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from Theological Issues
Seattle Columnist Condemns Upcoming
Exodus International Conference
October 31, 2005 -
Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Susan Paynter condemned an upcoming Exodus
International conference for troubled teens in her Oct. 26th column, "Ministry's
on a misguided mission to scare gay teens straight."
In it, Paynter describes Exodus International as a "so-called 'ex-gay' ministry"
and a "gay fix-it" group.
She quotes one gay teenager who says that telling homosexual teens that they
need to change in order to be happy is destructive. Gay teens are already
depressed, said Bryce McKibben. "So, when a religious group comes along
suggesting there's a way out by changing who they are, and then it doesn't work,
it just adds to the feeling of failure and isolation. Even suicide."
According to Paynter, "... most mainstream researchers hold that 'repair therapy'
rarely, if ever, works."
Paynter quotes gay Pastor David Strong with Christian Community Church of Joy
who said, "Telling someone, especially someone young, that who they are is not
valuable and rejected by God is dangerous. The message then is that the Bible
says you're bad, not that God loves everyone, no matter who they are."
NARTH Psychologist Ned Stringham, Ph.D. wrote a letter to Ms. Paynter about her
misleading column:
While reading your October 26 column on line, I was struck by your condemnation
of the Groundswell Conference scheduled for the Seattle area this week. I
believe your column needs a response.
You point out that the goals of the conference include "scaring teens straight,"
that it masquerades opinions for science, and you suggest that it trains
attendees to "harass" and even "bully" other teens. You also quote a pastor who
indicates the conference teaches gay teens that they are "not valuable and
rejected by God." These are serious accusations. Do you have any documentation
to verify your claims that Groundswell uses such divisive methods?
Sadly, when today's public schools address sexual orientation issues they seldom
provide a balanced approach. Rarely are kids told that there are no studies
proving a genetic cause for homosexuality. Rarely do they hear about the
scientific studies conducted over the past fifty years that document the journey
many have taken out of homosexuality into heterosexuality. Only occasionally are
the grim statistics presented about the health risks of gay sex and the mental
health problems gays experience in larger numbers than the general population.
Instead, today's students are generally given the simple argument that if they
are attracted to the same sex they are gay, they always will be gay, and any
attempt to change is futile and founded upon delusion and self hatred. They are
also told that they are hated by religious people and mental health
professionals who suggest that orientation change is possible.
As a clinical psychologist, I find it tragic that teachings about a complex
issue like homosexuality should be reduced to such terms.
Like you, I have not attended a Groundswell Conference. I hope that you will
attend, listen, and find out if your accusations have merit. However, I also
hope that the people of Seattle will welcome this conference as an invitation to
consider how to provide better balance in the teachings given by schools and
churches about sexual orientation. If they do so, they will set a wonderful
example for the entire nation.
Ned Stringham, Ph.D.
Licensed psychologist
Lincoln, Nebraska
Additional Reading: NARTH's Response to "Just the Facts about Sexual
Orientation and Youth"; 'The New Gay Teenager'; Gay 'Time' Magazine Writer
Details Rise Of 'Gay Teens'; Adolescent Homosexuality.
Updated: 8 February 2008
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