This Thursday, in a conference call open to the public, Darlene Bogle and Christine Bakke will share their experiences as lesbians in the Ex-Gay Movement.
For a while I have been considering how the Ex-Gay Movement is an anti-fem movement. Most of the participants in it are male with curriculum and treatment plans geared towards "male issues." Many of the men involved have felt the need to "change" after years of taunting for being sissies. They learned both on the playground and from the pulpit that the world does not value feminized men.
The cornerstone teaching of nearly every ex-gay program takes a swipe at women while also reinforcing the belief that women must be subservient to men. What makes a boy gay? According to most of these ex-gay providers and proponents gay boys are a bi-product of an "overbearing mother." This false teaching infers that once a woman usurps a man's authority and no longer remains submissive, this transgressive act alters the natural order of the world thus misshaping a child. Ugh! Crap with a capital C.
Many ex-gay survivors have come forward and several sites offer thoughtful analysis of the ex-gay world, but we have heard precious little from the women who once partook of ex-gay treatment and have since come to accept their lesbian or bisexual side. Darlene Bogle and Christine Bakke are two women who have gone public with their stories. Last summer Darlene offered a public apology for her previous role as an Exodus ex-gay leader. Christine, the co-founder of Beyond Ex-Gay, has shared her ex-gay story through the Internet, in print and on TV.
You can listen live and partake in a conversation with Darlene & Christine this Thursday:
For a while I have been considering how the Ex-Gay Movement is an anti-fem movement. Most of the participants in it are male with curriculum and treatment plans geared towards "male issues." Many of the men involved have felt the need to "change" after years of taunting for being sissies. They learned both on the playground and from the pulpit that the world does not value feminized men.
The cornerstone teaching of nearly every ex-gay program takes a swipe at women while also reinforcing the belief that women must be subservient to men. What makes a boy gay? According to most of these ex-gay providers and proponents gay boys are a bi-product of an "overbearing mother." This false teaching infers that once a woman usurps a man's authority and no longer remains submissive, this transgressive act alters the natural order of the world thus misshaping a child. Ugh! Crap with a capital C.
Many ex-gay survivors have come forward and several sites offer thoughtful analysis of the ex-gay world, but we have heard precious little from the women who once partook of ex-gay treatment and have since come to accept their lesbian or bisexual side. Darlene Bogle and Christine Bakke are two women who have gone public with their stories. Last summer Darlene offered a public apology for her previous role as an Exodus ex-gay leader. Christine, the co-founder of Beyond Ex-Gay, has shared her ex-gay story through the Internet, in print and on TV.
You can listen live and partake in a conversation with Darlene & Christine this Thursday:
Many people have either heard of ex-gay therapy in passing or on a brochure laying around their church. Many haven't heard of it at all. Others have actually experienced it, some even leaving their school, family and workplace to become engrossed in its promises through residential programs spending thousands of dollars.
The cost is not only in money, but also in tears, intimacy challenges, loss of sense of self and even the relationship they once held dear with God. As we mention in our movie, "get to God" is a key factor for people to not only stay connected to the Divine, but also to themselves. Ex-gay therapy is one of the leading ways people get in the way of this connection, trying to fix something that isn't broke, attempted healing of someone who isn't sick.
You're invited to hear the very personal testimonies of two remarkable ex-gay survivors, Darlene Bogle and Christine Bakke. You owe it to yourself to learn from people who have "been there, done that." Join us on Thursday night.
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Thursday, August 7th, 5pm Pacific/8pm Eastern
1. Dial-In Conference Number 1-218-486-1300
2. Access Code: 807282
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You're invited to participate by asking your own questions.
Email us your question in advance:
info@godandgaysthemovie.com
and during the call, use yahoo! IM:
godandgaysthemovie@yahoo.com
Comments
The fundamentalist approach is divisive and destructive to life. They have been blaming women from the beginning, with Eve. Fundamentalism is simply misogynistic. You know your in trouble when they migrate towards scripture like "... I forbid a woman not teach a man..." instead of scripture like "there is neither male nor female in Christ." Hmmm, so, in Christ, I can marry whomever?
There was only one lesbian who participated in one of the "Springs of Living Waters" programs I participated in. Maybe in a way lesbians have benefitted from the sexism of the ex-gay movement. Since women just aren't given the same status as men, there is less "ministry" to "help" delesbianize them?
You wrote: "Maybe in a way lesbians have benefitted from the sexism of the ex-gay movement"
Ha! Yeah, may be the only such case.
In my experience churches regularly 'demote' women to being a man's sidekick instead of recognising that each person has their own valid and exciting ministry to fulfil. Some of those ministires may be complementary to a man's but they are equally valid.
My personal journey clearly showed that the man in alleged authority over me had a lesser view of women. In the end, it was one of the reasons I left the charismatic, evangelical church I was part of.
I can see that. Hmmm.. But as I read the bible women are as important to the creation as men. But yeah, there are still men out there who are more than pleased to "keep women in their place."
Some take an egalitarian approach and others a complimentary approach.
Either way - one is neither above nor below the other.
I think that sums up a lot of it pretty accurately.
- e.