A group of ‘ex-gays’ are off to Washington to protest the Equality Act, because they say it’s ‘unnecessary’
A group of “ex-gay” people have travelled to Washington DC “address concerns” about the Equality Act and lobby against a ban on conversion therapy, because they think discrimination against LGBT+ people is a “false idea”.
The Equality Act would outlaw anti-LGBT discrimination across the US, and is currently being considered by the US Senate.
The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act would ban the harmful and debunked practice of conversion therapy and was introduced to the House of Representatives in June this year.
The group was organised by Church United, which promotes the ex-gay “Changed movement”. It describes itself as a “movement of men and women who are outspoken and open about their experiences of life after LGBTQ.”
The group, which refers to members as “formers”, said in a press release that the Equality Act “is an unnecessary concession to the false idea that members of the gay community are marginalised”.
It continued: “In fact, LGBTQ-identifying people have always had options in how they participate in broader culture. Nothing constrains them from participating in culture on a normal level.”
Confusingly, it claimed discrimination against LGBT+ people could not be real because LGBT+ scientists, writers and politicians existed. Even more confusingly, it said that African American scientists, writers and politicians did not exist.
“Unlike with the African American community, who have centuries of culturally driven abuse and forced destabilisation, those who identify as LGBTQ have been empowered in our modern society as scientists, literary giants, and even politicians,” it said.
As for a federal ban on conversion therapy, the group said it would “minimise the lives of thousands of Formers” by highlighting the fact that there is no scientific basis for the practice.
It continued: “America does not need anti-discrimination laws or bans against treatment for those seeking to live out their faith biblically… It is the beginning of the end of religious liberty and free speech in America.”
“Former homosexual” and founder of Church United in California, Jim Domen, said: “Sexual behaviour should not be a protected civil right.
“Changing the Civil Rights Act would create a super class for anyone identifying as LGBTQ, usurping everyone else’s rights who are not LGBTQ or who disagree with the lifestyle because of religious beliefs… The ‘Equality Act’ discriminates against Formers or others who practice a different sexual behaviour than LGBTQ individuals.
“My psychological well-being as a heterosexual man and my family, are proof that the therapies I received were not fraudulent. My wife, biological daughters and son are not frauds.”
Church United has been approached for comment.