Pray the Gay Away: The Namg Project

Contents:

• PRAY THE GAY AWAY?
• CHRISTIAN OM "PRAY THE GAY AWAY?" FALLY SPEAKS UP, COM OUT
• PRAY THE GAY AWAY?: THE NAMG PROJECT
• LISA LG ASKS: IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE BOTH GAY AND CHRISTIAN?
• LISA LG’S “OUR AMERI” ASKS “CAN YOU PRAY THE GAY AWAY?”
• INTERVIEW: LISA LG SAYS SHE KNOWS "YOU CAN'T PRAY THE GAY AWAY"{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}CELEBRIBY MICHAEL JENSENAPRIL 6, 2011/11:57 AMBY MICHAEL JENSENAPRIL 6, 2011 / 11:57 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"INTERVIEW: LISA LG SAYS SHE KNOWS \"YOU CAN'T PRAY THE GAY AWAY\"","DATEPUBLISHED":"2011-04-06T15:57:19.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2011-04-06T15:57:19.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"MICHAEL JENSEN","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"CELEBRI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“THE ANSWER IS MOST FIVELY ‘NO.’”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SO LISA LG SAYS EMPHATILLY WHEN ASKED BY ABOUT TLE OF THE RECENT “CAN YOU PRAY THE GAY AWAY?” EPISO OF OUR AMERI WH LISA LG ON THE OPRAH WEY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LG SAYS THE TLE OF THE EPISO WAS MEANT TO BE RHETORIL, AND THE ENTIRE POT OF THE SHOW WAS TO REACH OUT TO THOSE CHRISTIAN EVANGELILS WHO DO THK GAY PEOPLE N CHANGED AND NVCE THEM THAT WASN’T THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}UNFORTUNATELY FOR LG, MANY GAY PEOPLE DIDN’T SEE THE QUTN AS RHETORIL AND TOOK OFFENSE THAT THAT A CREDIBLE JOURNALIST WAS EVEN ASKG THE QUTN. IN FACT, GLAAD (THE GAY AND LBIAN ALLIANCE AGAST DEFAMATN) TOOK LG TO TASK BOTH FOR THAT EPISO, AS WELL AS A FOLLOW UP EPISO THAT REVISED ONE OF THE GAY SUBJECTS WHO WAS, FACT, TRYG TO PRAY THE GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SAID GLAAD ON THEIR BLOG ABOUT LG’S VERAGE:{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LAST NIGHT’S EPISO OF OUR AMERI – ENTLED “A CLOSER LOOK” – ACTUALLY MARKS THE THIRD TIME THREE WEEKS THAT THE SHOW HAS TAKEN A “CLOSER LOOK” AT THE SAME ARCHAIC QUTN: “[CAN A PERSON] PRAY THE GAY AWAY?”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE ANSWER IS AN EMPHATIC “NO,” AND THE SCIENTIFIC MUNY HAS SAID SO FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS NOW. HAVG BEEN ANSWERED BY VIRTUALLY EVERY RPECTED MEDIL AND PSYCHOLOGIL ANIZATN AMERI, THE QUTN IS NO LONGER A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ASKG THE NON-QUTN THREE TIM THE LAST THREE WEEKS – AND HAVG SPOKEN WH GLAAD, ’S CLEAR THAT OWN AND S PRODUCERS STILL HAVEN’T GOTTEN ‘’ – WH ‘’ BEG THE TWO NSISTENT PROBLEMS WH ALL THREE “PRAY THE GAY AWAY?” RELATED EPISOS OF OUR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;} RECENTLY SPOKE WH LG ABOUT THE EPISOS QUTN, CLUDG THE BACKLASH OM THE GAY MUNY, AND WHILE SHE SPOKE PASSNATELY OF HER SUPPORT FOR GAY RIGHTS, BEME APPARENT THAT SHE AND GLAAD WOULD NEVER SEE EYE TO EYE ON THIS PARTICULAR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AFTERELTON: WHAT MA YOU CI ON THE TOPIC “CAN YOU PRAY AWAY THE GAY?” AS AN EPISO OF YOUR SHOW?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LISA LG: THIS IS A TOPIC I’VE WANTED TO DO FOR A LONG TIME BEE I’VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY NFLICTED BY THE MSAG THAT WERE G OUT OF THE CHURCH [CHRISTIANY], VIS-A-VIS HOMOSEXUALY. I’M A STNCH GAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST, I’M A STNCH HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND I JT FOUND THAT SOME OF THE MSAG THAT THE CHURCH WAS LIVERG WERE JT ASTOUNDG [AND] NGENT WHAT I FELT J WOULD HAVE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SO WE SET OUT TO EXPLORE WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE WHAT THEY BELIEVE. THERE ARE QUE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE OUR UNTRY WHO BELIEVE THAT HOMOSEXUALY IS NOT LE WH THE CHRISTIAN FAH. AND THERE ARE ALSO GAY CHRISTIANS WHO NTUE TO WORSHIP GOD SPE THE FACT THAT THE CHURCH MAY NMN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}REALLY FOR OUR JOURNEY WAS NOT TO DO THIS VTIGATIVE PIECE ON EXOD OR ANYTHG LIKE THAT. IT WAS REALLY JT TRYG TO UNRSTAND WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE WHAT THEY BELIEVE BEE I’VE ALWAYS BELIEVED WE ARE A BETTER PEOPLE, A MORE EVOLVED PEOPLE IF WE N UNRSTAND EACH OTHER BETTER AND UNRSTAND WHERE EACH SI IS G OM. BEE ONLY THEN, I THK, N WE REALLY MAKE RMED CISNS AND IGNE A PROPER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AE: MANY GAY PEOPLE, CLUDG GLAAD, FEEL THAT JT HAVG A JOURNALIST ASK “CAN YOU PRAY THE GAY AWAY?” LENDS CRENCE TO A QUTN THAT IS NOT ONLY OFFENSIVE, BUT THAT HAS BEEN WILY BUNKED. WHAT’S YOUR RPONSE TO YOUR GLAAD’S CRICISM THAT YOUR SHOW DID THAT?