Anything but Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth

Nationally recognized activist Wayne Besen spent four years examining the phenomenon of "ex-gay" ministries and reparative therapies - interviewing leaders, attending conferences, and visiting ministries undercover as he accumulated hundreds of hours of research. The result is this groundbreaking expose of the controversial movement that's revered by independent religious groups and reviled by gay and lesbian organizations. The book examines "ex-gay" groups such as Love in Action, Exodus International, Homosexuals Anonymous, and profiles a cast of characters that includes Pat Robertson, Rev. Jerry Falwell, "ex-gay" poster boy John Paulk, National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality activist Richard Cohen, and psychiatrist Dr. Robert Spitzer.

Anything But Straight is a seminal work exposing the lies, bad science and just plain self-delusion of those in the "ex-gay movement". This book documents the harm done not only to gay people who attempt to change their orientation, but to the marriages and families which result from the flawed thinking of "ex-gay" ministries and those who cheer them on. Sometimes the "ex-gay" decides that the only way to end the conflict between nature and the self-loathing lie promoted by the "ex-gay" movement" is to end it all by suicide (that is, if they don't wise up and leave the movement altogether. Even if they do, these individuals often need years to overcome the detrimental effects of these pernicious "ministries").

Mr. Besen also shows that leaders in the "ex-gay" movement are often mentally fragile individuals that need genuine psychiatric help, not the flawed self-seeking "psychiatric help" pushed by quacks such as Moberly, Nicolosi, and Cameron.

In the end, these programs do not work. People drop out, leaders have been caught out in gay bars, spouses and children caught in the crossfire are damaged. Yet the carnage goes on and a lie is perpetuated in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Every "ex-gay" should read this book. It just might save their sanity or even their life.