I have often thought that ex-gay/anti-gay group PFOX, the Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays, should really be called The Disgruntled Parents of Unrepentant Gay and Lesbians. That may be harsh and not true of some of the parents genuinely looking for answers in light of much misinformation that they learned about gays and lesbians.
Christine Bakke is a survivor of the ex-gay movement, who along with Pam and a few others, is one of the lesbian voices rarely heard and recognized for their reason, sanity and insight. In responding to a book review Christine's mother, Jeanette Bakke, posted on the PFOX web-site, Christine reveals again the thoughtfulness and wholeness that has been a hallmark of her own self-reflection and the public and private sharing she has done regarding her ex-gay experiences.
Speaking out of a liberated mind, Christine writes:
I've come into my own after much struggle and I reject the notion that I am lost or broken or need to be restored. There is something really disturbing about this idea that I am fundamentally flawed and need salvation in order to be a "good girl" in this world. I already am good, whole, and the only thing I've ever needed restored to me was my sanity after the years in the ex-gay movement.
Christine was featured in Glamour Magazine where she told some of her story of trying to eradicate her lesbian side and the devastating results. The author of the piece also interviewed Christine's mother, and quoted her as saying,
When you rock your baby in your arms, you never think one day my daughter will be homosexual and want to have sex with another woman, never have children. No one holds their baby and says maybe they’ll grow up to be a rapist, or this or that. You have dreams for your children.
In repsonse Christine writes about the dreams she has carried and how tragically the dreams we we hold out for ourselves and for our loved ones can get deferred.
Children have dreams for their parents, too. You don't lay in your parent's arms and think that you'll have to defend yourself from them thinking you are lost and damned eternally. You don't cuddle up and think that one day you'll find out that they believe that who you are is synonymous with being a rapist. I certainly didn't have those dreams for my parents. What I did dream instead was that I might be able to express my concerns and be heard. I dreamed that I would be always cherished and deemed worthy of their love and respect, no matter my beliefs. I dreamed that I would be supported in living a life that was truly authentic and truly mine, without the haunting thoughts about what a disappointment I am to them. Those dreams have had to die.
Without adequate education and information, parents can pressure their children into making choices that actually cause suffering to the child, the parents themselves, and the relationship they all share.
Over at Beyond Ex-Gay we have two articles especially for parents.
I almost didn't get elected. Two weeks before the election this November, I didn't even know that I was going to be a candidate. However, as I was early voting, I saw that no one had filed for my local school board seat. Education is important to me (I'm still in college), so with the lack of participation in the school board race, I decided to put my name in as a write-in candidate.The rest of his column is worth the read. Nick's success story is that change can happen -- and make a difference at all levels of government, and all it takes is some ingenuity, a lot of drive and a keen sense of how to use the new tools at everyone's disposal to enhance and distribute a message. We just need a ton of people to step up and participate in places that aren't LGBT-friendly and reclaim the places where we live.Within two weeks, I had organized enough support to get elected to public office. I texted friends, sent a few emails, and talked with some local bloggers. But, I primarily organized by setting up a Facebook event page, inviting local voters to join, and following up with them to make sure that they knew my name and wrote it in on the appropriate ballot line on Election Day.
Facebook provided me with an avenue to quickly organize after jumping into the race with only two weeks before Election Day. Such rapid mobilization might not have been possible only two years ago. But, with a Facebook page and a knowledge of online organizing, I secured my winning margin without spending a penny.
...Two years ago, few would have thought that the South Carolina Democratic Party would become a leading organizer for equality. But, seeing the need for better policy, the Stonewall Democrats stepped in. Additionally, two years ago I wouldn't have thought that a kid like me could get elected to public office through a two-week long Facebook campaign. But, seeing a need for better government I stepped up.
Take a look yourself. Where is there a need in your community? What can you do about it?
Perhaps you don't know where to start. One of the great things about Stonewall Democrats is that our organization brings together regular Americans who want to work through the Democratic Party to improve it and to bring about better policy, legislation and laws. Social networking isn't going to save us, but its one of those easy steps that we can take to share our message.
A section deals with the recent flap at the Oklahoma state capitol over a prayer said by an openly gay pastor, which was preceded by an introduction of his family and partner/fiance. 20 legislators voted not to allow the prayer entered into the record.
Meadows does the Democratic Party of Oklahoma the big favor of dividing the GOP members into two distinct groups, one of which it condemns not "true" conservatives, and thus not worthy of OCPAC member's votes.
I say, Yay! Divide and conquer. If your foe is doing the dividing for you, all the better.
Section pertaining to the "gay prayer" hoopla after the fold.
[In other news, Meadows announced he has stopped using PeoplePC as his email provider. 1996 is heartbroken at the loss of its last resident.]
Members and friends of the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee (OCPAC)[...]
- HOMOSEXUAL PREACHER BRINGS ABOMINATION TO STATE CAPITOL
This past Tuesday State Representative Al McAffrey (D-inner city OKC) had the opportunity to invite a pastor to be the Chaplin for the day and open the session with prayer. McAffrey is the only openly homosexual member of the legislature. The "pastor" he asked to give the prayer was the "Reverend" Scott Jones, also an openly homosexual who introduced his "fiancee" Michael, who was sitting in the gallery.
