John Smid and me-Graduation 1998 (above) & John Smid today (left) By now many have heard that Tennessee's Department of Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities determined that the "ex-gay" program, Love in Action, is operating two “unlicensed mental health supportive living facilities”. LIA has until Friday, September 23 to respond. If LIA statements in Eartha Jane Melzer's article are indicative to how the "change" program might respond, we may see LIA change right before our eyes from a clinical mental health compound into a house of praise and worship. Gerard Wellman, business administrator for Love in Action, and a former Love in Action client, said Sept. 13 that the organization has been in contact with the state but would not comment further. “As a church, we operate under a different set of rules,” Wellman said. Curious, and what rules might these be? What is even more curious is that according to LIA's site only one staff member ...
Musings of Peterson Toscano, an ex-gay survivor and creator of Doin' Time in the Homo No Mo Halfway House, Transfigurations: Transgressing Gender in the Bible, and Bubble and Squeak podcast.

Comments
Oh Lord...You know Marvin I've developed quite a fondness for you. But I gotta tell you, that word from the Lord was a bit of a stretch and that comes from one [me] who grew up in the Faith Movement. The scripture in question does seem to suggest that it is better to enter Heaven maimed...BUT, I don't think it's applicable to the situation at hand. I think the Lord's Prayer (forgive us our tresspasses as WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESSPASS AGAINST US) might be the more appropriate scripture in your relationship with Brother Juan.
Peace be with you!
j.