"Former homosexuals" to meet in Alabama; Anne Heche's mom speaking

[Bluebear]

"Love won out!" . . .:eyes:

====

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Aug. 26 /Christian Wire Service/ -- Focus on the Family will bring its international Love Won Out conference to Birmingham, Ala., on Sept. 17. Metropolitan Church of God will host the one-day event, designed to educate and equip attendees on the issues surrounding homosexuality and provide help for those struggling -- and those whose loved ones struggle -- with unwanted same-sex attractions.

"While the gay life is often glorified in 'pride' festivals and through the media, we offer a distinctly different message -- one of hope and healing for those who don't share that sense of pride," said Mike Haley, Love Won Out host and a former homosexual. "I and thousands of others know firsthand that there is a way out of unwanted homosexuality."


Mike Haley, "former homosexual"

Birmingham-area gay activists have announced plans for a counter-conference to be held in response to Love Won Out. Haley commented, "Unfortunately, our message is often not extended the same 'tolerance' that is usually called for by the homosexual community."

"The issues of homosexuality and same-sex marriage are becoming increasingly politicized in our culture, but Love Won Out's message continues to focus on the hope and love that is found in Jesus Christ," said Melissa Fryrear, a conference speaker and former lesbian. "We are here to offer a perspective that is rarely heard anywhere else: There is a way out of the homosexual life for those who wish to take it."

In a recent addition to the Love Won Out lineup, the Birmingham conference will feature Nancy Heche, offering insight to the parents and spouses of those involved in homosexuality. Heche, whose daughter was involved in a high-profile lesbian relationship, will share the lessons of her experience with the conference attendees; she also lost her husband to a long battle with AIDS after he secretly lived a homosexual life during their marriage.

To address the topic of same-sex marriage and parenting, Focus on the Family Vice President and Psychologist-in-Residence Dr. Bill Maier will present "Straight Thinking on Gay Marriage."

Since its inception in 1998, Focus on the Family's Love Won Out has shared its message with more than 26,000 people in 32 cities internationally - Birmingham will mark the 35th presentation.

To arrange an interview contact: Christopher Norfleet, 719- 548-4570. For more information visit: http://www.lovewonout.com.

Founded in 1977, Focus on the Family is a nonprofit Christian organization committed to strengthening the family in the U.S. and throughout the world. Web: http://www.family.org

http://www.earnedmedia.org/fotf0826.htm

[ronnykmarshall]

1. Miss Haley looks like a pushy bottom ...

if ya ask me !

[Skittles]

12. BWAAAAAAAHAAAHAAAAAAA

OMG RONNY STOP IT :D

[Sapphocrat]

17. ..

:spray:
LOLOLOL

[ronnykmarshall]

18. I ordered some stuff from Lavender Liberal!!

I got my step-dad the "Godless Commie Liberal" coffee mug. He's gonna love it.

[lvx35]

2. Do they have a "queer won out" version?

I need to do something about my unwanted heterosexuality!!!

[Stephist]

3. They Are Bragging About This?

Since its inception in 1998, Focus on the Family's Love Won Out has shared its message with more than 26,000 people in 32 cities internationally - Birmingham will mark the 35th presentation.

Now i'm no math major but it seems to me they are bragging about not being able to draw a 1000 people per stop.

[Craig3410]

9. Bingo.

Ooooooohhhh; being able to draw 743 people a stop.

Wow. I hope they stock up on Port-A-Potties. :eyes: :sarcasm:

[Not_Giving_Up]

4. This implies that gay people can not be in love

How fucked up is that?

[Bluebear]

21. Fucked up and they know it. nt

[Swamp Rat]

5. Hey! Let's have a former heterosexual conference in New Orleans.

Oh wait, that's every day. :D

I think I saw Mike Haley in the Cat's Meow last weekend... in drag. ;)

[Bluebear]

22. Why does he need a gladiator movie on to make love to his wife?

Hmm?

[Fridays Child]

6. Haters

Haters, masquerading as compassionate humans.

[msongs]

7. bet they all love gay porn when nobody is looking... nt

[Dr Fate]

15. They beat their heads on their desks a lot.

Whenever "the dirty thoughts come back."

I feel sorry for them and their beards-er- I mean wives.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

8. Tell me again

which Gospel is it where Jesus preaches against homosexuality? Oh, that's right,there ain't one! :)
If they don't like people being gay that's their right. I do wish they'd quit dragging God, Jesus and religion into the argument to justify their position though.

[Lex]

10. So . . . Anne Heche's mother sounds as mentally ill as she is.

Besides, Anne Heche wasn't gay, she was just a media whore opportunist.

IMHO.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

26. Anne Heche wasn't gay, she was a star fucker who wanted a boost to her

career

[noiretextatique]

30. exactly...gay one day...straight the next

:puke: aka: USER

[mitchum]

38. Poor Anne. I remember when she was planning to launch her book tour...

on the week of September 11 2001, but something happened and dominated all of the television screens. Timing is everything.