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LL: WELL I THK THAT’S A B OF AN UNFAIR CRICISM. THE TLE “CAN YOU PRAY THE GAY AWAY?” WH THE QUTN MARK AT THE END WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RHETORIL BEE I THK THE DAYS, MOST PEOPLE REGNIZE THAT YOU N PRAY THE GAY AWAY AS MUCH AS YOU N PRAY THE ASIAN AWAY. [LGHS] OR PRAY THE BLACK AWAY. IT HAS NEVER BEEN PROVEN. IN FACT, ’S BEEN DISPROVEN BY REPUTABLE MEDIL ASSOCIATNS. THE TLE WAS TO REALLY SPIRE PEOPLE TO WATCH THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MY TENTN WAS FOR PEOPLE TO WATCH THIS WH A SENSE OF PASSN AND REGNIZE– NOW I’M NOT SOMEONE WHO IS A RELIG PERSON, BUT WHAT I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT J, ’S BEEN MY NTENTN THAT IF GOD IS AS LOVG OF A GOD AS CHRISTIANS BELIEVE HE IS, THEN HE SHOULD LOVE ALL PEOPLE REGARDLS OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATN. THAT WAS THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE AND I THK THAT IF YOU WATCH THE SHOW, MICHAEL BSEE, WHO WAS ONE OF THE FOUNRS OF EXOD, NOT ONLY WALKS AWAY OM THAT ANIZATN, BUT ALSO SPEAKS OUT AGAST THAT ANIZATN BEE HE SAYS DO HORRIFIC, HORRIFIC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND WE SPENT TIME WH THIS GAY CHRISTIAN MP LLED THE NAMG PROJECT WHICH WAS ONE OF THE MOST MOVG EXPERIENC I’VE EVER HAD. AND YOU SEE THE KIDS WHO HAVE BEEN NMNED BY THEIR CHURCH AND SOMETIM THEY’VE BEEN NMNED BY MEMBERS OF THE GAY MUNY BEE, LET’S FACE , THERE ARE SOME MEMBERS THE GAY MUNY THAT HAVE BEEN SO BURNED BY THE CHURCH AND BY CHRISTIANY THAT THEY N’T EVEN ENGAGE A DIALOGUE OR DISURSE ABOUT . SO THE ARE KIDS THAT HAVE BEEN BURNED BUT THEY NTUE TO PRAISE GOD, THE SAME AS MICHAEL BSEE, AND THE PEOPLE TO ME EXEMPLIFY TE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND WHAT DISAPPOTED ME ABOUT SOME OF THE CRICISM THAT WE GOT – AND BY THE WAY THE OVERWHELMG RPONSE TO OUR SHOW HAS BEEN CREDIBLY POSIVE – BUT THE RPONSE I HAVE TO SOME OF THE CRICISM IS “WHY JT FOC ON THE NEGATIVE, AND WHAT YOU PERCEIVE IS THE NEGATIVE ASPECT OF THE SHOW, THE EX-GAY MOVEMENT?” HOW ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGG MICHAEL BSEE AND THE NAMG PROJECT AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXTRAORDARY FAH? THOSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVE BEEN LETED OM THE NVERSATN WHICH I THK IS A HUGE MISSED OPPORTUNY TO HIGHLIGHT PEOPLE WHO I THK ARE BG THE THGS THAT FE THEM MOST, THEIR FAH AND THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATN SUCH A BETIFUL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CAMPERS AT THE NAMG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AE: DID YOU CLU MICHAEL AND THE NAMG CAMP TO GIVE THE PIECE BALANCE THEN? {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LL: ACTUALLY NO, NOT AT ALL. WHEN I SET OUT TO DO THE SHOW WAS TO PROFILE THE NAMG PROJECT WHICH WAS SORT OF THE MA FOC OF THE SHOW, BUT I THK ’S IMPORTANT TO SEE WHAT’S GOG ON AT EXOD, WHAT’S GOG ON THERE. AND NOT AN VTIGATIVE WAY, BUT A WAY TO FD OUT WHAT THEY ARE SORT OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHAT I SAW WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE VERY, VERY NFLICTED AND PEOPLE WHO WERE HIDG BEE THEY HAVE THE SORT OF EP PAS, AND BY PROFILG THE SORTS OF CHRISTIANS. I SAW A KID, WHO WAS REALLY TORTURED MANY WAYS, ONCE BY HIS PAST AND NOW HIS FIGHT TO FIGURE OUT WHO HE IS. AND I’M NOT THE PERSON WHO LIK TO BEAT PEOPLE OVER THE HEAD, I FEEL LIKE THERE IS ENOUGH OF THAT TELEVISN. I WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO WALK THE SHO OF OTHER PEOPLE AND REALLY TRY TO UNRSTAND BETTER WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE WHAT THEY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AE: LOOKG BACK NOW DO YOU UNRSTAND THAT WH THE SHOW’S TLE, AND BY EVEN ASKG THE QUTN, HOW MAK A LOT OF GAY PEOPLE SAY, “REALLY? WE’RE DISCSG THIS AGA?” WHETHER OR NOT ’S A RHETORIL QUTN. NOW THAT YOU’VE BEEN THROUGH THIS, DO YOU SEE THAT POT?