that they are broken and want to transform. Yet another clear-as-day description of conversion therapy.

I was once a Living Waters coordinator in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and took part in that retreat twice. Once for me and once as a leader. It is the single most painful part of being an ex-gay leader that I most regret. It’s so very damaging and deadly. If tempted, please don’t attend that training or any Desert Streams Living Waters group.

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Do you have a tip on some ex-gay shenaningans? Please share by leaving a comment, emailing, or private messaging me. Thanks!

Keeping An Eye On The Ex-Gay World

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