[Dr Fate]

11. Is this going to be a catered affair?

???

[mitchum]

39. LOL!

very nice :)

[Prism]

13. Wait . . .

They're equipped?!

*squints*

Oh, I read this all wrong.

Well, that's a shame. There's really nothing wrong with this group that a well-placed disco ball couldn't solve.

Sometimes I'm tempted to go to one of their meetings. For sheer entertainment value, mind you. I could bring a date and everything and see how long we can go without snickering.

[Flubadubya]

14. Please note... it's just a 1-day affair.

They know better than to put them all up in a hotel together overnight! :rofl:

[Bluebear]

23. hehehehe

[Warren DeMontague]

16. What about a way out of unwanted heterosexuality?

Because, frankly, sometimes it's a royal pain in the ass.

[NVMojo]

19. Well, hell, I knew a gay guy who went through this system after he got

saved at a local far-right Baptist church (no offense to Baptists intended, but this church is extreme). He went to the inpatient treatment for gayness and he met his future wife, a recovering lesbian. They got married in the eyes of God, lived happily for awhile. He started feeling "gay" again so the church prayed for him, laid hands on him, cast out the "gay" demons. Well ...you can predict the end of the story ...he's gay, she's gay, they got divorced, remained friends, weren't allowed back into that church for they were pronounced DEMON POSSESSED and fallen away from God's will. I wish them peace and happiness forever.

I do not like fundies.

[jonnyblitz]

27. this couple you mention is probably listed in some statistical

report as a success story for the ex-gay movement. that is one of the flaws of the movement, they don't do follow-ups later on down the road on the "cured".

[noiretextatique]

28. great story

:rofl: not to diminish the pain of those struggling to accept themselves...i know firsthand what a difficult struggle that can be.

[Cats Against Frist]

20. Who the HELL would want to be married to an "ex"-homosexual??

Talk about baggage. People are fucked up enough, as it is. I have a hard enough time dealing with the fact that my boyfriend likes to lie in bed, two days a week, (I tease him that he's "taken to bed, because of his period"), and read romance fantasy novels. If I knew that the only thing stopping him from finding the nearest gay club was the robes of Mammon Jebus, I don't think I'd be able to handle it.

I think this is a HORRIBLE thing, and I feel terrible for the people who've been brainwashed into hating themselves. It's disgusting.

[Nikia]

24. Well my college friend is married to one

Alright, he didn't give up homosexuality because of religion or join a group. He probably was bisexual all along. They started dating in college when he was 20. He had only dated guys before then and hadn't dated until college. Perhaps that is a little different.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

33. And perhaps he is still doing it

Check out the AOL message boards for married men looking for gay men

[noiretextatique]

32. my ex-lesbian friend married a man

who is so insecure that she had to give up all her lesbian friends...or so he thinks. he's terrified that she will leave him for a woman, cause eventually: she probably will.

[noiretextatique]

25. "unwanted homosexuality"

:rofl:

[Nikia]

29. I'm sure that Nancy Heche has an explanation

Of why her husband lived a homosexual life while he was married. It wasn't that he just hadn't met the right woman. It wasn't that he just was a young horny guy who just happened to attract homosexuals. Could it be that he was actually gay?

[noiretextatique]

36. i suppose he didn't go through the program

if only he had...i'm sure that's what she tells herself. i am sure she still believes his homosexuality was "unwanted."

[Initech]

31. How did I guess James "Mr. Spongebob Squarefetish" Dobson was behind it?

[rockymountaindem]

34. That's not the same "former homosexual" they found in a gay bar,

is it?

[Bluebear]

35. Um he was there doing research for his convention.

That's it, research.

[DanCa]

37. self delete

[mitchum]

40. Is the Atlanta runaway bride's fiance going to be there?

There is a reason that he is a member of the born again virgin movement- "It's as if I never had (any kind of) sex before!"

[geniph]

41. I really despise these people

I have several gay friends who were brought up total fundie fruitbats. All their lives, they fought their "unnatural desires." One friend tried so hard to be not-gay that he even let them find him a wife, got married. He tried. Oh gods, how he tried. He went through their bullshit program. Then he tried to kill himself. Finally, when his wife left him, he admitted that the whole ex-gay thing was horseshit, brainwashing, and wrong. He's now living happily with his partner, who was reared much the same way, minus the arranged marriage. But to this day, he fights the feelings of shame and guilt and sheer ugliness that they inculcated in him from birth.

Making someone feel like they're evil and dirty for the way they were born is the sickest, most sinful thing I can imagine.

I like what PFLAG did here in Seattle. They held a counter-conference, Love Welcomes All, and offered discounted tickets to anyone who'd gone to Dr. Spongebob's conference first.