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LL: OF URSE. I THK ’S IMPORTANT, AND I’M A PERSON WHO IS NEVER IMMUNE OM CRICISM AND I N PLETELY SEE THAT POT. MY HOPE IS THAT PEOPLE WHO WATCHED THE SHOW AND HEARD THAT TLE N SEE THAT THE ANSWER TO THAT QUTN IS MOST FIVELY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE MOST MOVG THG, I READ A LOT OF MOVG THGS, BUT THE NUMBER OF EVANGELILS WHO FELT FIRMLY ROOTED ONE SI, WHICH WAS THE SI THAT BELIEVED THAT HOMOSEXUALY WAS WRONG, AND I N’T TELL YOU HOW MANY EMAILS I GOT OM THOSE PEOPLE THOSE MUNI SAYG, “WOW, YOU REALLY MA ME THK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THIS ISSUE. YOU REALLY OPENED MY EY TO WHAT GOD’S LOVE REALLY MEANS” AND QUE HONTLY THAT WAS MY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MY OBJECTIVE WASN’T TO CE A REACTN OM THE GAY MUNY, AND IF DID SO, I’M SO SORRY. MY TENTN WAS TO PROVOKE REALLY CLOSED-MD RELIG FOLKS AND HOPE THEY WOULD EXPAND THEIR HORIZONS AND REALLY FD OUT WHAT GOD’S LOVE REALLY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AE: SO YOU THK SOME GAY PEOPLE MISSED WHO THE SHOW WAS MEANT FOR AND WHAT MSAGE WAS BEG SENT OUT, AND STEAD JT FOCED ON A QUTN THAT WE FEEL LIKE WE’VE HEARD TOO MANY TIM?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LL: I DON’T WANT TO ASSUME THAT. ALL I N DO IS STATE WHAT MY OBJECTIVE WAS AND HOPEFULLY THAT ME TE. ONE OF MY BT IENDS IS NAMED JAMIE, HE’S A GAY MAN, [AND HE] WROTE ME THE MOST BETIFUL EMAIL AND SAID THAT HE FELT LIKE I WAS TALKG TO HIS FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD SELF WHEN HE WAS WATCHG THAT. AND HE WISHED THAT PLAC LIKE THE NAMG PROJECT EXISTED FOR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHAT WE SET OUT TO DO WAS TO SHOW WHAT WAS GOG ON AT EXOD BUT CLOSE THE SHOW WH THE NAMG PROJECT AND SEE THAT THERE ARE THE PROGRAMS AND THE URAGEO YOUNG PEOPLE. I WANTED TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT ARE VOLVED PROGRAMS LIKE EXOD THAT THERE ARE OTHER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}YOUNG PEOPLE N GO AND BE THEMSELV AND PRAY TO GOD, THE SAME GOD THAT OTHERS PRAY TO AND HE IS JT AS LOVG AND JT AS FIVG. A UPLE OF TIM I WAS FACED WH THE QUTN OF “ARE THE PEOPLE ALL WORSHIPG THE SAME GOD? ARE THE PEOPLE AT EXOD WORSHIPG THE SAME GOD AS THE KID AT THE NAMG PROJECT?” AND IF GOD IS JT AS LOVG AS CHRISTIANS SAY AND BELIEVE HE IS THEN SEXUAL ORIENTATN SHOULDN’T {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}[A PUBLICIST TOLD OUR TIME WAS UP, BUT LG WANTED TO MAKE SURE I’D UNRSTOOD HER POT.]{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DO THAT MAKE SENSE, MICHAEL? DID YOU…?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AE: IT MA … SENSE. I THK PEOPLE WILL APPRECIATE YOUR TAKG THE TIME TO TALK WH ME. BUT I STILL THK THERE IS A PRETTY FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE POT OF VIEW AS TO WHETHER OR NOT ’S OKAY TO ASK THAT QUTN. I THK A LOT OF FOLKS WOULD MAKE THE POT THAT THERE WOULD NEVER BE A SHOW LIKE THAT ABOUT WOMEN OR ASIANS THAT SORT OF ASKED THAT KD OF QUTN…{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LL: YOU SEE, THAT’S THE THG, IF WE ASKED THAT SORT OF QUTN, “CAN YOU PRAY THE ASIAN AWAY” AND THE ANSWER IS OBVLY, NO! AND I FELT THE SAME WAY ABOUT THAT QUTN, “CAN YOU PRAY THE GAY AWAY?” THE ANSWER IS CLEARLY “NO.” AND EVEN ALAN CHAMBERS SAYS YOU N’T CHANGE YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATN. YOU N CHOOSE TO MARRY A WOMAN AND LIVE YOUR LIFE AND HAVE CHILDREN, BUT DON’T MEAN THAT YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATN HAS CHANGED. I MEAN I THK THE ANSWER TO THAT QUTN IS UNDOUBTEDLY “NO!”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AE: IF THE QUTN IS UNEQUIVOLLY “NO” THEN WHY WAS ASKED THAT WAY? WHY WASN’T THE TLE PHRASED, “WHY ARE PEOPLE BEG FORCED TO PRAY THE GAY AWAY?” AND BEEN MORE OF AN EXPLORATN OF THE DAMAGE THAT THE KIDS G OUT OF THOSE PROGRAMS LIKE EXOD. SUFFER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS YOU SAID, THIS ISN’T A HARD HTG ANALYTIL LOOK AT THE ISSUE, BUT MORE EXPLORG HOW PEOPLE FEEL AND WHY THE FEEL THE WAY THEY DO. BUT I DON’T THK GLAAD IS GOG TO TURN AROUND AFTER READG THIS TERVIEW AND SAY, “OH, OK, WE UNRSTAND NOW.” FOR CERTA PEOPLE CERTA QUTNS ARE SO OFFENSIVE AND WE’RE SO TIRED OF HEARG THEM, THAT NO ONE IS VERY GOG TO BE OK WH THAT. DO THAT MAKE SENSE?