Greg is new on Soulforce

[gregis9]

I'm excited to be involved in this community. I am currently organizing literature to conduct my doctoral dissertation on reparative therapy. I am an ex-ex gay man who would like to hear comments people may have on the subject of sexual reorientation, describe negative experiences, etc. I am also just a social being who would like to get to know people regardless of their feelings towards reparative therapy.
Thank you, feel free to private message me,
Greg

[Jamie McDaniel]

Hi Greg. I see in your profile that you are from originally from Orange County, California. Soulforce was there earlier this year for the Ex-Gay Survivor Conference. Since you are an ex-ex-gay, did you happen to hear about it or maybe even attend?

6813300738108451537

Welcome to Soulforce and tell us more about yourself.

[Zerbie]

That sounds like an interesting dissertation. Will you share your conclusions with us?

Anyway, welcome. I'm sure you'll find lots of opinions on reparative therapy around here. My own very opinionated opinion is that the very premise of it is abusive. Always have thought so, since I was a wee thing.

[antonyh]

Welcome to Soulforce. I'm sure you'll be able to meet a lot of great people here and potentially gather information for your dissertation.

[inca nitta]

Greg,

welcome to the forums,

And Jamie, thank you very much for the video. It was very interesting and educational.

Inca

[Pablo Rafael]

Hi Greg,

Great to have you here.

I'm not an ex-gay
or an ex-ex-gay.
I'm just a plain ordinary gay. ;)

But I am an ex-Californian and Los Angeleno, does that count for anything? :D

Please let us know more about yourself.

Tu Amigo, Pablo

[paul]

Hi Greg,

Welcome. I did the ex gay thing for about 30 years (some of us are slow learners). Exodus, deliverance, 'reparative' therapy. Glad to hear your thesis is on such a worthy subject. Hope you take the time to get involved here, tis a wonderful group to feed your social side...and you'll probably find fodder for the dissertation as well.
paul

[Gennee]

Hi Greg and welcome to Soulforce.

Gennee

:love::wave:

[SomervilleGuy]

Hi Greg,
That is a great topic for your dissertation. I just came out 3 months ago, only after being assured in my heart that I could be gay and still be a Christian and be saved. Then I read Mel White's "Standing At the Gate". After reading that, and reading Michael B's story on web, and Darlene's and others, I didnt want to even try reparative therapy. Just sounded like a futile effort and a big waste of time & energy, so I said no, much to the consternation of family members who BEGGED me to go. They are resentful of me that I didn't go, but I know for sure that I made the right choice. Now if only I could convince them of that.

Geoff

[scott snedeker]

It sounds on the surface that you are on a journey away from self loathing and a state of being a worthless deviant. Many of us have gone through many stages. I went from lonley worthless deviant to a used (but useful) codependent martyr to being entitiled not to be used to a point now where I am entitled to the joy of living true to my gay nature because it is a given.

Exgay Status has the feeling of a parallel to one of my early martyr stages which is on the road to a happier existence but not a destination. If you consider yourself exgay, I recommend that you stay there as long as It feels good. When it starts to feel like you are missing something, I would recommend venturing out of the exgay paradigm. This would indicate to me that the fear of damnation and ousting is fading and allowing you "deserving factor" to express itself. If you take a spiritual inventory periodically you may be sensitive to when it a good time for this paradigm shift.

Good luck!

[Vanessa White]

Glad that you found your way to us here at Soulforce. Your research sounds healing as well as informative. Come around often. Peace, Vanessa :love:

[shadesofgray21]

Welcome, Greg. I'm incredibly fascinated by the subject of your research, and can't wait to hear more!

[Jennifer5]

Welcome, glad to have you here! :)