McAffrey asked that Jones' prayer be recorded in the official minutes of the day, (this is normally only done on Thursdays) Representative John Wright (R-Broken Arrow) objected and called for a vote on the issue.In my opinion, this was just another cleverly planned skirmish by the homosexuals in the culture war. Radical homosexuals are trying to force society to accept their perverted lifestyle as normal, equal or perhaps superior. Then of course, when normal folks disagree with them, or express that their perversion is "sin" in the eye's of God as well as all Bible believing Christians (the only real Christians), then the homosexuals play the victim role and accuse those in opposition to their agenda as being haters, bigots, intolerant, narrow minded, red necks and on and on and on. Actually, you don't have to read many of their notes to people who disagree with them to see that they are the ones that have their hearts full of hate for people who refuse to accept their behavior.
I believe that unless the content of Jones' prayer was that of confession for his sinful behavior regarding homosexuality and an expression of repentance toward God for his rebellion and perversion, then his being there to give the prayer for the day was an abomination. Based on my reading of God's Word (The Bible) Jones'
belief that he is a man of God and anyone else who try to justify homosexuality as acceptable, they serve a "god of their own making or their imagination." They are not serving the God of the Bible and they do not have a relationship with the one and only true God.Some of the Republican House members walked out, perhaps that was their way to protest the charade, 20 of them voted against allowing the prayer to be recorded and 24 Republicans voted to allow the exception to the norm and have the prayer recorded. May I suggest several possible reasons for the 24 who decided to go along with the desires of McAffrey and the homosexual community.
While most, if not all, Republican House members claim a Christian church affiliation, certainly with some it is more of a social relationship rather than Biblical Christianity. Some may think this is not an important issue and wish it would go away so they could deal with "important" business like determining how they will re-distribute other people's money. Others may have family members or friends who are homosexuals and have decided to compromise God's Word and the truth on the subject for their emotional attachments. Perhaps they aren't mature enough in their Christianity to be able to take a stand against sin, yet at the same time be able to express Christian love toward homosexuals, hoping to see them set free from the bondage of homosexuality. Others might not want to be on the receiving end of the intimidation, hatred, and perhaps death threats from the homosexual community by standing up against their agenda. Just 24 hours in the shoes of State Representative Sally Kern would make the cowardly never want to be in that position. I have already seen some of the e-mails sent to the lawmakers who voted no, and believe me the hateful responses are typical.
Following are the names of those who voted to go along with the homosexual agenda. I will break them into two groups, Those I am not surprised about and those that I am. I am not surprised about Don Armes-Lawton, Eddie Fields-Pawhuska, Steve Martin-Bartlesville, Colby Schwartz-Yukon, Earl Sears-Tulsa, Lee Denney-Cushing, Fred Jordan- Tulsa, Charlie Joyner-Midwest City, Ron Peters-Tulsa, Doug Cox-Grove, David Derby-Owasso, Dale DeWitt-Braman, or Phil Richardson-Minco. With the exception of Eddie Fields, a freshman, every one of these lawmakers have been on the RINO nominee list at one time or another, or in the case of Lee Denney and Doug Cox, they have been the winners of the RINO award.
Following are the names of the lawmakers who did surprise me, Gary Banz-Midwest City, Lisa Billy-Purcell, Cory Holland-Marlow, T.W.
Shannon-Lawton, Ken Miller-Edmond (this guy is a professor at Oklahoma Christian. This is certainly not the perspective of the members of the Churches of Christ that I know), Marian Cooksey-Edmond, Pam Peterson- Tulsa (the biggest surprise of all to me), Chris Steele-Shawnee, David Derby-Owasso, Mike Thompson-OKC, Scott Martin-Norman and Speaker Chris Benge-Tulsa, a person who is supposed to be a social conservative. Of these 24, OCPAC has supported only 4 of them in the past.Following are the names of the 20 brave lawmakers who voted against the homosexual agenda: Gus Blackwell-Goodwell, George Faught-Muskogee, Lewis Moore-Arcadia, Mike Ritze-Broken Arrow, Mike Christian-OKC, Dennis Johnson-Duncan, Jason Murphey-Guthrie, Mike Sanders-Kinfisher, Ann Coody-Lawton, Sally Kern-OKC, Leslie Osborne-Blanchard, Randy Terrill-Moore, Rex Duncan-Sand Springs, Charles Key-OKC, Pat Ownbey- Ardmore, Todd Thomsen-Ada, John Enns-Enid, Guy Liebmann-OKC, Mike Reynolds-OKC and John Wright-Broken Arrow. Of these 20, OCPAC has supported 13 of them in the past. Only 1 of the 7 who voted the right way on this issue, but did not receive our support, appeared before OCPAC. Had the other 6 appeared for their interview process, I believe we would have supported 5 of them. I believe there is 1 of the 6 who would not have received our support.
Following are the names of the ones who walked out or were absent.
Paul Wesselhoft-Moore, David Dank-OKC, Mark McCullough-Sapulpa, Dan Sullivan-Tulsa, Harold Wright-Weatherford, Jeff Hickman-Woodward, Randy McDaniel-OKC, Sue Tibbs-Tulsa, Mike Jackson-Enid, John Trebilcock-Tulsa, Shane Jett-Tecumseh, and Charles Ortega-Altus. Of those in this list, OCPAC has only supported one.If one of these lawmakers happens to be your state representative and voted the right way, contact them and thank them for opposing the homosexual agenda. If they took a hike or voted the wrong way, remember that on the next election day, along with their scores on the conservative index..
One final thought. It is very easy to see that the OCPAC interview process, while not perfect, has done a very good job of determining candidates who are CONSISTENTLY conservative vs. those who claim to be conservative when they want our votes and our money, then turn out to govern more like a liberal Democrat, rather than a conservative Republican. Therefore, I invite folks to become a dues paying member of OCPAC so we can continue to elect true conservatives to the legislature. To join, please follow the instructions following my sine off.
Charlie Meadows
cross-posted on my blog, Peace Arena
No comments:
Post a Comment