Love Won Out Conference Nov 4th

[revtj]

I had a meeting with Wayne Besen (America's sexiest gay blogger ) yesterday and we need to swing into action regarding the Ex-Gay convention to be held in Woodstock, GA on Nov. 4th.

http://www.lovewonout.com/

Wayne as you know is leader of TWO (Truth Wins Out) which has been dedicated to debunking the ex-gay myth for nearly 10 years now

http://www.truthwinsout.org/

Soulforce will join with all interested groups and others to have a substantial presence protesting this event.

We are asking clergy and other activists to partcipate and plan to attend the protest event. Please email me back at Soulforce private mailbox for details.

This will not be completely a Soulforce vigil. However, Soulforce members will dedicate ourselves to our pledge and our presence will be combined with many more activists. We need people, stories of abuse in ex-gay experiences, and courage to stand up to a mutimillion dollar doublespeaking hate machine.

PLEASE help me alert as many interested parties as possible to speak the truth against reparative therapy and the damage the ex-gay movement does to individuals.

Pass this email to clergy & others. Mark your calendars and plan to take Sat. Nov. 4th as a day of prayer and protest.

peace,

tj

PS Wayne will be interviewed in SoVo's next issue. Also, his book, 'Anything But Straight' is available at bookstores. I have just finished it, and the book is a well-documented piece of quality research.

[revtj]

This just in from Kathy Kelly of MEGA Family Project in Georgia:

"Did anyone else realize that they are holding the Love Won Out
conference at the Governor's church? I was just reading another article
about [Gov.] Sonny Perdue and [Jerry] Falwell, and it stated that they met at the Governor's church in Woodstock (First Baptist church of Woodstock). The governor has also suddenly taken an anti-gay tone in his campaign,which I though was strange since he has no chance of losing and hadbeen staying so positive. But, once you put these pieces together it is
beginning to make more sense."

(PS I hate replying to my own posts...I am confident that I am not in a conversation with myself! Is this what it feels like to be a Log Cabin Republican? :pray: )

PSS Jamie your new avatar is really cute. Are you reading this?

[suzer1013]

TJ -- I am interested in participating in the vigil. I'll send you a pm to get the details.

Thanks for all the work you've already put into this. I sent some information about this to the leader of the GLBT group at All Saints', but never heard back. I'll try to get in touch with them again. Have you contacted the folks at the MCCs and St. Marks UMC?

Susan

[revtj]

Imagine how much better I felt when my Soulforce email box was full of emails from folks who are ready to support the vigil Nov. 4th. Area pastors have been contacted and we are strategizing. Details will be posted or emailed (or both) as soon as they are available.

If you or your congregation can't make the event, PLEASE plan to either write letters to the editor de-bunking the ex-gay hoax &/or passing out information in your congregation/community with FACTS about being gay and the damage ex-gay therapy does to us & our families. Thanks!!!!!!:D

[revtj]

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/news/item.jsp?pid=106

This is probably already posted elsewhere but it needs to be distributed FAR & WIDE!

[revtj]

Things are really coming together! Email me if you want to come to this exciting event! revtj

[revtj]

UNITED FOR TRUTH
PROTEST rally

Responding in Peaceful Protest to the
LOVE WON OUT EX-GAY Convention being held at
First Baptist Church Woodstock, Georgia

Saturday, November 4th

www.truthwinsout.org www.soulforce.org

PEACEFUL PROTEST
Saturday, Nov 4th – Starts at 7:30 am
at First Baptist Church Woodstock
Join Truth Wins Out, SoulForce, PFLAG, TransAction, and others at
an interfaith Protest Rally at the Love Won Out Ex-Gay Convention.
Protest to be held at 1st Baptist Woodstock Georgia
11905 Highway 92, Woodstock 30188

Love Won Out Convention – www.lovewonout.com
PRESS CONFERENCE
Friday, Nov 3RD - Starts at 11:30 am
at OutWrite Books
www.outwritebooks.com
Meet National Best Selling Author Wayne Besen whose book
Anything But Straight effectively debunks the Ex-Gay Hoax and
confronts the antiGay industry. Come have coffee and hear Wayne
address the National Press and give a statement regarding the Love
Won Out conference at the OutWrite Bookstore in midtown.
OutWrite Books – 991 Piedmont Ave, Atlanta 30309
404.607.0082

PROTEST WORKSHOP
Thursday, Nov 2nd - Starts at 6:30 pm
at YouthPride
www.youthpride.org
Please bring some Poster Board and Magic Markers and help make
signs and prepare for the Protest Rally on Saturday.
YouthPride has graciously agreed to allow us to meet at their facility.
YouthPride – 1017 Edgewood Avenue, Atlanta 30307
404.521.9711


FOR MORE INFORMATION
Or Volunteer a Ride
Call: 404.551.2781
or 404.892.4245

[suzer1013]

TJ - Thanks for all the work you are doing on this!

