Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
Ex-Gay Exposé:
Exploring Practices and
Harm in Reparative Therapy
November 7-9, 2008; Denver, CO
During the weekend of November 7-9, NARTH, a national association of "gay conversion" therapists, is holding its annual conference in Denver. Two local survivors of ex-gay programs, Christine Bakke and Daniel Gonzales, along with Beyond Ex-Gay, and a coalition of local and other gay organizations, are forming a response to speak to the harm groups like NARTH can cause.
Sign Up Here
- Are you a concerned citizen? We need your enthusiasm and involvement.
- Are you an ex-gay survivor, someone who spent time trying to change or suppress your sexuality? We want to meet you and hear your story.
- Are you a mental health provider? We want to explore some best practices for treating those who have survived ex-gay experiences.
At Beyond Ex-Gay, we do more than simply protest. We partner with local, regional and national groups to offer a thoughtful response to counter the misinformation presented at conferences like NARTH's.
We're pleased to announce that for all of these events, Dr.Jallen Rix, a sex therapist with a private practice in San Francisco (he writes the Gay Sexpert column for gay.com) will be present. An ex-gay survivor, he is currently working on a book about ex-gay experiences, the harm they bring and how we can recover and claim a healthy sexuality.
Weekend Schedule
Friday, Nov 7th
7pm: An Evening with Peterson Toscano. Well-known ex-gay survivor Peterson Toscano, as seen in The Advocate and LOGO's "Be Real," will be on hand to perform excerpts from several plays inspired by his years spent in the ex-gay movement. Location: Our Savior's Lutheran Church (an affirming congregation).
Saturday, Nov 8th
8:45-10am: Rally at NARTH Conference site, Renaissance Hotel in Denver, CO. Meet outside to the south of the hotel.
11-4pm: Ex-Gay Exposé Gathering. Gathering for ex-gay survivors as well as allies who wish to learn more about the ex-gay movement. Location: Quaker Meeting House.
6-8pm: Mental Health Professionals workshop, part 1 (What is the ex-gay movement? What are common needs of ex-gay survivors?). Location: GLBT Community Center.
Sunday, Nov 9th
9am-12pm: Mental Health Professionals workshop, part 2 (Exploring best practices for treating ex-gay survivors). Location: GLBT Community Center
7 pm: Transfigurations: Transgressing Gender in the Bible. Written and performed by Peterson Toscano. Location: Our Savior's Lutheran Church (an affirming congregation).
If you're interested in attending any of these events, please fill out the information on this signup page and we'll email you as needed.
If you want to get a better idea of what the weekend may look like, check out our Memphis page.
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Denver Media Contact: Daniel Gonzales
Past Events
On February 22-24, 2008 Beyond Ex-Gay partnered with various Memphis organizations, national LGBT groups, and ex-gay survivors from the area and around the country to organize a series of events under the heading Deconstructing the Ex-Gay Myth—A Weekend of Action & Art.
The events included an art show, two plays, a film, a party, an ex-gay survivor gathering, and two press events. To recap all that took place we have created web pages where you can view photos, watch video, learn about the Chalk Talk and read about ways people have recovered from their ex-gay experiences.
Beyond Ex-Gay in Barcelona
Beyond Ex-Gay, along with Sin Verguenza and other gay-affirming organizations in Catalonia, Spain, offered a conference highlighting the potential harm of reparative therapy and ex-gay ministries. bXg co-founder, Peterson Toscano, along with other panelists answered questions relating to why some people pursue reparative therapy and ex-gay ministries, some common techniques and trends in trying to alter sexual orientation, and the potential harms that come from attempts to suppress and change one's sexual orientation. Located at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia on May 30, 2008.
Ex-Gay Survivor Conference, Irvine, CA, 2007
Watch Brian Murphy's short film about the Ex-Gay Survivor Conference
Former Ex-Gay Leaders Apologize
Darlene Bogle, Michael Bussee and Jeremy Marks, all former Exodus leaders, made a historic public apology. Read the apology, and check out Peterson's blog entry (there's some video too), as well as Christine and Eric's reactions to symbolically accepting the apology. Kim Clark also writes about the apology.
Exodus Dinner Invitation
Christine and Peterson issued an open invitation to Exodus leaders for a private dinner in Irvine. Christine answered questions, and Peterson blogged after the dinner. One Exodus attendee shared her thoughts.
The Ex-Gay Survivor's Conference
On Saturday morning, we gathered for a powerful "Chalk Talk" (or "Chawk Tawk" as Peterson likes to say). Brian Murphy blogged about it, Peterson explained it, and Christine detailed some of the wall and shows what became of it.
Read reflections of conference attendees, and see photos of the conference.
Reactions to the Conference
The public apology, ex-gay survivor conference, and even individual survivors garnered some strange, interesting and even angry reactions. Christine responds to one, and Peterson explores the defensiveness. Steve Boese pens a response to the angry PFOX letter.
The Ex-Gay Survivor's Movement goes forward
Responding to questions, Peterson writes about our goals and desires.