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LL: YEAH. AND I DON’T EVEN MEAN TO TRY AND TAKE THAT KD OF FEELG AWAY OM PEOPLE AND OBVLY ’S A VERY FUNDAMENTAL FEELG THAT PEOPLE HAVE REGARDS TO THAT QUTN AND THAT NOTN AND IF ANYONE FELT HARMED BY THAT, I’M {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MY TENTN WAS TO SEND A MSAGE TO CLOSED MD EVANGELILS BEE EVEN IF THEY THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT THAT THE NOTN OF PRAYG THE GAY AWAY WAS POSSIBLE, ALL THEY HAD TO DO IS WATCH THE SHOW TO THE END AND HEAR PEOPLE LIKE MICHAEL BSEE AND ALL THE KIDS AT THE NAMG PROJECT SAYG YOU KNOW WHAT, “THAT QUTN A WAY IS KD OF IRRELEVANT BEE GOD LOV ALL REGARDLS.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AE: I’M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU RECEIVED MSAG OM PEOPLE THAT ME OUT THE OTHER SI OF THAT. I’M GLAD THAT AT LEAST ME OUT OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LL: OH, YEAH AND MY REALLY GOOD GAY IEND SAID, “WE DON’T LIKE TO BE H OVER THE HEAD LIKE MICHAEL MOORE STYLE OR BILL MAHER STYLE.” THIS IS A VERY NUANCED PIECE THAT REALLY LET REALLY THK HARD ABOUT A LOT OF THGS AND GETTG THE MSAGE THAT GOD LOV ALL. WE JT DON’T HEAR THAT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I THK BOTH SIS GET SO EPLY ENTRENCHED THAT BOTH SIS JT WANT TO ATTACK AND NAME LL. AND I DON’T THK THAT DO A DAMN B OF GOOD. WHEN PEOPLE WERE CRICIZG THE PIECE I WAS THKG, “DO YOU THK THAT’S REALLY HELPG YOU?”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHY NOT TAKE THE PIEC OF OUR SHOW WHERE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY RENCILG THEIR FAH AND THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATN A LOVG WAY AND PROMOTE THOSE KDS OF THGS? I THK WE’VE EVOLVED PAST THAT. I ASSUMED ME EVOLVED PAST THAT AND I WANTED TO TAKE THE NVERSATN TO A DIFFERENT PLACE, AND I HOPE WE N STILL NTUE TO DO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AE: I THK THE REACTNS OM THIS SHOW SHOWS JT HOW TOUCHY THE SUBJECTS ARE AND HOW JUDGED GAY PEOPLE STILL FEEL. I’M SURE YOU FOLLOW THE NEWS AND KNOW THAT SOME RELIG NSERVATIV JT BLOCKED GAY MARRIAGE MARYLAND AND JT YTERDAY THEY FEATED A CIVIL UNNS BILL COLORADO. SO FOR GAY PEOPLE THE QUTNS FEEL VERY FUNDAMENTAL AND VERY PRENT AND VERY MUCH AFFECTG OUR LIV. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LL: THE ONLY THG THAT I WOULD SAY IS THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF HATEFUL THGS THAT HAVE E OUT OF THE EVANGELIL MUNY ABOUT GAY PEOPLE. AND I HOPE THAT THE GAY PEOPLE DON’T ADOPT THAT STRATEGY AND BEE AS JUDGMENTAL AND VOLVE TO THAT KD OF BETRAYAL AS THE EVANGELILS HAVE. I REALLY HOPE WE N TAKE THIS TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL AND EXPLORE WH A DIALOGUE AND FD PASSN AND TRY AND BETTER FE THAT GOD LOV YOU AND ME AND I’M NOT EVEN RELIG, SO LET’S PUT BACK OUT THERE TO THE RELIG MUNY. SO LET’S ASK THEM TO REALLY REFE OR REALLY RETERPRET OR TERPRET AT ALL WHAT GOD’S LOVE SHOULD {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AE: I AGREE. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LL: BEE QUE HONTLY ONLY ENTRENCH BOTH SIS EVEN MORE. IT MAK ME WANT TO FIGHT HARR AND NAME LL EVEN MORE, BUT ULTIMATELY IS THAT GETTG ANY CLOSER TO ACHIEVG OUR OBJECTIVE RATHER THAN EXPANDG THE DIALOGUE AND LETTG PEOPLE UNRSTAND WHAT ’S LIKE TO LIVE MY SHO AND WHY PEOPLE MIGHT BELIEVE WHAT THEY BELIEVE. ONLY THEN N PEOPLE UNRSTAND WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE WHAT THEY BELIEVE, AND THEN PEOPLE BE ABLE LEARN HOW TO AL WH AND GET TO A PLACE WHERE THEY UNRSTAND EACH OTHER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AE: IT’S AN IMPORTANT TOPIC TO TAKE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LL: AND I SAID TO GLAAD YTERDAY, RATHER THAN N PICKG, WHY DON’T WE ALL OPEN A DIALOGUE AND DO SOMETHG POSIVE? LET’S DO SOMETHG THAT CHANG PEOPLE’S PERCEPTNS. LET’S REALLY DO SOMETHG THAT’S REALLY PRODUCTIVE AND THE MORE WE NPICK, THE MORE CHALLENGG THGS BEE, I THK, AND DON’T ADVANCE OUR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• PRAY THE GAY AWAY?

