Protest Against 'Ex-Gay' Therapy Group Tomorrow
PHILADELPHIA -- The following is being released by Truth Wins Out: A coalition of local and statewide LGBT organizations will protest the annual conference of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), on Saturday, Nov. 6 (noon-1:30 PM). The so-called "ex-gay" group falsely believes that homosexuality is a psychological condition that can be cured through prayer and therapy. The organizations protesting want to send the message that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are fine just the way they are, and that you can't "pray away the gay." The LGBT advocacy groups will be joined by mental health professionals, survivors of "ex-gay" therapy and nationally known LGBT bloggers. The demonstrators will point out that "ex-gay" therapy is harmful, ineffective and a fringe practice that is rejected by every respected medical and mental health association in America. The protest takes on new urgency, following a series of teen suicides due to anti-gay bullying. The notorious "ex-gay" group NARTH is hoping that Americans have amnesia and don't remember that its most "prominent" board member, George Rekers, was forced to resign in May. Rekers stepped down after he was caught vacationing with a male escort he met on RentBoy.com. When asked why he had hired the young man, Rekers said it was to,"lift his luggage." The theme of this event is "Lift My Luggage" and protesters are urged to bring luggage to the protest (pink luggage would be ideal). The Lift My Luggage demonstration is co-sponsored by Truth Wins Out, Equality Pennsylvania, PFLAG-Philadelphia, Equality Forum, The William Way LGBT Community Center, MCC Philadelphia, The Mazzoni Center, ex-gay survivor Chaim Levin, mental health professionals Drs'. Michele Angello and Dr. Maureen Osborne, Joe Jervis (Joe.My.God), Jeremy Hooper(Good As You) and Zack Ford (ZackFordBlogs.com). Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that fights anti-LGBT religious extremism. TWO monitors anti-LGBT organizations, documents their misinformation and exposes their leaders as charlatans. TWO specializes in turning information into action by organizing, advocating and fighting for LGBT equality.
