Skip to main content

Former Exodus Missionary Speaks Out

Jose Luis Maccarone lived as an ex-gay for over 10 years. I first met him during my time at Love in Action when he came for a visit to the US to share his testimony around the country.

In 2000 he moved from his home country of Argentina to Madrid, Spain and become Exodus Interational's first missionary. After serving as an ex-gay missionary for a few years, he came out gay.

Last week Jose Luis and I spent a day together, and he wanted to tell some of his story. In this series of videos, Jose Luis shares some of his ex-gay survivor narrative, what it was like to live as an ex-gay, the good and the bad that came of his experience, his recovery and a message to his former clients.

Jose Luis shares some of the reasons why he became ex-gay.


In this video Jose Luis talks about life as an Exodus leader and missionary


What good, if any came of your ex-gay experiences and how were you harmed?


Jose Luis talks about his recovery from the ex-gay movement and speaks to the people who he had ministered to as a missionary and ex-gay leader


UPDATE:
Shortly after I posted this entry, I received the following e-mail from Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International.
Please make sure to note and clarify that Jose was a missionary with the Exodus International that now is called The Exodus Global Alliance. He was not affiliated with the ministry Exodus International that I represent. Though there is a connection to the two ministries, he was not one of our representatives.

Thanks,

Alan
Labels:

Comments

Anonymous said…
Pete just wanted to send you some love on the 'gay issue'. I have no idea what i'm talking about i'm sure being pretty much hetero but I am so deeply against any sort of prejudice toward people based on sexual choices-- which are simply nobody's business, much less any sort of grounds to moralize or ostracize... I emailed you briefly about our shared school years but forgot to mention this and since it's a central aspect of your blog i thought I'd better make it known so you'd know where I stand-- lots of love!
12:34 AM
Allyson Dylan Robinson said…
This is really great stuff, Peterson, and very moving. The more of these stories I hear, the more convinced I am that they have the power to change the world.

Great to chat with you a little on the phone last night...I'll let you guess a little about that one... ;)
7:32 AM
Elliot Coale said…
Ughhh... Alan Chambers can bite it. Even if they are two separate organizations, they're all the same because they're both full of crap!
11:27 AM
Anonymous said…
Alan needs to get a grip on reality, because this discussion is about the message, not about who paid the messenger.
4:22 PM
Anonymous said…
It's pretty hard to believe that they are not connected. Maybe Alan Chambers isn't or wasn't in his line of employment, but both present the same message. It's like this: If it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, walks like a duck, it's a duck. Thanks for showing the link - which links right to Chambers' Exodus International.
Carol B.
11:48 PM
Nonsequitur said…
It is both heartening and a very powerful witness that there are more and more former ex-gay 'ministry' workers/representatives coming forward to discuss the pitfalls of such programs.
12:16 AM
Alex Resare said…
"he was not one of our representatives."

I feel a bit confused. I know that The Exodus Global Alliance isn't a part of Exodus International now but how was it before 2004? Was it really two different organisations in 2000?
1:47 AM
SoulPony said…
What a special gift he is giving from his pain. I know people who suffer like he has will appreciate his honesty.
9:53 AM
Christine Bakke said…
Yeah, news to me about the whole Exodus Global Alliance vs. International thing. I knew they were somewhat distinct but still don't understand the differences (I guess I thought Exodus Global Alliance was over Exodus International or something).

Still does not negate what Jose Luis has to say. He's talking about being a former ex-gay, which is what Exodus (whichever) is in the business of promoting.
1:11 AM
Anonymous said…
my family befriended jose luis in 1990, in fact, I just want to say that was not gay before, he only was facinated with it. he also used my family contacts in diferent parts of the world to vacation for free, once that was done he disapeared. he used exodus to get to spain. he uses you to be famous.his ex-gay story is not true, he was not gay till after exodus. he is a liar and is using you!!
4:08 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