PRAY THE GAY AWAY?

E4All episosAllCast & crewIMDbProEpiso aired Mar 8, 2011YOUR RATINGNewsLisa Lg asks whether is possible to be gay and Christian at the same Lg asks whether is possible to be gay and Christian at the same Lg asks whether is possible to be gay and Christian at the same time. Unfortunately, the Oprah Wey Network’s “Our Ameri” wh Lisa Lg produced an dulgent puff-piece on “ex-gay” programs, “Pray the Gay Away”, that clud gross factual accuraci rultg om a lack of rearch and lazy reportg.

Some of Lg’s mistak were prosaic, yet annoyg, such as g the term “gay liftyle”, even though the 1980’s have been over for que some time.

I’m surprised she didn’t regrs even further and refer to gay people as “verts”. Lg’s exce was that she was tryg to make the “ex-gay” activists fortable by speakg their liftyle lgo. Lg shamefully allowed herself to be ed by Exod Internatnal, an extreme “ex-gay” group that sperately wanted an image makeover after beg tied to the adly Anti-Homosexualy Bill Uganda.

CHRISTIAN OM "PRAY THE GAY AWAY?" FALLY SPEAKS UP, COM OUT

Sadly, Lg never brought up that Exod board member Don Schmierer joed a Holot revisnist at a nference Kampala to drop what was lled “a nuclear bomb on the gay agenda.

The enterprisg reporter also omted any reference to spirual warfare — monly known as the exorcism — that is a major part of “ex-gay” programs. Exod Print Alan Chambers has said, “One of the many evils this world has to offer is the s of homosexualy. Better to produce a tearjerker for Oprah than she a spotlight on the anti-gay jerks g tears for their victims.

PRAY THE GAY AWAY?: THE NAMG PROJECT

Chambers admted that took 9 months to nsummate his marriage and said at a 2007 Love Won Out nference Phoenix that to rema “ex-gay” he mt “ny what naturally to me. Ex-gay therapy is a sm that explos sperate and vulnerable people.

Christian was a young man featured the origal "Pray the Gay Away? After at one pot announcg that he had bee succsfully "ex-gay" by followg the teachgs of Exod, Christian retreated om the world, throwg himself even eper to a strict Christian liftyle and abandong elements of his own ee-spired personaly that ma him the person that he was.

To view a scrollg, historil timele of events sce the first Our Ameri episo of "Pray the Gay Away? Once a year, gay, Christian teenagers e to bible mp on an island Mnota seekg acceptance, and the nfirmatn that they n be gay and Christian at the same time.

LISA LG ASKS: IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE BOTH GAY AND CHRISTIAN?

It's a nversatn that has never gone away, but on Tuday night, journalist Lisa Lg tapulted the bate on Christiany and homosexualy back to the spotlight. "Pray the Gay Away? " was the tle of the latt episo of "Our Ameri" wh longtime televisn journalist, whose new seri is on OWN (Oprah Wey Network), sought to fd answers to a qutn that ntu to be asked today: Is possible to be gay and Christian at the same time?

"Everyone this mp has heard many tim over beg gay is a s, almost as though was a broken rerd, " the Rev. "Later, she was voted as the first gay prom queen her senr year. Christe Sneerger don't believe homosexualy is patible wh the Christian fah.

LISA LG’S “OUR AMERI” ASKS “CAN YOU PRAY THE GAY AWAY?”

She left homosexualy at the age of 32.

