Ex-gay ministries credibility around the world is being substantially challenged as an increasing number of people come out with their stories saying - it doesn’t work. In fact, reparative/conversion therapy causes harm that can take years to overcome.

Since the release of his autobiography, ‘A Life of Unlearning’, Anthony Venn-Brown (who went through Australia’s first ex-gay program in 1972), has been collecting testimonials from people who have come out of ex-gay programs as well as former Australian leaders of Exodus. After the apologies of 3 former ex-gay leaders at the Ex-gay Survivors Conference in Los Angeles (organised by Soulforce and beyondexgay.com, he felt it was time to release these statements. Statements by these Australian leaders are now being posted around the internet.

Why has it taken so long for people to speak up?

Anthony gives six reasons on his blog. http://alifeofunlearning.blogspot.com/

Paul Martin Psychologist (Former Exodus Leader – Melbourne) says
During this time, there was not one person that I met or worked with who, in any genuine way achieved the fundamental transformation from homosexual to heterosexual they so desperately desired. The stress of attempting to change their sexual orientation however increased risk of suicidality, and absolutely led to erosion of self-esteem and increased levels of depression and self-deprecation at a very deep level.

Vonnie Pitts (Former Christian City Church Pastor/Living Waters Leader) says
I began my own research into the causes of homosexuality and found there was mounting evidence that sexual orientation is determined in the womb. Now I have absolutely no doubt that homosexuals are born gay and don’t need to change. If I were to see any of the people that I took through the ‘Living Waters’ program again, I would say sorry. My intentions were to help you through your struggle but I acted in ignorance.

John Metyard (Former Exodus Asia Pacific & Living Waters Leader and on the International Advisory Board of Exodus) says
Whereas once I was ardent in my opinion that homosexual orientation was unquestioningly a result of the 'fall' and God's intention was therefore always to heal the same-sex attracted believer and help them to be 'whole', my position is now somewhat different.

Wendy Lawson (Former Exodus Leader Melbourne) says
Today, more than 15 years, after I stepped down from leadership of the X-Gay ministry ‘Exodus’ I have come to know that nearly every member of that group is now living their lives openly as a homosexual person (20 people).

Kim Brett (Former Exodus – Associate, Former Leader - Living Waters and Liberty Inc.) says
There had been an increasing uneasiness in me since 2005 that what I was teaching was harmful to people. I had become tired and ill-at-ease with always feeling that this part of my life and others attending the group (same-sex orientated) is broken and in need of fixing. For a long time I had been witnessing peoples (and my own) growing frustration that no matter how repentant, prayerful and committed we all were to living a life as an ex-gay Christian, the changes we all sought and were taught possible never really materialised for most. Some people I knew were married and had married but most seemed to still be dealing with homosexual feelings.

Read full statements here http://alifeofunlearning.blogspot.com/

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