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Thursday, July 14, 2005

For the 30th: Pearl Jam

Without getting to secretional, let me simply suggest that the traditional 30th anniversary gift -- pearl -- seems to open all sorts of possibilities for those who want to commemmorate the 30th anniversary of Exodus International. Exodus specializes in de-gay-ification:

We believe freedom from homosexuality is increasingly experienced as men and women mature through ongoing submission to the lordship of Christ and His Church. This transformation enables him or her to shed the old, sinful identity and in its place learn new ways of relating to self and others. Working through underlying relational and abuse problems is a significant component in this process. Making use of individual and pastoral counseling, support groups, personal Bible study, and a same-sex discipleship group are beneficial.

De-gay-ification mythology is critical to a fundamentalist approach to homosexuality. If you can de-gay-ify someone, then anyone who remains gay just isn't trying hard enough. It's a lot easier to demonize a person if you can first stain them with blame: It's Steve's own fault that he's gay. He just isn't trying hard enough. If he really believed, he could de-gay-ify himself..

Of course, I don't believe that people can be turned straight any more than I believe people can be turned gay. I can't imagine having sex with a man -- unless Aidan Quinn really likes video games (even then, it'd be a short-term thing. he's far too old for me.) Similarly, gay men really don't want to have sex with women. Ask Dan Savage whether vaginas give him the willies. Some people, of course, can be talked into just about anything, but that's true for far more than sexual preference.