INTERVIEW: LISA LG SAYS SHE KNOWS "YOU CAN'T PRAY THE GAY AWAY"{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}CELEBRIBY MICHAEL JENSENAPRIL 6, 2011/11:57 AMBY MICHAEL JENSENAPRIL 6, 2011 / 11:57 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"INTERVIEW: LISA LG SAYS SHE KNOWS \"YOU CAN'T PRAY THE GAY AWAY\"","DATEPUBLISHED":"2011-04-06T15:57:19.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2011-04-06T15:57:19.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"MICHAEL JENSEN","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"CELEBRI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“THE ANSWER IS MOST FIVELY ‘NO.’”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SO LISA LG SAYS EMPHATILLY WHEN ASKED BY ABOUT TLE OF THE RECENT “CAN YOU PRAY THE GAY AWAY?” EPISO OF OUR AMERI WH LISA LG ON THE OPRAH WEY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LG SAYS THE TLE OF THE EPISO WAS MEANT TO BE RHETORIL, AND THE ENTIRE POT OF THE SHOW WAS TO REACH OUT TO THOSE CHRISTIAN EVANGELILS WHO DO THK GAY PEOPLE N CHANGED AND NVCE THEM THAT WASN’T THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}UNFORTUNATELY FOR LG, MANY GAY PEOPLE DIDN’T SEE THE QUTN AS RHETORIL AND TOOK OFFENSE THAT THAT A CREDIBLE JOURNALIST WAS EVEN ASKG THE QUTN. IN FACT, GLAAD (THE GAY AND LBIAN ALLIANCE AGAST DEFAMATN) TOOK LG TO TASK BOTH FOR THAT EPISO, AS WELL AS A FOLLOW UP EPISO THAT REVISED ONE OF THE GAY SUBJECTS WHO WAS, FACT, TRYG TO PRAY THE GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SAID GLAAD ON THEIR BLOG ABOUT LG’S VERAGE:{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LAST NIGHT’S EPISO OF OUR AMERI – ENTLED “A CLOSER LOOK” – ACTUALLY MARKS THE THIRD TIME THREE WEEKS THAT THE SHOW HAS TAKEN A “CLOSER LOOK” AT THE SAME ARCHAIC QUTN: “[CAN A PERSON] PRAY THE GAY AWAY?”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE ANSWER IS AN EMPHATIC “NO,” AND THE SCIENTIFIC MUNY HAS SAID SO FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS NOW. HAVG BEEN ANSWERED BY VIRTUALLY EVERY RPECTED MEDIL AND PSYCHOLOGIL ANIZATN AMERI, THE QUTN IS NO LONGER A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ASKG THE NON-QUTN THREE TIM THE LAST THREE WEEKS – AND HAVG SPOKEN WH GLAAD, ’S CLEAR THAT OWN AND S PRODUCERS STILL HAVEN’T GOTTEN ‘’ – WH ‘’ BEG THE TWO NSISTENT PROBLEMS WH ALL THREE “PRAY THE GAY AWAY?” RELATED EPISOS OF OUR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;} RECENTLY SPOKE WH LG ABOUT THE EPISOS QUTN, CLUDG THE BACKLASH OM THE GAY MUNY, AND WHILE SHE SPOKE PASSNATELY OF HER SUPPORT FOR GAY RIGHTS, BEME APPARENT THAT SHE AND GLAAD WOULD NEVER SEE EYE TO EYE ON THIS PARTICULAR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AFTERELTON: WHAT MA YOU CI ON THE TOPIC “CAN YOU PRAY AWAY THE GAY?” AS AN EPISO OF YOUR SHOW?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LISA LG: THIS IS A TOPIC I’VE WANTED TO DO FOR A LONG TIME BEE I’VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY NFLICTED BY THE MSAG THAT WERE G OUT OF THE CHURCH [CHRISTIANY], VIS-A-VIS HOMOSEXUALY. I’M A STNCH GAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST, I’M A STNCH HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND I JT FOUND THAT SOME OF THE MSAG THAT THE CHURCH WAS LIVERG WERE JT ASTOUNDG [AND] NGENT WHAT I FELT J WOULD HAVE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SO WE SET OUT TO EXPLORE WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE WHAT THEY BELIEVE. THERE ARE QUE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE OUR UNTRY WHO BELIEVE THAT HOMOSEXUALY IS NOT LE WH THE CHRISTIAN FAH. AND THERE ARE ALSO GAY CHRISTIANS WHO NTUE TO WORSHIP GOD SPE THE FACT THAT THE CHURCH MAY NMN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}REALLY FOR OUR JOURNEY WAS NOT TO DO THIS VTIGATIVE PIECE ON EXOD OR ANYTHG LIKE THAT. IT WAS REALLY JT TRYG TO UNRSTAND WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE WHAT THEY BELIEVE BEE I’VE ALWAYS BELIEVED WE ARE A BETTER PEOPLE, A MORE EVOLVED PEOPLE IF WE N UNRSTAND EACH OTHER BETTER AND UNRSTAND WHERE EACH SI IS G OM. BEE ONLY THEN, I THK, N WE REALLY MAKE RMED CISNS AND IGNE A PROPER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AE: MANY GAY PEOPLE, CLUDG GLAAD, FEEL THAT JT HAVG A JOURNALIST ASK “CAN YOU PRAY THE GAY AWAY?” LENDS CRENCE TO A QUTN THAT IS NOT ONLY OFFENSIVE, BUT THAT HAS BEEN WILY BUNKED. WHAT’S YOUR RPONSE TO YOUR GLAAD’S CRICISM THAT YOUR SHOW DID THAT?