Coverage of Exodus Conference

Check out some of the stories on the Exodus West Coast Regional Freedom Conference:

ABC News 30 in Fresno and Again

KSee 24 NBC

KMPH FOX 26 and Again

The Fresno Bee

 

Comments

[Ms. Impatience]

Why do they have to portray us so inaccurately, when we respectfully portray them for who they are? And what is with us putting people in a box? Not considering God as a source of hope is putting God in the box...not us. Oh, God grant me patience as I learn to deal with these unkind words with a heart of compassions and hope.

[Disappointed]

I was at the conference because I have same sex attractions and am deciding how I want to live my life. I had no idea there were news cameras in the church! It feels really crummy to now see myself on several local news casts. Those were intimate worship times. It feels like a violation to now find out I was being taped. I expected a private and safe place to get information and dialog about very private issues. :(

[Defense Atty]

Disappointed,

It looks as though Exodus did not protect your right to privacy if you were not made aware in writing that you may be taped at their private conference. In such circumstances you would have had to willingly sign a legal release form to give up your right to privacy and agree to be taped. If there was no inference by Exodus to protect their clients by aggressively keeping cameras out of sight, you may also have a strong case against Exodus for defamation and maybe more. If you were not informed by Exodus of these potential risks, it could also be claimed you were knowingly used by Exodus for advertising purposes against your will without your knowledge, a very covert act. Exodus knew there would be press on sight.

Exodus is out to state and advertise a cause, and it is no secret that they have ruined people's lives with their unaccredited "pray the gay away" therapy. There is good reason why the American Psyche Association has deemed such treatments unfit and potentially damaging.

If you are looking to justify your sexuality and live fear free, you may want to take this chance to stand up and be counted; refusing to be exploited by the very organization that you may think you trust; but yet perpetuates predatorial energy, as inferenced by some "counselors" that use the Exodus therapy model to aggressively sexually overtake their clients. You may want to research BeyondExGay.com to read the stories of people that have been extensively damaged by Exodus-type therapies, and have had to later seek recovery counselling as a result. They too were extensively exploited.

This is unfortunate that this has happened to you. As a gay male, I am well aware of being violated all the time by outside sources. I have fortunately not been sexually betrayed abused or violated by the very people I trust and look to for guidance. I think "the believers" believe in what they are doing. Unfortunately, because their basis is in a belief, and not solid facts, the model seems full of potholes and tends to "leave dead bodies" in its wake. I hope for you that this is not the case.

Regarding the news coverage itself: The SoulForce crowd was focused and when they spoke, there was an authenticity in their demeanour that was not present in the people from Exodus. The people from Exodus seemed scattered and their stories did not make sense. The guy Randy Thomas was gay and decided to go straight because he joined a club that calls homosexuals wrong? And he occasionally dates women for the last several years? And he says he's straight? That brings up all kinds of red flags to the Americans watching this news flag, particularly with his very gay look and demeanour. He and Alan Chambers seemed quite plastic and unreal in their expressions. Bottom line, Exodus did not pass the smell test which the ones from SoulForce nailed perfectly To date I have not seen anyone from Exodus in the media actually bring home the bacon being truly authentic and straight forward with factual knowledge, quite the opposite actually. It was obvious SoulForce was speaking from the truth, fact solid experience with acceptance at their core, and the Exodus bunch was speaking from a faux wishful thinking rejection area of their inner dialogue, making them look false on camera. As far as the Missing article goes on this web sight, some gay people are not "missing" needing to return home. They were railroaded out by Christians hating their sexuality, which is the core of who we all are in this world. They choose not to return to experience more pain at the hands of a belief that lacks credible knowledge, and is stoked by hateful life threatening opinions, which Exodus promotes. Exodus today just doesn't seem to get, that when you call someone's sexuality wrong, it is a full on attack of the being, hence they excelerate a war against people and nature. Exodus stands for attack by calling their seuality wrong, gay people are just being themselves. As long as that is there, no happy rose colored glasses 'treat the gays with more love' are going to make the gay crowd feel any better, only because there is a knife in their back as soon as they express their sexual human nature. These religious 'exgay' ones are very scared people projecting their rejection of self on the public. They 'know' they are gay or bi, they 'believe' it is wrong. Which thought is authentic and stands the test of time? You may want to look at this when you are considering how you want to live your life.

Your feelings of violation are well founded. You may want to explore the fact that you have been fully exploited, and research the U.S. laws that protect you in such a case. A free consultation with an unbiased reputable attorney may help you from feeling any potential isolation and assist in resolving your anxiety. Belief is fleeting, knowledge is power. If you know where you stand via good counsel, it will help you decide where to go with your situation. You could also consult with the organization HRC for resolution.