Susan :love: :pray: :)

[suzer1013]

It was on the local news last night, beginning as a response to the local billboards FOF has about this event. According to the news, FOF claims they have 800 people signed up to attend the convention.

They interviewed the pastor of the church, who claims to be ex-gay, and a member of PFLAG.

So, it's already in the news, and I guess my concerns of our attendance there simply bringing media attention to their cause are now moot. I think it will be important for us to be there, to let people know that God loves EVERYONE, and that there is no need to subject onesself to psychological harm in order to fit someone else's interpretation of scripture.

I am surrounding this in prayer. I hope and pray no one will be harmed by this event.

Susan

[Rick336]

I had planned to attend this protest but I came down with the flu on Friday. I hope it was a huge success.

Rick

[suzer1013]

Rick -- So sorry you couldn't make it! We would have loved to have you there with us. Hope you are feeling better. :love: :pray:

Blessings...

Susan

[Jamie McDaniel]

Susan, TJ, how did today's big event go?

Update: Oh, I see now the report is in another thread.

http://www.soulforce.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1474

[hoads]

My mother attended the Love Won Out conference today in Woodstock and told me about your protest. I think you are doing yourselves a disservice to target a group of people who are seeking information and fellowship on how to deal with homosexuality. My sister is gay and this issue has ripped my family apart. My Mom and sister have been mostly estranged for three years and this was my Mom's first attempt to seek guidance and information in a public forum. This was a huge step for her and in fact, she ran into an acquaintance who she was unaware was also dealing with a gay child and so now she does not have to feel that she and my Dad are alone in dealing with this turmoil. The message of Love Won Out is one that encompasses a wide range of information sources and the "ex-gay" theme is just one. These people are in pain and at a loss as to how to even have a conversation with their gay child or loved one. Love One Out opens the door of possibilities for these family members and addresses the issue of how to have a relationship with a loved one that is respectful and loving and yet does not compromise their Christian faith. Their primary focus is how to love their homosexual family member without condoning their lifestyle. It is very difficult for Christians to profess a family member is gay and so their support network is small and disjointed unlike the gay person who has access to a huge community support network with which to take refuge. Christians need to be allowed to develop their own support network that in the end will benefit all. Protest those who spew hate under the guise of Bible verses--not those seeking support from one another.

[suzer1013]

Hi Hoads. Glad you posted your comment.

Let me be clear: we are not "targeting" the people who attend these events. Our concern is the lies and misinformation spread during these events. "Reparative therapy" is dangerous. It can cause great psychological harm.

If your mother or anyone else would like to reconcile their Christianity with their gay child, friend, etc., I would recommend they try a couple of other resources than ex-gay conventions. The theme of these conventions is not reconciliation -- it is trying to change orientation (which in my opinion is nearly or completely impossible). These conventions and "therapies" always come from an opinion of GLBT people being "sinners" because of who they love. I'm sorry your mother and others have been duped into attending these types of events under the guise of "love."

There are two groups that might be more helpful. One, I found this weekend, run by some parents of a gay son. Their website is:

www.familyacceptance.com

The other is PFLAG, and you can google them to find a chapter in your area. These groups deal with facts, not lies, and I think would be a much healthier place -- factually and spiritually -- for seekers to go.

Finally, I'm not sure where you got the information that GLBT people have such a wealth of resources at their disposal. It's not easy for many GLBT people to find a welcoming, supportive place, especially in the Christian community. Believe me, these ex-gay conventions are not about accepting GLBT persons as they are. FOF touts, at best, that GLBT people are sinners who should at least remain celibate or, at worst, go through years of "conversion" therapy to try and live a lie. Lives are destroyed by this.

The good people, like your mother, who are being duped by these lies are not what we protest. We protest the lies and misinformation being put forth by FOF. Our goal was a peaceful, loving protest, and that is what we accomplished. There were other groups there in addition to Soulforce who were a bit noisier, but also remained peaceful in nature. We must stand as a witness against the lies that were being told in that convention, and I, for one, am glad I was there to be a symbol of Christ's love and stand up for what is right.

Blessings to you. I hope your mother will be able to find more positive and loving resources in which to reconcile her beliefs. I'm sorry that your family is in such pain about this. I hope that places like PFLAG could be a more positive place for your family to learn and understand your sister's orientation, and hopefully mend the wounds that have been created by the untruths taught by groups like FOF.

Susan