Hearing Bishop John Spong speak in Sydney in 2007 was memorable for me. I’m not usually one to avail myself of the opportunity of a question time. Prodded on by others, I felt this was a good chance to draw on the wisdom of the retired Bishop. After all, he’s been an amazing advocate for [...]
LGBTQ Religious Suicide Why we'll never be able to count the cost The higher risk of LGBTQ suicide, which includes ideation and attempts (See stats here), is well documented. But thoughts of suicide and attempts are much higher for LGBTQ people from faith backgrounds. Why? Research is now demonstrating something I have been pointing out [...]
Looking for something to watch? Recently we have been building up the resources on our YouTube Channel Here are 7 newbies to watch and share. Yes, you will want to share some of these for sure. Dad's Coming Out - 60 Minutes: Once "gay" was just an adjective that meant happy. Now, for most of [...]
Occasionally a seminal work appears that becomes a defining piece, a turning point, or breakthrough in a particular area. Considering the religious LGBTQ conversion movement, the documentary Pray Away, released on Netflix August 3rd, could very well be that work. After mental health professional organisations realised that gay and lesbian people were not sick and [...]
Have you seen Pray Away? Here is the only Australian conversion therapy documentary ever made. “The Cure” is an independent Australian documentary film on reparative programs and the mental health implications of trying to “change” sexuality. Told through the compelling narratives of people who have tried to transform their sexuality, the film lifts the veil [...]
In 2004, after reading Anthony Venn-Brown's recently published autobiography, A Life of Unlearning, Dr Shane Clifton from Southern Cross College, the Australian Assemblies of God Bible College of the time (now Alphacrucis College), met with the author. As the college leadership refused to have Anthony speak on campus, Dr Clifton arranged to interview both Anthony [...]
Sacred texts and LGBTQ -an interfaith trialogue Sacred texts and LGBTQ – an interfaith trialogue is a fascinating webinar with internationally famous gay Imam, Mushin Hendricks, Australian former high-profile Pentecostal preacher, Anthony Venn-Brown, and Jewish Bar Mitzvah teacher and Radical Faerie, Kim Gotlieb. Facilitated by educator and therapist, Sekneh Hammoud-Beckett, this panel will explore the communality of [...]
What is Conversion “Therapy”/Practice? Several definitions have been offered. To summarise, these are the common elements: First, it is based on the false belief that a non-heterosexual, transgender or queer identity is abnormal and the result of damaged development. Second, conversion "therapy" can involve a variety of practices including personal prayer, informal or formal spiritual [...]
One of Australia's most popular podcasts, ABC's Conversations, interviews Anthony Venn-Brown OAM about his Life of Unlearning. Discovering he was gay in the 1960s was frightening. Homosexuality was a criminal offence and mental health professionals were attempting to cure gay men and lesbians. In 1969 Anthony turned to God for help, became a born-again Christian, [...]