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Paperback
Publisher: Routledge
A historical perspective on the dispute, examining "ex-gay" groups such as Love in Action, Exodus International, Homosexuals Anonymous and profiling a cast of characters. A historical perspective on the dispute, examining "ex-gay" groups such as Love in Action, Exodus International, Homosexuals Anonymous and profiling a cast of characters.
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| Every "Ex-Gay Should Read This Book! |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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Anything But Straight is a seminal work exposing the lies, bad science and just plain self-delusion of those in the "ex-gay movement". This book documents the harm done not only to gay people who attempt to change their orientation, but to the marriages and families which result from the flawed thinking of "ex-gay" ministries and those who cheer them on. Sometimes the "ex-gay" decides that the only way to end the conflict between nature and the self-loathing lie promoted by the "ex-gay" movement" is to end it all by suicide (that is, if they don't wise up and leave the movement altogether. Even if they do, these individuals often need years to overcome the detrimental effects of these pernicious "ministries").
Mr. Besen also shows that leaders in the "ex-gay" movement are often mentally fragile individuals that need genuine psychiatric help, not the flawed self-seeking "psychiatric help" pushed by quacks such as Moberly, Nicolosi, and Cameron.
In the end, these programs do not work. People drop out, leaders have been caught out in gay bars, spouses and children caught in the crossfire are damaged... Yet the carnage goes on and a lie is perpetuated in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Every "ex-gay" should read this book. It just might save their sanity or even their life.
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| A Comprehensive Thrashing of the Ex-Gay Crusade |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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While having lunch with Wayne Besen last week in Manhattan I expressed my deep appreciation for his book, Anything but Straight. The book is a well written and thoroughly researched analysis of the structure and agenda of Ex-Gay ministries and therapies.
In Anything but Straight, Besen weighs the doctrine and tactics of the Ex-Gay crusaders against the research and conclusions of mental health professionals, and reveals the political agenda that underwrites the Ex-Gay movement.
Anything but Straight is a highly readable and entertaining overview of the battle for the homosexual soul.
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| A great overview of the hypocrisy of our home-grown ayatoallahs |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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Mr. Besen documents in chilling detail the cynical and harmful psychological manipulation of the so-called ex-gay movement. He directs useful attention to the fact that, almost without exception, these people don't become "straight" in the sense of being attracted to opposite-sex partners; rather, nearly all admit that they continue to fantasize about same-sex encounters when having intercourse with their opposite-sex spouses. It is amazing to learn how completely oblivious these zealots are to the effects of condemning these well-meaning heterosexual partners to sham marriages in which they will never experience the deep sense of connection that comes from a partnership with a person who is attracted to you as a whole person, rather than as necessary sacrifice for salvation.
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| Second read.....thats a good sign |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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I'm reading `Anything but Straight' for the second time. With my busy life......that's about the best vote of confidence I can give any book.
Wayne has done and excellent job researching the ex-gay movement, history, programs and connections. He's read the materials, interviewed people, gone to meetings undercover to make sure he has all the facts. His work is extremely valuable. The homosexual debate has become much more than a religious issue and is now more complex since it has been politicized; often the key players being men with multi-million $$$$$ ministries with hidden agendas. Wayne helps us shift through the maze and get some clarity on what is really going on.
Having spent 22 years unsuccessfully trying to change my sexual orientation I know first hand, much of what he writes about. Therapy, counselling, exorcisms, 40 day fasts, months in an live-in ex-gay program and 16 years of marriage were just some of things I was told would help make me heterosexual. The result.......I'm still gay.......but at last happy about it....and realise that same sex attraction is no different to left handedness or red hair. It's just the way we are.......different but not abnormal.
In Australia, the ex-gay ministries lack funds, success stories, charismatic leaders and political connections so are not the threat experienced in the extremist/fundamentalist/Judaeo/Christian culture of some parts the US. this work is still valuable to us however to ensure we don't follow America down the Golden Arches Road into a country constantly harassed by Christian extremists whose worldview has not moved past Genesis. The wise have learnt by your mistakes.
I'm glad Wayne has devoted himself to detailing these things because I wouldn't want another human being to go through the torment that I did. If `Anything but Straight' was out years ago maybe many of us would not have wasted years of our lives trying to do the impossible and change our sexual orientation and learnt to be true to ourselves.
Against all the research and understanding today, many in fundamentalist churches still hold on to the archaic belief that being gay is a sin, a choice and the result of being brought up in a dysfunctional family. Thanks Wayne for reminding us again how futile and damaging those beliefs have been.
Anthony Venn-Brown
Author of `A Life of Unlearning - A Journey to Find the Truth'
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| Disturbing book and Bigoted Reviews |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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I first read the reviews on this book and was disturbed by the attempts of straight folks promoting the ex-gay "agenda" giving the author lousy ratings.
Then I read the pro-gay reviews and had a lot to think about in terms of how angry the GLBT community is at this blatant ripoff of our more vulnerable community members (those just coming out).
Then I read the book! It's tough to read, see people abused over and over again, and have it be justified by the Religious (Not)Right. Evidently any psychological technique is fair game if you're a homosexual. I'm surprised we haven't seen chastity belts and sexual lobotomies.
Nobody likes being told they are horrible sinners and must change one of the most fundamental parts of themselves unless they're already buying into the notion that they are worthless.
God doesn't make worthless! What a shame so many people are being hurt.
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