Exodus International

{{homophobia}}
'''Exodus International''' was a nonprofit, interdenominational [[Christian]] organization promoting the message of "freedom from [[homosexuality]]" through the power of [[Jesus Christ]]. In other words, Exodus International was a proponent of [[reparative therapy]], a practice founded on the belief that "homosexual tendencies [are] one of many disorders that beset fallen humanity" and that "reorientation of same sex attraction is possible." In short, "pray away the gay."

''The Advocate'' caught an offshoot of this group in 1987, trying to corner [[AIDS]] patients in their hospital rooms with the suggestion they stop being gay.<ref>[http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/advocate-45/2012/08/21/45-biggest-homophobes-our-45-years?page=full The 45 Biggest Homophobes of Our 45 Years | Advocate.com]</ref>

The organization opposed legislation targeting [[hate crime]]s, labeling such laws "thought crime laws" because they "pave the way to prosecute [[biblical]] beliefs about homosexuality, instead of prosecuting illegal actions that harm others."

Despite their guarded language, they made clear links between homosexuality and [[pedophilia]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100707054031/http://www.exodusinternational.org/content/view/323/25/ Exodus International &mdash; Is there a connection between homosexuality and predatory behavior, like pedophilia? (Wayback Machine copy)]</ref> and called gay people ''dangerous to the well-being of the family and America.''<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101226080353/http://www.exodusinternational.org/content/view/310/25/ Exodus International &mdash; Is Homosexuality a Threat to the Family? To America? (Wayback Machine copy)]</ref>

If you were considering using their services, you might want to consider the history of one of their co-founders &mdash; Michael Bussee &mdash; who is now strongly critical of such groups.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131017133046/http://www.beyondexgay.com/article/busseeapology Michael Bussee Ex-Gay Leader Apology &mdash; Beyond Ex-Gay (Wayback Machine copy)]</ref> He also fell in love with one of the other co-founders, both now accepting they were gay. Love conquers all!

In 2012, Exodus International president Alan Chambers (himself an "[[ex-gay]]") disavowed reparative therapy as something which offers false hope but fails to "cure" gays like himself of their homosexual tendencies. This apparent U-turn has caused some controversy within the movement.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/07/us/a-leaders-renunciation-of-ex-gay-tenets-causes-a-schism.html "Rift Forms in Movement as Belief in Gay ‘Cure’ Is Renounced"], ''New York Times'', July 6, 2012.</ref>

Exodus International shut down in June 2013, offering a blanket apology to the [[LGBT]] community.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20130705075127/http://exodusinternational.org/2013/06/i-am-sorry I Am Sorry | Exodus International (blog, archived copy from the Wayback Machine)]</ref> Chambers would later affirm [[Haggard's Law]], coming out as gay.<ref>[https://www.adn.com/nation-world/2019/09/04/conversion-therapy-center-founder-says-hes-gay-rejects-cycle-of-self-shame/ Conversion therapy center founder says he’s gay, rejects ‘cycle of self shame’] in Anchorage Daily News on 4 September 2019.</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Completely heterosexual]]
[[Category:Hate groups]]
[[Category:Organizations]]
[[Category:Pray the gay away]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience promoting organizations]]
[[Category:Right-wing activists]]

Categories: Completely heterosexual, Hate groups, Organizations, Pray the gay away, Pseudoscience promoting organizations, Right-wing activists