ex-gay news syndication
Apr. 14th, 2004 02:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
muscadineI've created two syndicated feeds for sites dealing with ex-gay-related news. For those who are or might be interested, more info follows:
Since I've gotten a number of questions about my motivations for posting these feeds, I thought I would add some clarification. These feeds and the accompanying info are provided strictly FYI and my sharing them with you should not be construed as endorsing either of their particular positions on the ex-gay movement. One thing I will say is that I do not now and have never considered myself an ex-gay, but I personally do think it's good to be knowledgable about those you differ or disagree with (which should give you some idea of where I stand, but if you want to know more, ask).
Since some people apparently didn't read the info behind the cuts thoroughly, I thought I might also add a couple of brief synopses:
Ex-Gay Watch provides a gay-positive perspective and is generally critical of the ex-gay movement as it most commonly presents itself on the public arena these days.
Exodus Media Synopsis provides a more "straight from the horses mouth" insight into the ideas and activities that motivate the ex-gay movement at large and Exodus specifically.
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-syndicated.gif)
exgaywatch
About Ex-Gay Watch
Mike Airhart is a business news editor. He has a B.A. in Communication. In college, he specialized in the study of human rights violations committed against Latin American Christians by conservative dictatorships and the U.S. religious right in the 1980s. He has worked for Sojourners magazine and the World Bank as well as a national business news wire. Politically, he is an independent -- neither liberal nor conservative.
Steve Boese is a writer on alcoholism-awareness and alternative-treatment issues. He specializes in moderation management.
Both honed their interest in ex-gay issues through participation in the online discussion group Bridges Across the Divide and through informal participation in a variety of ex-gay and ex-ex-gay discussion groups.
Ex-Gay Watch plans to include more writers from gay and politically independent ex-gay perspectives.
Disclaimers
This web blog is a personal project by its writers. It is not associated with any organization. An expressed viewpoint is solely the opinion of the person who wrote it, and not the viewpoint of other XGW writers.
The writers encourage readers to judge for themselves the credibility of linked sources. A best effort is made to quote sources accurately.
Feedback and commentary from blog readers are welcome in the comments following each post. XGW reserves the right to delete comments that are disruptive or inflammatory. Preferring a free and open exchange of ideas, that privilege will be exercised sparingly. XGW takes no responsibility for words posted by others.
Corrections and clarifications are welcome in the comments sections as well. Direct any questions to the editor, using the "Email me" link located on every page.
The Ex-Gay Watch Agenda
Ex-Gay Watch believes that celibacy is a valid choice, but not the only valid one, for people who are attracted to the same gender.
We affirm efforts to reduce the incidence of sexual addiction, depression, divorce, and domestic violence across all of society.
We oppose laws that may infringe on freedom of speech, especially in regard to religion or sexual orientation.
We oppose laws that compel government, businesses, churches, or individuals to discriminate against people on the basis of religion or sexual orientation.
We believe private individuals, businesses and organizations have a right to discriminate, just as they have a right to commit other wrongs, but we believe the actual choice to discriminate is unethical and worthy of opposition.
We view with concern the weak science, religious biases, binge behaviors, and partisan politics that are, unfortunately, common in ex-gay political activism.
We believe that the manipulation of human sexuality and personality to serve religious or political agendas is harmful to gays and ex-gays -- and a threat to the health and diversity of religious communities.
Since the ex-gay movement currently abides by no published standard of accountability, we seek to establish uniform standards by which the beliefs, practices, and performance (success and failure rates) of individual ex-gay programs can be independently measured and rated.
exodusmediablog
What is Exodus?
Exodus is a nonprofit, interdenominational Christian organization promoting the message of "Freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ."
Since 1976, Exodus has grown to include over 100 local ministries in the USA and Canada. We are also linked with other Exodus world regions outside of North America, totaling over 135 ministries in 17 countries.
Within both the Christian and secular communities, Exodus has challenged those who respond to homosexuals with ignorance and fear, and those who uphold homosexuality as a valid orientation. These extremes fail to convey the fullness of redemption found in Jesus Christ, a gift which is available to all who commit their life and their sexuality to Him.
The articles mentioned in this report also come with contact information depending on what was given from the person submitting the article. If contact information is not provided, or web link has changed, search the main websites archives to find the article. Exodus International does NOT support or endorse any of these particular articles unless overtly noted. Most of the articles mentioned are secular. By informing you of what the world and the church are saying we pray you will be inspired to take action through prayer, letters to the editor, writing papers or supporting your local Exodus ministry.
(crossposting to relevant communities)
(feel free to share either or both with others)
Since I've gotten a number of questions about my motivations for posting these feeds, I thought I would add some clarification. These feeds and the accompanying info are provided strictly FYI and my sharing them with you should not be construed as endorsing either of their particular positions on the ex-gay movement. One thing I will say is that I do not now and have never considered myself an ex-gay, but I personally do think it's good to be knowledgable about those you differ or disagree with (which should give you some idea of where I stand, but if you want to know more, ask).
Since some people apparently didn't read the info behind the cuts thoroughly, I thought I might also add a couple of brief synopses:
Ex-Gay Watch provides a gay-positive perspective and is generally critical of the ex-gay movement as it most commonly presents itself on the public arena these days.
Exodus Media Synopsis provides a more "straight from the horses mouth" insight into the ideas and activities that motivate the ex-gay movement at large and Exodus specifically.
exgaywatch About Ex-Gay Watch
Mike Airhart is a business news editor. He has a B.A. in Communication. In college, he specialized in the study of human rights violations committed against Latin American Christians by conservative dictatorships and the U.S. religious right in the 1980s. He has worked for Sojourners magazine and the World Bank as well as a national business news wire. Politically, he is an independent -- neither liberal nor conservative.
