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== Beliefs ==
== Beliefs ==
The ministry asserts that its mission is to help men and women "who struggle with unwanted same-sex attractions", believing that "same-sex attractions can be overcome",<ref name=lwofaq>{{cite web|title=Frequently Asked Questions|url=http://www.lovewonout.com/questions/|accessdate=2008-12-19|publisher=Love Won Out}}</ref> and asserting that "there are no conclusive studies supporting any specific biological or genetic ''cause'' for homosexuality".<ref name=lwobg>{{cite web|url=http://www.lovewonout.com/images/pdfs/borngayadf.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-12-19|title=Are People Really "Born Gay"?|year=2008|author=[[Focus on the Family]]}}</ref> It is the opinion of Love Won Out that "The foundation of society for the family is marriage of a man and a woman for life...Scripture is very clear in its condemnation of homosexual conduct, for such sin is a deviation from God's creation and design." Dobson adds that God loves the homosexual as much as any other person.<ref name="ConferenceGuide">{{waybackdate|site=http://www.lovewonout.com/resources/ |title=Focus on the Family's Love Won Out Conference Guide Copyrighted 2005-2006}} </ref>{{rp|7}}
The ministry states that its objective is to "help" men and women who allegedly "struggle with same-sex attractions", believing same-sex attractions as something to be overcome,<ref name=lwofaq>{{cite web|title=Frequently Asked Questions|url=http://www.lovewonout.com/questions/|accessdate=2008-12-19|publisher=Love Won Out}}</ref> It is the opinion of Love Won Out that the Christian bible condemns homosexual conduct.<ref name="ConferenceGuide">{{waybackdate|site=http://www.lovewonout.com/resources/ |title=Focus on the Family's Love Won Out Conference Guide Copyrighted 2005-2006}} </ref>{{rp|7}}


==Conferences==
==Conferences==

Revision as of 03:56, 21 December 2008

Love Won Out is an ex-gay ministry launched by Focus on the Family in 1998. It was founded by John Paulk under the direction of James Dobson. Its stated purpose is "to exhort and equip Christian churches to respond in a Christ-like way to the issue of homosexuality."[1] Critics of Love Won Out assert that its positions run contrary to scientific method and the consensus of psychiatric care authorities such as the American Psychiatric Association. Critics also assert that Ex-Gay ministries may ultimately be harmful to those who follow them.[2][3]

Beliefs

The ministry states that its objective is to "help" men and women who allegedly "struggle with same-sex attractions", believing same-sex attractions as something to be overcome,[4] It is the opinion of Love Won Out that the Christian bible condemns homosexual conduct.[5]: 7 

Conferences

Love Won Out holds conferences multiple times a year throughout the United States;[6] as of October, 2008, 52 conferences had been held.[7] The conferences "exist to help men and women dissatisfied with living homosexually understand that same-sex attractions can be overcome."[This quote needs a citation] Conferences have counseling sessions, seminars on homosexuality and advice for families with gay or lesbian relatives. There are also group lectures, where participants hear "powerful stories of ex-gay men and women."[This quote needs a citation] In addition, conferences challenge Christian churches to reach out to the gay community.[8]

"Love Won Out" view of Homosexuality

"Love Won Out" claims that "The media and others have misrepresented male homosexuality as a pre-determined, biological condition",[9] and claims that "Contrary to the popular myth that homosexuality is genetic, same-sex attraction is a preventable and treatable condition"[9] The conferences focus on what it terms "the family dynamics that can lead to the development of same-sex desires."[9] The conference stresses their perception that homosexuality is abnormal, claiming, "The goal of gay activists is to "overhaul" America with the message that homosexuality is normal and healthy."[9]

Focus on the Family concurs with one position of the American Psychiatric Association when it states “some people believe that sexual orientation is innate and fixed; however, sexual orientation develops across a person’s lifetime,” [10] though it disagrees with the Association's stance that "homosexuality is not a mental disorder".

Love Won Out claims to help people who want to understand factors that allegedly lead to homosexuality; and assist those who "struggle" with same-sex attractions, they do this by first explaining their belief that the root cause of homosexuality is a gender-identity problem."[5]: 12  According to their belief, homosexuality in males is caused by a "dominant mother with a quiet, withdrawn, non expressive and/or hostile father, and an introverted, artistic, imaginative son."[5] They also believe that this is accompanied by poor communication between the mother and the father, and the son having a closer relationship with the mother and an antagonistic relationship with the father.[5]: 12–13 

Affiliations with Exodus International

Main article: Exodus International

Focus on the Family is in affiliation with Exodus International, another ex-gay group. Exodus-affiliated groups allegedly treat homosexual persons giving them what they claim to be "freedom from homosexuality"[11] which Exodus believes include abstinence, lessening of same-sex attraction, and change of what ex-gay groups believes are inappropriate gender roles. [12] Exodus International's position is that reorientation of same-sex attraction is possible; they do not conduct clinical treatment but believe that aversion therapy can be beneficial. Love Won Out believes that homosexuality is a sin and can be cured by faith in the Christian religion.[5]: 7 

Mike Haley speaks in the Love Won Out conference and is chairman of the board of Exodus International.[5]

Affiliations with NARTH

Main article: National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality

Love Won Out also collaborates with The National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), another "ex-gay" group. On November 4, 2006, Joseph Nicolosi represented NARTH at the Love Won Out Conference speaking on "Prevention of Male Homosexuality" and on "The Condition of Male Homosexuality".[5] Dr. Nicolosi is the president and principal research investigator for NARTH, Nicolosi is also the clinical director of the Thomas Aquinas Psychological Clinic in Encino, Calif., where he purports to treat persons suffering undesired same-sex attraction.[5]: 9 

