OpEd: Gay Activists Should Let Ex-Gays Live in Peace

Why have gay activists instigated media attention over ex-gays and the husband of Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann?

Apparently, Mr. Bachmann, who has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, operates
several counseling centers which also offer services to homosexual
clients seeking to overcome unwanted same-sex attractions.

But because
even one ex-gay proves that homosexual behavior is not innate or
immutable, the gay lobby’s fear of their former members results in false
claims and attacks aimed at preventing homosexuals from exercising
their right to self-determination. They cannot bear to have even one
homosexual leave homosexuality, hence their outrage at Bachmann.

I know because I am ex-gay myself. I suffer more harassment as a former
homosexual than I ever did as an out and proud homosexual.

The ex-gay community includes thousands of former homosexuals like
myself who benefited from counseling. We did not choose our homosexual
feelings, but we did exercise our right to seek help to change those
feelings. As a registered nurse, I saw hundreds of gay men die of AIDS
before I finally left the gay lifestyle.

Contrary to the myths being generated by outraged homosexuals,
counseling for unwanted same-sex attractions is not prohibited by any
medical association. Unhappy homosexuals are not children in need of
parental permission and can freely choose their own therapeutic
treatment just like anyone else.

The Bachmann incident demonstrates that as homosexuals gain more civil
rights, heterosexuals are losing theirs. Because gays are a wealthy and
politically powerful minority, they claim access to media attention,
political power and corporate influence that middle America does not
have.

Dependent on the wealth of the gay community for his election and
reelection campaigns, President Obama vigorously implements gay,
bisexual and transgender policies at every level of the federal
government, yet omits the only unpopular status of sexual orientation—that of ex-gay. But to his credit, Obama refused to cave in to
homosexuals when they demanded he remove ex-gay singer Donnie McClurkin
from a campaign fundraiser.

President Obama needs to demonstrate that kind of courage once more, and
support those who change their sexual orientation as much as he
supports those who change their gender. But who will ask him? A jittery
media fearful of gay reprisals remain silent, a further testament to
homosexual influence and power.

While the media look the other way, the ex-gay community is being
harassed and publicly denounced by unforgiving gay activists because of
our unpopular sexual orientation.

Wayne Besen of the hate group Truth Wins Out, and other modern day
Sauls, stalk and expose ‘out’ ex-gays in a negative light to ensure that
they retreat back into the closet. Lambda Legal supports the
establishment of GLBT Centers at public universities but blocks any
attempt at ex-gay equal access. Corporate shareholder resolutions to
include ex-gays in anti-discrimination policies are repeatedly defeated
by the gay community.

The Human Rights Campaign demands same-sex marriage for gays while
fighting ex-gay equality. One of their latest victories is to
successfully bully the World Bank into denying funds to ex-gay charities
while allowing gay organizations to participate.

Yet ex-gays are not dangerous or deluded as homosexual extremists
charge. We are the National Education Association’s Ex-Gay Educators
Caucus. We are Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays, which
successfully sued the District of Columbia government for refusing to
recognize former homosexuals in its sexual orientation protections. We
are your doctors, teachers, ministers, family and neighbors.

The American Psychological Association adheres to a code of ethics which
calls on their members to respect a person’s right to
self-determination. Therefore the only question about the Bachmann
news is this: Should homosexuals have the right to determine
heterosexuality? That is, if a gay man decides he wants to live as a
healthy heterosexual, as I decided, should homosexuals have the right to
veto that decision?

The answer will determine if America is to be ruled by a politically
powerful minority like the gay community, or if equality and justice for
all will prevail. As for me, I long to live in an America where my
friends and I are not hounded by gay activists because I chose to change
from gay to straight.

Greg Quinlan is president of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays and executive director of Equality and Justice For All.