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LL: WELL I THK THAT’S A B OF AN UNFAIR CRICISM. THE TLE “CAN YOU PRAY THE GAY AWAY?” WH THE QUTN MARK AT THE END WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RHETORIL BEE I THK THE DAYS, MOST PEOPLE REGNIZE THAT YOU N PRAY THE GAY AWAY AS MUCH AS YOU N PRAY THE ASIAN AWAY. [LGHS] OR PRAY THE BLACK AWAY. IT HAS NEVER BEEN PROVEN. IN FACT, ’S BEEN DISPROVEN BY REPUTABLE MEDIL ASSOCIATNS. THE TLE WAS TO REALLY SPIRE PEOPLE TO WATCH THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MY TENTN WAS FOR PEOPLE TO WATCH THIS WH A SENSE OF PASSN AND REGNIZE– NOW I’M NOT SOMEONE WHO IS A RELIG PERSON, BUT WHAT I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT J, ’S BEEN MY NTENTN THAT IF GOD IS AS LOVG OF A GOD AS CHRISTIANS BELIEVE HE IS, THEN HE SHOULD LOVE ALL PEOPLE REGARDLS OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATN. THAT WAS THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE AND I THK THAT IF YOU WATCH THE SHOW, MICHAEL BSEE, WHO WAS ONE OF THE FOUNRS OF EXOD, NOT ONLY WALKS AWAY OM THAT ANIZATN, BUT ALSO SPEAKS OUT AGAST THAT ANIZATN BEE HE SAYS DO HORRIFIC, HORRIFIC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND WE SPENT TIME WH THIS GAY CHRISTIAN MP LLED THE NAMG PROJECT WHICH WAS ONE OF THE MOST MOVG EXPERIENC I’VE EVER HAD. AND YOU SEE THE KIDS WHO HAVE BEEN NMNED BY THEIR CHURCH AND SOMETIM THEY’VE BEEN NMNED BY MEMBERS OF THE GAY MUNY BEE, LET’S FACE , THERE ARE SOME MEMBERS THE GAY MUNY THAT HAVE BEEN SO BURNED BY THE CHURCH AND BY CHRISTIANY THAT THEY N’T EVEN ENGAGE A DIALOGUE OR DISURSE ABOUT . SO THE ARE KIDS THAT HAVE BEEN BURNED BUT THEY NTUE TO PRAISE GOD, THE SAME AS MICHAEL BSEE, AND THE PEOPLE TO ME EXEMPLIFY TE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND WHAT DISAPPOTED ME ABOUT SOME OF THE CRICISM THAT WE GOT – AND BY THE WAY THE OVERWHELMG RPONSE TO OUR SHOW HAS BEEN CREDIBLY POSIVE – BUT THE RPONSE I HAVE TO SOME OF THE CRICISM IS “WHY JT FOC ON THE NEGATIVE, AND WHAT YOU PERCEIVE IS THE NEGATIVE ASPECT OF THE SHOW, THE EX-GAY MOVEMENT?” HOW ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGG MICHAEL BSEE AND THE NAMG PROJECT AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXTRAORDARY FAH? THOSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVE BEEN LETED OM THE NVERSATN WHICH I THK IS A HUGE MISSED OPPORTUNY TO HIGHLIGHT PEOPLE WHO I THK ARE BG THE THGS THAT FE THEM MOST, THEIR FAH AND THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATN SUCH A BETIFUL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CAMPERS AT THE NAMG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AE: DID YOU CLU MICHAEL AND THE NAMG CAMP TO GIVE THE PIECE BALANCE THEN? {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LL: ACTUALLY NO, NOT AT ALL. WHEN I SET OUT TO DO THE SHOW WAS TO PROFILE THE NAMG PROJECT WHICH WAS SORT OF THE MA FOC OF THE SHOW, BUT I THK ’S IMPORTANT TO SEE WHAT’S GOG ON AT EXOD, WHAT’S GOG ON THERE. AND NOT AN VTIGATIVE WAY, BUT A WAY TO FD OUT WHAT THEY ARE SORT OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHAT I SAW WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE VERY, VERY NFLICTED AND PEOPLE WHO WERE HIDG BEE THEY HAVE THE SORT OF EP PAS, AND BY PROFILG THE SORTS OF CHRISTIANS. I SAW A KID, WHO WAS REALLY TORTURED MANY WAYS, ONCE BY HIS PAST AND NOW HIS FIGHT TO FIGURE OUT WHO HE IS. AND I’M NOT THE PERSON WHO LIK TO BEAT PEOPLE OVER THE HEAD, I FEEL LIKE THERE IS ENOUGH OF THAT TELEVISN. I WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO WALK THE SHO OF OTHER PEOPLE AND REALLY TRY TO UNRSTAND BETTER WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE WHAT THEY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AE: LOOKG BACK NOW DO YOU UNRSTAND THAT WH THE SHOW’S TLE, AND BY EVEN ASKG THE QUTN, HOW MAK A LOT OF GAY PEOPLE SAY, “REALLY? WE’RE DISCSG THIS AGA?” WHETHER OR NOT ’S A RHETORIL QUTN. NOW THAT YOU’VE BEEN THROUGH THIS, DO YOU SEE THAT POT?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LL: OF URSE. I THK ’S IMPORTANT, AND I’M A PERSON WHO IS NEVER IMMUNE OM CRICISM AND I N PLETELY SEE THAT POT. MY HOPE IS THAT PEOPLE WHO WATCHED THE SHOW AND HEARD THAT TLE N SEE THAT THE ANSWER TO THAT QUTN IS MOST FIVELY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE MOST MOVG THG, I READ A LOT OF MOVG THGS, BUT THE NUMBER OF EVANGELILS WHO FELT FIRMLY ROOTED ONE SI, WHICH WAS THE SI THAT BELIEVED THAT HOMOSEXUALY WAS WRONG, AND I N’T TELL YOU HOW MANY EMAILS I GOT OM THOSE PEOPLE THOSE MUNI SAYG, “WOW, YOU REALLY MA ME THK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THIS ISSUE. YOU REALLY OPENED MY EY TO WHAT GOD’S LOVE REALLY MEANS” AND QUE HONTLY THAT WAS MY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MY OBJECTIVE WASN’T TO CE A REACTN OM THE GAY MUNY, AND IF DID SO, I’M SO SORRY. MY TENTN WAS TO PROVOKE REALLY CLOSED-MD RELIG FOLKS AND HOPE THEY WOULD EXPAND THEIR HORIZONS AND REALLY FD OUT WHAT GOD’S LOVE REALLY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AE: SO YOU THK SOME GAY PEOPLE MISSED WHO THE SHOW WAS MEANT FOR AND WHAT MSAGE WAS BEG SENT OUT, AND STEAD JT FOCED ON A QUTN THAT WE FEEL LIKE WE’VE HEARD TOO MANY TIM?