The Open Letter

Conversion Therapy, also known as “reparative therapy”, “ex-gay therapy,” or “sexual orientation change efforts” (SOCE), professes to help lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to change or overcome their sexual orientation or gender identity. The majority of those who practice this “therapy” often do so with little or no formal psychological training, operating instead from a strict religious perspective, believing homosexuality to be a “sin.”

At one time, we were not only deeply involved in these “ex-gay” programs, we were the founders, the leaders, and the promoters. Together we represent more than half a century of experience, so few people are more knowledgeable about the ineffectiveness and harm of conversion therapy. We know first-hand the terrible emotional and spiritual damage it can cause, especially for LGBT youth. We once believed that there was something morally wrong and psychologically “broken” about being LGBT. We know better now. We once believed that sexual orientation or gender identity were somehow chosen or could be changed. We know better now. We once thought it was impossible to embrace our sexual orientation or sexual identity as an intrinsic, healthy part of who we are and who we were created to be. We know better now. Looking back, we were just believing (and sometimes teaching) what we had been taught—that our identity needed mending. We grew up being told that being LGBT was disordered, sick, mentally ill, sinful, and displeasing to God. We grew up being told that loving, same-sex relationships were shallow, lust-driven, deceived, disordered, and impossible.

We grew up with the repetitive message that LGBT people were not enough — not straight enough, not Christian enough, not manly or womanly enough, not faithful enough, not praying enough. Never, ever enough. “Toxic” probably sums it up best. That message is poison to the soul. Especially a child’s soul. It can take a lifetime to get rid of that old programming and replace it with healthy, non-toxic views of yourself. Recovery from conversion therapy is difficult at best. Some remain forever scarred, emotionally and spiritually.Conversion therapy reinforces internalized homophobia, anxiety, guilt and depression. It leads to self-loathing and emotional and psychological harm when change doesn’t happen. Regrettably, too many will choose suicide as a result of their sense of failure. In light of this, we now stand united in our conviction that conversion therapy is not “therapy,” but is instead both ineffective and harmful. We align ourselves with every major mainstream professional medical and mental health organization in denouncing attempts to change sexual orientation or gender identity. We admonish parents to love and accept your LGBT children as they are. We beseech the church to accept, embrace, and affirm LGBT persons with full equality and inclusion.

As former “ex-gay” leaders, having witnessed the incredible harm done to those who attempted to change their sexual orientation or gender identity, we join together in calling for a ban on conversion therapy. It is our firm belief that it is much more productive to support, counsel, and mentor LGBT individuals to embrace who they are in order to live happy, well-adjusted lives. We fully support the aim of #BornPerfect to bring an end to conversion therapy.

The Signers

• Alan Manning Chambers
• Anthony Bishop
• Bill Prickett
  Founder, Executive Director (1986-1988), Coming Back
• Bradford Allen Reubendale
  Lay Leader Volunteer (2005-2007)
  Church Network Coordinator (2007), Exodus International Headquarters
• Cat Chapman
  Project Coordinator (2000-2003)
  Women’s Ministry Director (2005-2007), Portland Fellowship
• Darlene Bogle
  Founder, Director, Counselor (1985-1992), Paraklete Ministries
• David Foreman
• David Matheson
• Don Brown
• Jeff Coe
• Jeremy Marks
  Founder (1988 – 2000), Courage UK
  Exodus Europe (1988 – 1989)
• Jim Marjoram
  Worship leader and group leader (1997-2012), Living Waters (Australia, New Zealand)
• John J Smid
  Executive Director (1987-2008), Love In Action
  Exodus International Board of Directors (1990-1995, 2002-2008)
• John Paulk
• Kim Brett
  Former Associate, Exodus International – Australia
  Former Leader, Living Waters and Liberty Inc Australia
• McKrae Game
  Founder & Executive Director (1999-2013), Truth Ministry; name changed to Hope for Wholeness (2013-2017) as President
• Michael Bussee
  EXIT (1974-1979)
  Co-founder (1976-1979), Exodus International
• Paul Martin
• Randy Thomas
  Executive Vice President (2002-2013), Exodus International
  Director (1997-2002), Living Hope Ministries
• Roy A. Blankenship
• Tim Rymel
  Outreach Director (1991-1996), Love in Action
• Wendy VanderWal Gritter
  Exodus Regional Representative – Canada (2003-2007)
• Wenn Lawson
  Director (1990-1992), Exodus Melbourne, Australia
• Yvette Cantu Schneider
  Executive Director (2001-2005), Living in Victory Ministry 
  Director of Women’s Ministry (2008-2011), Exodus International