John Smid and the folks at LIA (& Exodus & Focus on the Family) want to save children from a disastrous life of sin. They see the "gay lifestyle" as a dangerous evil that must be avoided at all costs.
They firmly believe this and doggedly stick to their story.
Perhaps John Smid has only seen gay people acting-out with destructive, self-abusive behaviors.
Perhaps based on his personal history of promiscuity and failed relationships, he assumes it's the same for everyone.
Perhaps only those men and woman with severe life-controlling problems (sexual addiction, emotionally dependent relationships, unresolved childhood sexual abuse and depression) show up at the doors of these "change" programs.
Last fall, in an e-mail, John Smid asked me to consider how his program helped me.
Easy. I arrived at LIA messed up in many ways; I also had same-sex attractions.
Through interacting with loving, sincere people, I was able to begin to address sexual addiction, depression and childhood abuse. I found a measure of relief, BUT since the primary focus was on my same-sex attractions, my "successes" faded into the background.
I believed in the gay umbrella given me by the church, where gay men are inherently dysfunctional sex maniacs, and with despair of being anything different, I came OUT.
In the LGBTQ community, I quickly found that dysfunction exists, just as it exists in the heterosexual community (see The Real World, Temptation Island, Spike TV, etc). But such a lifestyle is not the norm for the majority of queer or straight people in the world.
Yes, I've had to sort myself out and address real issues that threatened my well being, but these issues had NOTHING to do with my same-sex attractions.
John Smid has met some miserable and terribly screwed-up gay people. He wants to help them. Yeah, they exist, but John Smid needs to get out more and meet the rest of the community, the majority of the community.
They firmly believe this and doggedly stick to their story.
Perhaps John Smid has only seen gay people acting-out with destructive, self-abusive behaviors.
Perhaps based on his personal history of promiscuity and failed relationships, he assumes it's the same for everyone.
Perhaps only those men and woman with severe life-controlling problems (sexual addiction, emotionally dependent relationships, unresolved childhood sexual abuse and depression) show up at the doors of these "change" programs.
Last fall, in an e-mail, John Smid asked me to consider how his program helped me.
Easy. I arrived at LIA messed up in many ways; I also had same-sex attractions.
Through interacting with loving, sincere people, I was able to begin to address sexual addiction, depression and childhood abuse. I found a measure of relief, BUT since the primary focus was on my same-sex attractions, my "successes" faded into the background.
I believed in the gay umbrella given me by the church, where gay men are inherently dysfunctional sex maniacs, and with despair of being anything different, I came OUT.
In the LGBTQ community, I quickly found that dysfunction exists, just as it exists in the heterosexual community (see The Real World, Temptation Island, Spike TV, etc). But such a lifestyle is not the norm for the majority of queer or straight people in the world.
Yes, I've had to sort myself out and address real issues that threatened my well being, but these issues had NOTHING to do with my same-sex attractions.
John Smid has met some miserable and terribly screwed-up gay people. He wants to help them. Yeah, they exist, but John Smid needs to get out more and meet the rest of the community, the majority of the community.
Comments
"Hey" I shot back, "This was my Love in Action graduation, the straightest day of my life!"
"Can't tell."
She says its in the eyes. Maybe the "ex-gay" programs should provide straight-looking contact lenses.
Brilliant pic Peterson, you'll have to forgive me for giggling at you!
John Smid appears with me in this photo taken in March 1998. Some strange cosmic exchange must have occured between us that day. I have much less hair on top since then and he has much more.
Re: "Perhaps only those men and woman with severe life-controlling problems (sexual addiction, emotionally dependent relationships, unresolved childhood sexual abuse and depression) show up at the doors of these "change" programs."
I've always thought this to be the case. I was reminded of this the other day when I went to the dentist and was asked if I had any tongue jewelry (before a big crazy round-the-head xray procedure). When I replied no, the x-ray technician started talking about how dangerous it is and how they think that about 50-80% of people with tongue jewelry end up with broken teeth or even broken jaw bones. I didn't bother to argue that the percentages are so much smaller but because that's all they see (since they're called upon to fix the damage) that's probably what's true for them. They're just not seeing the whole picture. Immediately I thought of how the ex-gay movement does this.
~Annika
Hey, Peterson, what about inviting Smid to a certain Quaker LGBTQ gathering...? But maybe that idea ought to be "tested" a bit, huh (in the Quaker sense)?
Blessings,
Liz, The Good Raised Up
yes, i'm still out here. to me, you look like a robot. maybe a gay robot. a rugged gay robot--though i don't really see the rugged part, to be honest.
you also look terrified.
clearly not in your right mind yet, or body. i'm so glad you found your way out.
Everyone by now should already have received their personal copy of the Queer Agenda. If you are reading this and haven't received a copy of the agenda via fax, email, text message or snail mail. Then you will just have to do a search online or ask your local bigot to send you a copy.
Seeing as the agenda clearly isn't being met I have come up with ways we, using the universal Queer we, can take non violent action.
Teachers begin scratching your finger nails across the chalk boards, on the hour every hour.
Music teachers teach only in off key and art teachers have the kids paint only with finger paints.
Hair stylists color every womyns hair blue and give all men a mullet hair cut.
Decorators you should design everything in the Simpson motif.
Clothing designers are to only use polyester for all clothing.
Librarians take out all books that have any hint of the heterosexual lifestyle (as all us Queers know by now they just chose that lifestyle) mentioned in them.
These are just a few ideas that have popped into my head. Please add your own to the list so we all can begin taking non violent action.
(NOTE: All of this is in fun and a way to blow off steam and to recharge ones batteries.)
Have you seen John Smid recently? I wasn't aware of his total transformation until I saw a few pictures such as the one on your blog. I am interested in asking him how he justifies his new hair...ahem..his false identity...with the scriptures.
Not the most pressing issue, but still..
-Cale
In correct LIA fashion you will need to address him and first prepare him by saying, "John, I have some feedback for you." Then you give him a moment to rise to his feet.
He must stand up straight with his hands to his side and must maintain eye contact.
Then you say something like, "John, I wanna challenge you..." Then you fill in the rest. Let me know how it goes.
http://bettybowers.com/bigots.html