Good luck with this one, as resolving this situation in a focused balanced fearless form may very well be a valid part of your own ongoing recovery.

God fully values your human rights, only you know if you do also.

DA

[Defense Atty]

Disappointed,

It looks as though Exodus did not protect your right to privacy if you were not made aware in writing that you may be taped at their private conference. In such circumstances you would have had to willingly sign a legal release form to give up your right to privacy and agree to be taped. If there was no inference by Exodus to protect their clients by aggressively keeping cameras out of sight, you may also have a strong case against Exodus for defamation and maybe more. If you were not informed by Exodus of these potential risks, it could also be claimed you were knowingly used by Exodus for advertising purposes against your will without your knowledge, a very covert act. Exodus knew there would be press on sight.

Exodus is out to state and advertise a cause, and it is no secret that they have ruined people's lives with their unaccredited "pray the gay away" therapy. There is good reason why the American Psyche Association has deemed such treatments unfit and potentially damaging.

If you are looking to justify your sexuality and live fear free, you may want to take this chance to stand up and be counted; refusing to be exploited by the very organization that you may think you trust; but yet perpetuates predatorial energy, as inferenced by some "counselors" that use the Exodus therapy model to aggressively sexually overtake their clients. You may want to research BeyondExGay.com to read the stories of people that have been extensively damaged by Exodus-type therapies, and have had to later seek recovery counselling as a result. They too were extensively exploited.

This is unfortunate that this has happened to you. As a gay male, I am well aware of being violated all the time by outside sources. I have fortunately not been sexually betrayed abused or violated by the very people I trust and look to for guidance. I think "the believers" believe in what they are doing. Unfortunately, because their basis is in a belief, and not solid facts, the model seems full of potholes and tends to "leave dead bodies" in its wake. I hope for you that this is not the case.

Regarding the news coverage itself: The SoulForce crowd was focused and when they spoke, there was an authenticity in their demeanour that was not present in the people from Exodus. The people from Exodus seemed scattered and their stories did not make sense. The guy Randy Thomas was gay and decided to go straight because he joined a club that calls homosexuals wrong? And he occasionally dates women for the last several years? And he says he's straight? That brings up all kinds of red flags to the Americans watching this news flag, particularly with his very gay look and demeanour. He and Alan Chambers seemed quite plastic and unreal in their expressions. Bottom line, Exodus did not pass the smell test which the ones from SoulForce nailed perfectly To date I have not seen anyone from Exodus in the media actually bring home the bacon being truly authentic and straight forward with factual knowledge, quite the opposite actually. It was obvious SoulForce was speaking from the truth, fact solid experience with acceptance at their core, and the Exodus bunch was speaking from a faux wishful thinking rejection area of their inner dialogue, making them look false on camera. As far as the Missing article goes on this web sight, some gay people are not "missing" needing to return home. They were railroaded out by Christians hating their sexuality, which is the core of who we all are in this world. They choose not to return to experience more pain at the hands of a belief that lacks credible knowledge, and is stoked by hateful life threatening opinions, which Exodus promotes. Exodus today just doesn't seem to get, that when you call someone's sexuality wrong, it is a full on attack of the being, hence they excelerate a war against people and nature. Exodus stands for attack by calling their seuality wrong, gay people are just being themselves. As long as that is there, no happy rose colored glasses 'treat the gays with more love' are going to make the gay crowd feel any better, only because there is a knife in their back as soon as they express their sexual human nature. These religious 'exgay' ones are very scared people projecting their rejection of self on the public. They 'know' they are gay or bi, they 'believe' it is wrong. Which thought is authentic and stands the test of time? You may want to look at this when you are considering how you want to live your life.

Your feelings of violation are well founded. You may want to explore the fact that you have been fully exploited, and research the U.S. laws that protect you in such a case. A free consultation with an unbiased reputable attorney may help you from feeling any potential isolation and assist in resolving your anxiety. Belief is fleeting, knowledge is power. If you know where you stand via good counsel, it will help you decide where to go with your situation. You could also consult with the organization HRC for resolution.

Good luck with this one, as resolving this situation in a focused balanced fearless form may very well be a valid part of your own ongoing recovery.

God fully values your human rights, only you know if you do also.

DA

[ewe]

I am not even opening up this topic. I know i would be irate. The whole concept of a conference to clean away your gayness is insulting and pathetic. And anyone who attended it is being manipulated. How dare people use God to destroy the soul. Shameless.

[Alan Chambers]

There was full disclosure that news stations were on premises and that no one's face would be shown unless they agreed to allow it. That is the way it is at every conference.

Disappointed, you are welcome to call or email us at Exodus to talk about this.