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05/01/2009
Love Won Out? Try 'Love' Your Gay One Right Out The Door!
We've know for a long time that Focus on the Family's Love Won Out "ex-gay" program specifically targets parents. But check out the following ad, which is running in the latest issue of Focus on the Family's Citizen magazine. It's a blatant attempt to use a sullen stock photo and deceptive text to dupe parents into believing that nonacceptance is the "loving" way to deal with a gay child:
*Full-size ad can be found here (pg 2): Citizen magazine -- May 2009 [FOF]
So why go for the parents? Well it's simple. Whereas actual gays and lesbians know the truth of their feelings and the realities of the thoughts and feelings that have always been in their heads, heterosexual parents have to make a choice as to whether or not they wish to understand and/or embrace the reality of homosexuality. So the parents, who don't have the essences of their existences at stake, are in many ways an easier sell. Some may be hurt that the heterosexual visions that they've always had for their child are slipping from their grips. Others may think that their pride and/or faith are at stake. Still others might be concerned of what their friends, family, and neighbors might think. So groups like FOF swoop in, promise a "cure" for the grief, and inundate these impressionable and sometimes needlessly desperate moms and dads with their fallacious assessments of "changing" teh gay. And unfortunately, many parents buy into what seems, on the surface, like a "loving" message. Hell, they call it "loving" right in the title!
But the truth? They are intentionally ripping families apart. Many of us know from personal experience how painful parental nonacceptance can be. Some of us queer folk know how it feels to have an amazing life and stable relationship that most parents would dream of for their child, only to find that the variable of homosexuality negates, in one or either of your parent's eyes, all of the good that makes up your world. Some of us know what it's like to, oh, I don't know -- plan a June wedding bash that your parents refuse to even acknowledge. Some of us know the heartbreak of it all.
For this needless pain, this writer unabashedly blames all of these supposedly "pro-family" groups who are more concerned with reconciling actuality with their faith than they are with reconciling their faith with actuality. It might be slightly hyperbolic to say that the blood is on their hands. But if not blood, then certainly the cranberry sauce from the many missed holidays that their needless shunning has caused for countless gay Americans.
Trust me. Some of us just know.
Your thoughts
Amen, brother. "Counseling" for three years, then kicked to the curb at 16. Any ministry that fosters misunderstanding and fear in heterochristian parents is, to me, pure evil.
Posted by: Harrison | May 1, 2009 10:57:31 AM
"In the midst of your questions, confusion and grief, Focus on the Family is here to help (bilk you out of $50 a head with group discounts for groups of 10 or more - NOTE: group discounts are only available at time of booking, and must be paid for in advance with cash or certified funds. ABSOLUTELY NO REFUNDS - what?? you think this is a charity??)."
The parent(s) have already drank the Kool-Aid which makes them much more gullible and easy to swindle. And FOF is running on fumes, so they're going after the low hanging fruit.
Posted by: Dick Mills | May 1, 2009 11:43:26 AM
Are they anti-apostrophe in addition to being anti-gay?
Sorry to make light of this, but I truly don't know what else to say.
Posted by: Bonnie_Half-Elven | May 1, 2009 12:13:25 PM
And it's people life them whom have made it impossible for me to come out to my Dad. C'est la vie.
Posted by: Clicky the Fox | May 1, 2009 2:55:09 PM
This is mental terrorism.
Posted by: SPB | May 1, 2009 3:15:12 PM
Plus, those parents are probably more likely to fall for the pitch (info-lecture-mercial) for that Boxed, Commemorative, Gold Leaf Gilded, 'Special', Limited Time Only DVD Collection of FOF's Gayest Hits (punches) for THE LOW-LOW Price of just $89.99. But only if you buy (cash only offer) TODAY.
BUT WAIT! If you buy in the next 15 minutes, you will also receive a coupon for 15% off on your next LWO Lecture, because this shit doesn't work, and we want to sign you up for the next lecture (indoctrination) session before you realize that we are ripping you off!
Little does it matter that the same worthless pile of DVDs (sans the Gold Leafing) can be had for the flock-fleecing price of $59.99 online.
Posted by: Dick Mills | May 1, 2009 3:58:30 PM
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