Homosexuality and Politics

Love Won Out claims that the the goal of the alleged "gay agenda" is "Normalization through desensitization, Undermining parental moral authority, and equating homosexuality to heterosexuality."[5]: 19 

Love Won Out states that "marriage will continue to be 'redefined.'" It promotes fear that Same-Sex Marriage may mean for our society: "possible threats to freedom of speech and religious liberty."[5]: 37  The conference promotes talking points, such as to "effectively argue for the benefits of traditional marriage to their friends, co-workers and legislators,"[9] and says that gay marriage is not in the best interest of families and children.[9] The organization states that same-sex marriage places adult desires above the best interest of our children, "same-sex marriage intentionally creates motherless or fatherless families."[5]: 37 

Controversy and criticism of Love Won Out

Critics complain, "While Focus on the Family has the right to prey on people who want to "change", they also have the responsibility to tell the truth, which they do not. Instead of honesty, conference participants will get heavy doses of scientifically bankrupt theories and misleading information that conceals the true failure rate of so-called reparative therapy."[13] Others urge caution on therapy designed to change a person's sexual orientation because it is ineffective and can sometimes be dangerous. The APA says that attempts to change sexual orientation can lead to "depression, anxiety and self destructive behavior."[14] "The American Psychological Association, for instance, declared in 2006: 'There is simply no sufficiently scientifically sound evidence that sexual orientation can be changed. Our further concern is that the positions espoused by NARTH and Focus on the Family create an environment in which prejudice and discrimination can flourish.'"[15][16] John Paulk the ex program director of Focus on the Family and Exodus International, was found lounging in a Washington, DC gay bar in September of 2000. This was omitted from Paulk's biography for the Love Won Out conference.[13] In an article they comment: "Exodus International and NARTH scrupulously avoid documenting their work. When asked by Newsweek magazine why he kept no statistics, Nicolosi replied that he 'didn't have time.' These groups continue to exist, not to help people, but to help religious political leaders like Focus on the Family's James Dobson and former Moral Majority leader Jerry Falwell deny gay people equal rights. Their message is simple: Since gay people can 'change' they do not deserve protection from discrimination."[This quote needs a citation]

Protesters continue to follow the controversial conference in large numbers at each of its stops around the country. They often carrying signs claiming "God loves everyone, even the homosexual," "love is love," and "gay the way God made me."[17] In October, 2008, a "Love Came Out" conference was organized to coincide with a Love Won Out conference in Colorado Springs, featuring "gay speakers who participated in so-called reparative programs and now question such faith-based attempts to change one's sexual orientation."[7] James Dobson responded "Gay activists come with pre-conceived notions about who we are and what we believe and about the hate that boils from within, which is simply not true. Regardless of what the media might say, Focus on the Family has no interest in promoting hatred toward homosexuals or anyone else. We also don't wish to deprive them of their basic constitutional rights. The Constitution applies to all of us."[18]

Truth Wins Out

Main article: Truth Wins Out

Truth Wins Out is a non-profit advocacy group founded by Wayne Besen[19] that "fights against the ex-gay myth, and provides accurate information about the lives of GLBT people." Truth Wins Out is a leading critic of the ex-gay movement and speaks out against Love Won Out, terming it "The single biggest ex-gay threat individual (gay) communities face" and "a smorgasbord of hate and misinformation"[20] Truth Wins Out works to organize protests and counter conferences to dispute the statements of the Love Won Out conference.[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Love Won Out". Love Won Out. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  2. ^ http://www.counseling.org/PressRoom/NewsReleases.aspx?AGuid=b68aba97-2f08-40c2-a400-0630765f72f4
  3. ^ http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/138/2/210
  4. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Love Won Out. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Error in Webarchive template: Empty url.
  6. ^ Burack, Cynthia (2004-09-18). "A Report From "Love Won Out: Addressing, Understanding, and Preventing Homosexuality"" (PDF). National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute.
  7. ^ a b Barna, Mark (2008-10-25). "A Battle of Beliefs at 2 Events Today; Polar Views About Faith in Regard to Homosexuality". The Gazette. Retrieved 2008-12-19. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) (Registration required)
  8. ^ Johnson, Alex (2005-06-23). "'Healed' by God: Evangelical group sponsors conference on nature of gays". MSNBC. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Conference Agenda". Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  10. ^ American Psychiatric Association (May 2000). "Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Issues". Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  11. ^ Exodus International Policy Statement. Retrieved on 2007-03-27.
  12. ^ What's your "success rate" in changing gays into straights?. Retrieved on 2007-03-27.
  13. ^ a b Besen, Wayne. "Love Won Out? The Selling of False Hope to Vulnerable People". Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  14. ^ "APA Position Statement on Psychiatric Treatment and Sexual Orientation December 11, 1998". 1998-12-11. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  15. ^ Sanchez, Casey (Winter 2007). "Straight Like Me". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  16. ^ Besen, Wayne R. (July 2003). Anything But Straight. Routledge. ISBN 1-56023-445-8.
  17. ^ Error in Webarchive template: Empty url.
  18. ^ Kwon, Lillian (2008-03-19). "Gays Still Looking for Love from Christians". Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  19. ^ "Founder of Truth Wins Out". Retrieved 2008-10-10.
  20. ^ a b "TWO's Plan". Truth Wins Out. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
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