Skip to main content

Lesbians Bearing Witness

How excellent that we get to hear more and more from lesbian ex-gay survivors. Darlene Bogle was not only a "former lesbian" but also served as an ex-gay leader with Exodus. She recently submitted her survivor narrative, (My Exodus from Exodus) and two articles to BeyondExGay.com. In the article Healing from the Broken Truth, Darlene writes:
I had been part of the Gay community for many years, but with my connections to ex-gay ministry, extensive prayer healing sessions, and a strong will to not be rejected by the God who loved me and gave Himself for me on the cross; I thought I was free from homosexual desire. That was the truth I spoke out on national television and wrote about in articles and several books. I proclaimed that truth, and shared that pathway to every caller, offering hope for them to share in the promised land of freedom.

There was only one problem. Many of the calls were repeat calls from gays and lesbians who followed the prescription to sexual freedom and were still stuck in the land of broken truth. They wanted to be free from same sex attraction, and had read their Bibles faithfully, but they still had the desires. The dreaded question always came into the conversation.
You can read more here.

As I mentioned in a previous post, my partner in justice, Christine Bakke, appears in the May Glamour magazine, on new stands now. The full text is actually over at Glamour's site. On Monday they will have an on-line "chat" with Christine. Anyone can sign-up for free and get involved in the conversation. Go for it. I know Christine would love to hear from you.

So where are the other lesbian survivors??? Your stories are so valuable and essential for the discussion. Visit bXg and see about submitting your narrative or an article.

Comments

Allyson Dylan Robinson said…
I couldn't find a link or any details for the chat on Monday, Peterson. Any more info to offer us?
10:44 AM
Christine Bakke said…
Hey Ally,

It's not actually a chat, more like a blog comment area (people can comment, ask me questions, and I will post a comment back, totally like this blog, it seems).

Click this link
5:01 PM
Peterson Toscano said…
Can someone explain to me why here at this blog and over at Ex-gay watch, virtually NO ONE left comments about this article. It's not like Christine is a stragnger on this blog or at XGW.

Soften lesbian issues do not get the attention they deserve (much like trans and bisexual issues).

I know descrimination occurs in the LGBT community and sexism is epidemic among all sorts of men (and some women).

Not to pick on people who didn't comment here or accuse anyone of anything, but I find it surprising (or maybe not).

Thoughts?
12:25 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Gay Husband--A Spouse Speaks Out

The other day I received the following e-mail from Susanne, a woman who found out her some years ago that her husband has same-sex attractions. I felt so moved by her words that I asked her permission to share them with you on the blog. I (recently) saw your Doin Time... and I was the one who asked about your wife during the discussion period that followed. I just read your thoughts on What About the Spouse ....and I can say, most women who find out their husbands are gay feel ALL of those things you wondered about....some in more degrees than others... When my husband was dragged out of the closet because of his irreverent, immoral, and amoral behavior that our, then, 14 and 16 year old sons had to find on our home computer, I went into the closet. I didn't know what to pray for.... Do I pray that this will go away? Do I pray that he could go back to the way things were in our family before we knew about him,? Do I pray that I could go back to the way things were? After all ,...
122 comments
Read more

The False Image of LIA

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 ...
158 comments
Read more

Puzzled

Last night I performed Transfigurations-Transgressing Gender in the Bible at Imago Dei Metropolitan Community Church in Glen Mills, PA (about 15 miles outside of Philly). I had a diverse audience of about 45 people -- college students, Quakers, straight, bi, trans and lesbian, young and old. I took my time with the piece maintaining a gentle meditative pace. For the ending when I reveal the identity of the narrator, I had instructed the light tech to dim the lights. Then as the closing music swelled, I asked her to raise the lights to their brigthest intensity. With the music playing, I exited. Always (up until last night) at this point the audience applauds, I wait 5 seconds then come out to take a bow. Last night I exited and then nothing. No one clapped. They sat quietly as the music played. I stood back stage puzzled, baffled. Now what do I do? Wait? Go out anyway? And I wondered for a moment, Did they hate it? Did I confuse them? Offend them? Bore them into a coma? After what ...
18 comments
Read more