Truth Wins Out Cautions LGBTQ Movement to Prepare for Future ‘Ex-Gay’ Campaigns
DELRAY BEACH, FL- Truth Wins Out warned the LGBTQ community today to prepare for future “ex-gay” campaigns following the Changed Movement’s frenetic trip to Washington, DC, where they reported lobbying key lawmakers and meeting with top right wing organizations. The “ex-gay” industry had largely shriveled following the closing of Exodus International in 2013, as well as a New Jersey jury shutting down Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality (JONAH) in 2015 for consumer fraud. It appears that the Religious Right has concluded that enough time has passed to dishonestly rebrand and reboot failed conversion efforts.
“Truth Wins Out has diligently prepared for the attempted resurrection of the ‘ex-gay’ conversion industry and we will effectively shut down their lies as we have in the past,” said Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen. “The Changed Movement’s DC junket was the most active we have seen these groups in years. They are back trying to influence the culture and pass anti-LGBTQ laws. If Republicans retake control of Washington, it’s increasingly likely that they will reintroduce these deceitful, fraudulent and failed ‘ex-gay’ campaigns.”
The Changed Movement came to Washington with a destructive message designed to undermine LGBTQ equality. “We were not ‘born this way,’ and our nation’s leadership should not pass legislation or policies that push children toward LGBTQ identity,” they wrote in an email to supporters. Upon leaving DC they boasted, “It’s very encouraging to know that we are making a difference and that we have support!”
We strongly suggest that anyone seduced by the Changed Movement’s disinformation and debunked, crackpot theories, watch our powerful video featuring former Exodus Washington lobbyist Randy Thomas. Yesterday, Thomas spoke out in a Substack post on his experience as the former top lobbyist of the “ex-gay” industry.
“I cannot say it enough; please do not entertain any thought of going into such destructive efforts to fix what isn’t broken. I did andwas disarmed by their warm disposition and seeming professionalism.
Twenty-two years in that world and nine years beyond, I am still assessing the damage to my life and the destructive ideology I bought into and eventually promoted that hurt others. I know everystep of that movement, from being a group participant to the last Exec. VP of Exodus. Conversion therapy in any, but especially its pastoral form of ex-gay ministry, doesn’t work. Please don’t go.”
The Changed Movement reported that many Republican lawmakers and the conservative establishment enthusiastically opened their doors and greeted this movement warmly. According to an email obtained by Truth Wins Out, Changed Movement co-founder Ken Williams bragged that his organization:
- Had shared withover 75 national leadersthe connections between our childhood experiences and our sexual identity by guiding them through “Self-Discovery: How Childhood Shaped our Sexual Identity” (our new booklet)
- Met withdozens of U.S. Congressmembers’ offices, sharing the latest research, reading excerpts from our “Self-Discovery” booklet, and encouraging them to vote with people like us in mind
- Counseled and collaborated with 7 powerful conservative advocacy firmswho have sought us out for input
- Were filmed for an upcoming documentary
- Recorded a “Daily Signal” podcastwith the Heritage Foundation
- Made excellent connections with many other allies. Special thanks to Faith & Liberty, Family Research Council, Liberty Counsel, Concerned Women for America, Institute on Religion and Democracy, Alliance Defending Freedom, the Heritage Foundation, Family Policy Alliance, California Family Council, “The Christian Post,” the Ruth Institute, and the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops.
In their meetings, the Changed Movement lobbied against conversion therapy bans, the Respect for Marriage Act and a Transgender Bill of Rights. They attempted to persuade lawmakers by sharing their bogus stories of “transformation” and handing out misleading “ex-gay” conversion literature.
Notably, Truth Wins Out revealed in December 2021, that one of the Changed Movement’s key activists, Jeffrey McCall, admitted to sleeping with multiple men, even as he hypocritically espoused that he had “changed”. Aside from his key involvement with the Changed Movement, McCall was the founder of the “ex-gay” Freedom March, which also lobbies in Washington.
Truth Wins Out has the world’s largest video catalogue showcasing the harm caused by the “ex-gay” conversion industry. It features testimony from survivors, parents, doctors, scientists, religious figures and former “ex-gay” leaders. They can be seen on our YouTube channel, which has more than 1.8 million views. Truth Wins Out also published To the Dark Side and Back, which offers extensive interviews with former “ex-gay” leaders who now say efforts to “change” are ineffective and hazardous. Videos from Truth Wins Out are now available with Spanish subtitles.
Truth Wins Out educates the world on the harm caused by destructive “ex-gay” conversion programs, while fighting to eliminate anti-LGBTQ prejudice and discrimination. We believe that genuine freedom and contentment derive from authenticity and living one’s truth.