Quite a number of us have been involved in some form of ex-gay ministry, counselling or mindset. An ex-gay belief is that homosexuality is caused by abuse or poor family relationships and therefore is dysfunctional and can be healed. Some spend years struggling to overcome their ‘same sex attraction’ with this mindset or groups.
The next Freedom 2 b[e] meeting, on Friday November 5 at the ACON offices, will be an Australian first. In order to get a closer look at the beliefs, methodologies and impacts of the ex-gay movement in Australia, the group will will be hearing personal stories from several Freedom 2 b[e] people who have attended ex-gay meetings or one on one therapies.
Anthony Venn-Brown spent six months in Australia’s first ex-gay program and has become one of the leading authorities on the ex-gay movement in Australia and represented Australia at US and International Ex-gay Survivor conferences.
Beginning one of the first ex-gay survivor groups on the internet in 2000, Venn-Brown has more 10 years experience working with young and old, who have participated in ‘ex-gay’ programs, assisting them to deal with the aftermath of a belief system that said, because they were same-sex-oriented, they were sick, dysfunctional and ‘abnormal’.
After leaving an ‘ex-gay’ program, unsuccessful candidates are often vulnerable and traumatised as they try to deal with the sense of shame and failure.
Venn-Brown will give an overview of the movement internationally and nationally, current activities and what the future looks like, when Freedom 2 b[e] next meets on November 5.
info: Freedom 2 b[e] will meet from 7.15pm on Friday, November 5 at ACON, 9 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills. Details: sydneyinfo@freedom2b.org or phone 0416 015 231.
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