This just in from the Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality:
Gay groups to publicly challenge Focus on the Family, “ex-gay” conference
Anti-gay organizations’ myths and lies countered by author and activist
CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE), a grassroots activism network, has teamed up with several local and national organizations to challenge so-called “ex-gay” ministries touted by anti-gay groups like Focus on the Family and Exodus International. The fundamentalist Christian groups will hold their controversial conference, Love Won Out, on Feb. 21, the same day as the popular Human Rights Campaign Carolinas Gala.
Wayne Besen, Director of TruthWinsOut.org and author of “Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-gay Myth,” will give a presentation on the lies, myths and harmful practices of “ex-gay” ministries on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2008, at 7 p.m. at the Lesbian & Gay Community Center of Charlotte, 820 Hamilton St., Charlotte, NC 28206 (for directions, visit www.rainbowaction.org/events/centerdirections/).
“These programs sell false hope and take advantage of desperate and vulnerable people who just want acceptance from loved ones,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “Love Won Out’s dangerous sexual engineering campaign is ineffective, psychologically damaging and confuses stereotypes with science. We hope to educate the community and provide people with accurate and reliable information.”
On Friday, Feb. 20, 2009, 11:30 a.m., CRANE and several community and national organizations including Truth Wins Out, Lambda Legal, the Human Rights Campaign and others will hold a press conference discussing the harms of the ex-gay industry. Besen will unveil a new Truth Wins Out/Lambda Legal publication, “Ex-Gay and the Law,” including resources for victims of unscrupulous “ex-gay” ministries. The press conference will be held at the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Charlotte at 234 N Sharon Amity Rd., Charlotte, NC 28211.
On Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, CRANE will hold a silent, non-violent protest of the conference at Central Church of God. LGBTQI and straight citizens from across North Carolina are expected to attend. Information for protest participants and media, including parking access can be found at: www.rainbowaction.org/events/#protest
The Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE), www.rainbowaction.org, is a grassroots coalition of activists and community members working toward civil and social equality for Charlotte’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) community.
Detailed event information and archived press releases and statements can be found at: www.rainbowaction.org
This article appears in Feb 17-24, 2009.
Gay Groups to Challenge Ex-Gay Conference
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Responding to last nights news story watch here and pray for the voice of the Lord to be heard
http://www.myfoxcharlotte.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=8360783&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.1
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http://foxcharlottenews.blogspot.com/2009/02/introducing-fox-charlottes-blogger-page.html?showComment=1235164020000#c3029036491302732422
Gay Groups to Challenge Ex-Gay Conference
I am a fan of Fox news every night and live in Charlotte. I also care about the importance about carrying a balanced view when reporting a story.
Come on fox news! Are you trying to tell me that in a city with 800 churches surrounding downtown you could not get one Christian leader to make a comment regarding the Gay groups challenge?
I am Christian broadcaster for Gottalife Radio and we promote serving Christ outside of Institutional Church yes ” Institutional Church ” has done a lot of damage on many counts but this event is endorsed by more that the ” Institutional Church ” for that reason I want to speak out.
I am a man of compassion towards Pamela Jones and Matt Comer who you interviewed, but this issue is not about political rights or the laws of this land and especially not about Equality and Human Rights it is about the life changing power of God.
When I became a Christian and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I was a sinner separated from God. I repented of my sin because I stood in the presence of a holy God who changed my life forever 26 yrs ago.
These Gay Right Supporter Groups speak out as if the Bible supports there message trying to focus on twisting what the Bible says about homosexuality etc… but today as I listened to the news story I got quite upset as before Jesus’ public ministry there was a voice in the wilderness crying out with a message “Prepare the way of the Lord, Make straight paths for him” John the Baptist was very different and would not fit in with Institutional Church here in Charlotte but his cry in the wilderness drew the people out of the cities to hear what he had to say. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan river.
Here is my point
1. Make straight paths for the Lord – Homosexuality is some times called “bent”(in nature) Heterosexual is known as straight may I suggest that the Christian message says make a straight path for the Lord.
2. I am not an x gay, but I am an x-sinner – repentance means that you have to stop walking in your old life and turn around go in a different direction.
I did not protest with God my; Political Persuasions, Equality or even my Human Rights but I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ to walk in his ways. The Bible says you have to deny yourself take up your cross and follow Him (Jesus Christ)
So Matt Comer, sorry you and your fellow “Pro Gay Christian Groups” are in the same category as the Pharisees and Sadducees as mentioned in Matt 3 v 7-9 the Bible testifies against you because it says “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance”.
A Christian is not meant to be a title but a lifestyle.
You made one statement I would like to mention in closing
You want more people to speak out saying;
We do Love our Gay and Lesbian Brothers and Sisters
We do accept them just as they are as God Does Too
We do Love our Gay and Lesbian Brothers and Sisters
– First as a Christian I Love those who are Gay but I hate the practice of there sin just as much as I love those who are lost in other areas of life but I hate there sin also. God says sin separates us from him so with our repentance and embracing Jesus Christ as Lord you do not belong to Him you are not a brother or a sister.
We do accept them just as they are as God Does Too! – God never accepted me just as I was so why should he accept you just as you are?
You say you have been hurt by the teachings of the Church and there needs to be a way to mend the wounds may I suggest that the majority of the Church (which is the people of God not a building) love you enough to share the truth with you. Your fight is not against the Church but against the Lord himself as testified in scripture.
To be a Christian is to represent the life of Jesus which starts by presenting your body as a living sacrifice. Romans 12.
But you expose yourself and those you represent by the fact that you refuse to lay down your old life and the sin that entangles showing a cry for “sins acceptance” instead of repentance.
I pray this response will minister to you personally and will provide a Biblically balanced view. From a leader in Charlotte who has given up all his equality and human rights to serve the Lord.
Dr. Kenny Russell
Gottalife International
There are a couple of comments that Dr. Russell has made that concerns me as a mature christian. I understand the points you have made, but I believe it is the delivery of it that disturbs me. You Dr. Russell and know one else that will live on this earth will ever be an “x-sinner”. Christ is the only one that will have walked this earth that was without sin. As the bible clearly states – all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of god. And as Paul taught in Romans chapter 7 in the bible – we as christians will always struggle with the sin-nature. Thank God for his wonderful Grace and Mercy. The truth is God does love us ALL as stated in John 3:16 – so much that he gave his son on the cross that WHOMSOEVER should believe in him will not perish but have everlasting life. God wants us to believe in Jesus and have a relationship with Jesus. As we grow and mature in Christ(which is life-long process), our nature will change, and sin will cease to be a way of life for us. That does not mean they we will never ever sin. When we do – if we are truly his – we will be convicted of it by the holy spirit. We can then state our sins before god and ask for forgiveness and to help us change. And regarding producing fruit – it is the christian growth process that “prunes” us so that we produce fruit. So I encourage anyone that wants a relationship with God and Jesus to read the Gospel, Matthew Mark Luke and John in the new testament in the bible.