Steve Boese is a writer on alcoholism-awareness and alternative-treatment issues. He specializes in moderation management.
Both honed their interest in ex-gay issues through participation in the online discussion group Bridges Across the Divide and through informal participation in a variety of ex-gay and ex-ex-gay discussion groups.
Ex-Gay Watch plans to include more writers from gay and politically independent ex-gay perspectives.
Disclaimers
This web blog is a personal project by its writers. It is not associated with any organization. An expressed viewpoint is solely the opinion of the person who wrote it, and not the viewpoint of other XGW writers.
The writers encourage readers to judge for themselves the credibility of linked sources. A best effort is made to quote sources accurately.
Feedback and commentary from blog readers are welcome in the comments following each post. XGW reserves the right to delete comments that are disruptive or inflammatory. Preferring a free and open exchange of ideas, that privilege will be exercised sparingly. XGW takes no responsibility for words posted by others.
Corrections and clarifications are welcome in the comments sections as well. Direct any questions to the editor, using the "Email me" link located on every page.
The Ex-Gay Watch Agenda
Ex-Gay Watch believes that celibacy is a valid choice, but not the only valid one, for people who are attracted to the same gender.
We affirm efforts to reduce the incidence of sexual addiction, depression, divorce, and domestic violence across all of society.
We oppose laws that may infringe on freedom of speech, especially in regard to religion or sexual orientation.
We oppose laws that compel government, businesses, churches, or individuals to discriminate against people on the basis of religion or sexual orientation.
We believe private individuals, businesses and organizations have a right to discriminate, just as they have a right to commit other wrongs, but we believe the actual choice to discriminate is unethical and worthy of opposition.
We view with concern the weak science, religious biases, binge behaviors, and partisan politics that are, unfortunately, common in ex-gay political activism.
We believe that the manipulation of human sexuality and personality to serve religious or political agendas is harmful to gays and ex-gays -- and a threat to the health and diversity of religious communities.
Since the ex-gay movement currently abides by no published standard of accountability, we seek to establish uniform standards by which the beliefs, practices, and performance (success and failure rates) of individual ex-gay programs can be independently measured and rated.
exodusmediablogWhat is Exodus?
Exodus is a nonprofit, interdenominational Christian organization promoting the message of "Freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ."
Since 1976, Exodus has grown to include over 100 local ministries in the USA and Canada. We are also linked with other Exodus world regions outside of North America, totaling over 135 ministries in 17 countries.
Within both the Christian and secular communities, Exodus has challenged those who respond to homosexuals with ignorance and fear, and those who uphold homosexuality as a valid orientation. These extremes fail to convey the fullness of redemption found in Jesus Christ, a gift which is available to all who commit their life and their sexuality to Him.
The articles mentioned in this report also come with contact information depending on what was given from the person submitting the article. If contact information is not provided, or web link has changed, search the main websites archives to find the article. Exodus International does NOT support or endorse any of these particular articles unless overtly noted. Most of the articles mentioned are secular. By informing you of what the world and the church are saying we pray you will be inspired to take action through prayer, letters to the editor, writing papers or supporting your local Exodus ministry.
(crossposting to relevant communities)
(feel free to share either or both with others)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-04-14 03:32 pm (UTC)Is this a direction you are moving in personally? I always got the impression that your church was very accepting, and that your faith wasn't guided by old religious tenets, but by acceptance.
no subject
Date: 2004-04-14 04:22 pm (UTC)no subject
no subject
Um, no. If you look at the links and info provided you'll see that Ex-Gay Watch is actually from a rather gay-positive perspective.
I provided the links for a number of reasons, including:
1) I am personally, academically, and politically interested in the ex-gay movement. I like to keep myself educated about the various related goings-on, although I do not and have never considered myself an ex-gay (Allen went through some ex-gay counseling prior to our meeting). I think it's good to be knowledgable about those you differ or disagree with. In some ways this might be seen as a "walk a mile in my mocassins" approach. In other ways it might be seen as a "know thy enemy" approach, but I certainly don't consider ex-gays as a group my enemy. Though I may sometimes find myself on the opposing side of a political or spiritual issue from particular ex-gays or ex-gay groups.
2) I have friends who identify as GLBTQetc, friends who identify as ex-gay (LBTQ etc), friends who are same-gender attracted celibates for religious reasons, and friends who have experienced a shift in sexual attractions with varying self-explanations for this shift. (None of these categories necessarily being mutually exclusive...sexuality is complicated.) Some of which are affiliated with Exodus or similar organizations and others of which (especially those identifying as Christian) may simply like to keep up with ex-gay goings-on from either or both perspectives for similar reasons to myself.
3) There are probably others out there who would be interested in either or both links.
Sorry for any misunderstanding or scares. :)
no subject
Date: 2004-04-14 08:24 pm (UTC)Reading over those links was pretty depressing. Repressing oneself to fit into an idealized image of what is right or wrong has got to be one of the most difficult and disheartening things someone could do. With any luck, that won't be a necessity in the future, for anyone.
no subject
Date: 2004-04-15 07:55 am (UTC)::nod nod:: So totally agree. I just don't think I can make myself read this stuff. I know I should be/stay "informed", but it's just too much for me.
And yes, someday (soon!) I hope we can all not only peacefully-coexist, but support each others' differences. At the risk of sounding totally geeky, this is what the concept of Star Trek's IDIC was about: "infinite diversity in infinite combinations". Supporting and celebrating each others' differences. :-)
no subject
Date: 2004-04-19 06:39 pm (UTC)