Exodus international is shutting down!

Thank you that is all!

Ding dong, the witch is dead ...

That is wonderful news! When I was coming out, my family used Exodus as an example, a path even, of how I could become straight. They harm that they've done to the gay community is immense. They've posted an apology to the glbt community, but that can't undo all the people who have been harmed by their false promises.

Good news indeed!!

Growing up, I had quite a large battle coming to terms with my sexuality. I knew I liked guys when I was really really young. But because of some of my own beliefs and and the criticisms from others that I faced growing up, I wanted to be anything but gay. So, I sought out an organization with a similar goal like Exodus. One of the biggest mistakes in my life.

I wanted to change something about myself that had already been set in stone. And it was to please others and what THEY wanted. But I couldn't be cured, because there was nothing wrong with me. It took me until the beginning of high school to finally realize that and accept who I was.

As Nick has said, the damage that has been done because of these groups can't be erased. But LGBT history is our history. We've come through so much and have become so strong together that we're finally making some kind of positive impact in the world... We may not be able heal the damage that's been done to them, but we can keep fighting for a better future for them and for us :)

And by fighting I mean, fighting with our rainbow power and skittle guns, all the while showing off our fabulous taste in clothing :P

Anyway... my .02 :P Ecstatic to hear this!!!!

This is all tied in with an "Our America" special coming on tonight on the OWN network at 10pm Eastern. In it, a number of ex-gay survivors like myself--several of whom I know--confront Exodus president Alan Chambers.

This has been a while in coming. The beginning of the end was the Gay Christian Network conference in Orlando in January 2011. It's a very long story of how he ended up on stage in a roundtable discussion there, but he made two shocking statements: that 99.9% of clients do not change orientation, and that there will be gays in heaven. Now, the first statement didn't ruffle any feathers, but many were outraged at the second statement, so much so that a bunch of organisations left Exodus to form a new group called Restored Hope Network, which is very much alive and kicking. Exodus started haemorrhaging money partly because of this event.

Because Restored Hope Network and Global Exodus Alliance are very much still a thing, the closing of Exodus (or more accurately, a rebranding, since Mr. Chambers say they're going to start a new ministry, which many insiders are understanding to mean an organisation that encourages churches to "reach out" to gays but still considers gay relationships sinful) is is all a symbolic thing. But never underestimate the power of symbols.

THIS

Wow, great news.

Something about this dosen't seem right. The BBC is saying the affiliated ministries wont be shutting down. They are shattered not defeated yet anyway.

So this ex-gay ministry prayed about it and decided to shut down their hateful, horrible, destructive institution. Funnily enough, they prayed about it 37 years ago. And 20 years ago. And 10 years ago. And all those other times, they got a completely different answer. That's so weird how that works.

Just as when Strom Thurmond died and took his racist legacy with him, the death of exodus international definitely should not be mourned.

Quote by SaintPlazma

Something about this dosen't seem right. The BBC is saying the affiliated ministries wont be shutting down. They are shattered not defeated yet anyway.

Even if we take our victories in small pieces, we're still taking our victories. The outcome is not in question, friend:)

Quote by Tamek

Quote by SaintPlazma

Something about this dosen't seem right. The BBC is saying the affiliated ministries wont be shutting down. They are shattered not defeated yet anyway.

Even if we take our victories in small pieces, we're still taking our victories. The outcome is not in question, friend:)

SaintPlazma: That's because Exodus is/was an umbrella organisation. It provided support, services, and branding to affiliates who were in all other respects independent.

In practical terms, this is what the shutting down of Exodus means:
1) No more ex-gay materials from the Exodus imprint (but could still be printed otherwise)
2) No more public speakers and media spokespeople bearing the name of Exodus (but who could still theoretically function in the same capacity without Exodus's aegis)
3) No more of Exodus being considered the "go-to" people to represent their "side" of this issue in the popular consciousness (though others can serve this capacity independently.
4) No more of Exodus dictating the talking points to the evangelical world on the subject of homosexuality (though others can do so)

In reality, a splinter faction, Restored Hope Network, started 1 1/2 years ago in reaction to Exodus's moving away from the model of reorientation, has been picking up the slack--and former Exodus affiliates. Restored Hope will be the new go-to people for everything I've just mentioned. Things haven't changed much beyond symbolism--but never deny the power of symbolism.

I wrote more on all of this on a blog post earlier this evening: https://whittierstrong.wordpress.com/2013/06/21/exodus/