‘Ex-gay’ extremist group plans to lobby Congress
DELRAY BEACH, FL- Truth Wins Out condemned the Changed Movement for planning to go to Washington, DC this month to lobby for anti-LGBTQ laws and spread misinformation on Capitol Hill. The Changed Movement is an “ex-gay” organization that seeks to replace now-defunct Exodus International as the leading promulgator of “ex-gay” conspiracies and lies. We strongly suggest that anyone in Washington approached by the Changed Movement, watch our powerful video featuring former Exodus Washington lobbyist Randy Thomas. He vividly explains why conversion efforts are ineffective and dangerous.
According to an email obtained by Truth Wins Out, while in DC, the fraudulent right-wing organization plans to “meet in-person with many members of Congress, congressional staff and heads of advocacy organizations.” In these meetings, they intend to lobby against conversion therapy bans, the Respect for Marriage Act and a Transgender Bill of Rights. They will attempt to persuade lawmakers by sharing their bogus stories of “transformation” and hand out misleading “ex-gay” conversion literature. Their latest propaganda piece is called “Self-discovery: How Childhood Shaped Our Sexual Identity.”
In their email to supporters, the Changed Movement groveled for $5,500 to pay for their lobby trip to DC.
“The Changed Movement is panhandling to go on an ‘ex-gay’ junket to spread junk science Washington,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “This nefarious effort is a rebranding of their failed predecessor, Exodus International, which shut down in 2013 after its leaders claimed that no one had actually ‘changed’ their sexual orientation or gender identity.”
The Changed Movement’s co-founder, Ken Williams, previewed his Washington lobby message in a YouTube video.
“The Biden Administration is bypassing Congress using executive action to force LGBTQ ideology though government agencies into all of society. The problem is, deeper into LGBT is not the solution for every person who finds himself with those feelings. It wasn’t for me, it wasn’t for tons of people,” Williams said.
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 wonders if the Changed Movement’s lobbying efforts will be assisted by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). In June, Greene announced a new partnership between herself and Milo Yiannopoulos, a failed right wing “influencer” who announced he was “ex-gay” last year. Yiannopoulos was slated to intern in the right-wing conspiracy peddler’s office.
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.