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LL: I DON’T WANT TO ASSUME THAT. ALL I N DO IS STATE WHAT MY OBJECTIVE WAS AND HOPEFULLY THAT ME TE. ONE OF MY BT IENDS IS NAMED JAMIE, HE’S A GAY MAN, [AND HE] WROTE ME THE MOST BETIFUL EMAIL AND SAID THAT HE FELT LIKE I WAS TALKG TO HIS FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD SELF WHEN HE WAS WATCHG THAT. AND HE WISHED THAT PLAC LIKE THE NAMG PROJECT EXISTED FOR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHAT WE SET OUT TO DO WAS TO SHOW WHAT WAS GOG ON AT EXOD BUT CLOSE THE SHOW WH THE NAMG PROJECT AND SEE THAT THERE ARE THE PROGRAMS AND THE URAGEO YOUNG PEOPLE. I WANTED TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT ARE VOLVED PROGRAMS LIKE EXOD THAT THERE ARE OTHER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}YOUNG PEOPLE N GO AND BE THEMSELV AND PRAY TO GOD, THE SAME GOD THAT OTHERS PRAY TO AND HE IS JT AS LOVG AND JT AS FIVG. A UPLE OF TIM I WAS FACED WH THE QUTN OF “ARE THE PEOPLE ALL WORSHIPG THE SAME GOD? ARE THE PEOPLE AT EXOD WORSHIPG THE SAME GOD AS THE KID AT THE NAMG PROJECT?” AND IF GOD IS JT AS LOVG AS CHRISTIANS SAY AND BELIEVE HE IS THEN SEXUAL ORIENTATN SHOULDN’T {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}[A PUBLICIST TOLD OUR TIME WAS UP, BUT LG WANTED TO MAKE SURE I’D UNRSTOOD HER POT.]{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DO THAT MAKE SENSE, MICHAEL? DID YOU…?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AE: IT MA … SENSE. I THK PEOPLE WILL APPRECIATE YOUR TAKG THE TIME TO TALK WH ME. BUT I STILL THK THERE IS A PRETTY FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE POT OF VIEW AS TO WHETHER OR NOT ’S OKAY TO ASK THAT QUTN. I THK A LOT OF FOLKS WOULD MAKE THE POT THAT THERE WOULD NEVER BE A SHOW LIKE THAT ABOUT WOMEN OR ASIANS THAT SORT OF ASKED THAT KD OF QUTN…{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LL: YOU SEE, THAT’S THE THG, IF WE ASKED THAT SORT OF QUTN, “CAN YOU PRAY THE ASIAN AWAY” AND THE ANSWER IS OBVLY, NO! AND I FELT THE SAME WAY ABOUT THAT QUTN, “CAN YOU PRAY THE GAY AWAY?” THE ANSWER IS CLEARLY “NO.” AND EVEN ALAN CHAMBERS SAYS YOU N’T CHANGE YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATN. YOU N CHOOSE TO MARRY A WOMAN AND LIVE YOUR LIFE AND HAVE CHILDREN, BUT DON’T MEAN THAT YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATN HAS CHANGED. I MEAN I THK THE ANSWER TO THAT QUTN IS UNDOUBTEDLY “NO!”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AE: IF THE QUTN IS UNEQUIVOLLY “NO” THEN WHY WAS ASKED THAT WAY? WHY WASN’T THE TLE PHRASED, “WHY ARE PEOPLE BEG FORCED TO PRAY THE GAY AWAY?” AND BEEN MORE OF AN EXPLORATN OF THE DAMAGE THAT THE KIDS G OUT OF THOSE PROGRAMS LIKE EXOD. SUFFER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS YOU SAID, THIS ISN’T A HARD HTG ANALYTIL LOOK AT THE ISSUE, BUT MORE EXPLORG HOW PEOPLE FEEL AND WHY THE FEEL THE WAY THEY DO. BUT I DON’T THK GLAAD IS GOG TO TURN AROUND AFTER READG THIS TERVIEW AND SAY, “OH, OK, WE UNRSTAND NOW.” FOR CERTA PEOPLE CERTA QUTNS ARE SO OFFENSIVE AND WE’RE SO TIRED OF HEARG THEM, THAT NO ONE IS VERY GOG TO BE OK WH THAT. DO THAT MAKE SENSE?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LL: YEAH. AND I DON’T EVEN MEAN TO TRY AND TAKE THAT KD OF FEELG AWAY OM PEOPLE AND OBVLY ’S A VERY FUNDAMENTAL FEELG THAT PEOPLE HAVE REGARDS TO THAT QUTN AND THAT NOTN AND IF ANYONE FELT HARMED BY THAT, I’M {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MY TENTN WAS TO SEND A MSAGE TO CLOSED MD EVANGELILS BEE EVEN IF THEY THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT THAT THE NOTN OF PRAYG THE GAY AWAY WAS POSSIBLE, ALL THEY HAD TO DO IS WATCH THE SHOW TO THE END AND HEAR PEOPLE LIKE MICHAEL BSEE AND ALL THE KIDS AT THE NAMG PROJECT SAYG YOU KNOW WHAT, “THAT QUTN A WAY IS KD OF IRRELEVANT BEE GOD LOV ALL REGARDLS.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AE: I’M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU RECEIVED MSAG OM PEOPLE THAT ME OUT THE OTHER SI OF THAT. I’M GLAD THAT AT LEAST ME OUT OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LL: OH, YEAH AND MY REALLY GOOD GAY IEND SAID, “WE DON’T LIKE TO BE H OVER THE HEAD LIKE MICHAEL MOORE STYLE OR BILL MAHER STYLE.” THIS IS A VERY NUANCED PIECE THAT REALLY LET REALLY THK HARD ABOUT A LOT OF THGS AND GETTG THE MSAGE THAT GOD LOV ALL. WE JT DON’T HEAR THAT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I THK BOTH SIS GET SO EPLY ENTRENCHED THAT BOTH SIS JT WANT TO ATTACK AND NAME LL. AND I DON’T THK THAT DO A DAMN B OF GOOD. WHEN PEOPLE WERE CRICIZG THE PIECE I WAS THKG, “DO YOU THK THAT’S REALLY HELPG YOU?”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHY NOT TAKE THE PIEC OF OUR SHOW WHERE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY RENCILG THEIR FAH AND THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATN A LOVG WAY AND PROMOTE THOSE KDS OF THGS? I THK WE’VE EVOLVED PAST THAT. I ASSUMED ME EVOLVED PAST THAT AND I WANTED TO TAKE THE NVERSATN TO A DIFFERENT PLACE, AND I HOPE WE N STILL NTUE TO DO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AE: I THK THE REACTNS OM THIS SHOW SHOWS JT HOW TOUCHY THE SUBJECTS ARE AND HOW JUDGED GAY PEOPLE STILL FEEL. I’M SURE YOU FOLLOW THE NEWS AND KNOW THAT SOME RELIG NSERVATIV JT BLOCKED GAY MARRIAGE MARYLAND AND JT YTERDAY THEY FEATED A CIVIL UNNS BILL COLORADO. SO FOR GAY PEOPLE THE QUTNS FEEL VERY FUNDAMENTAL AND VERY PRENT AND VERY MUCH AFFECTG OUR LIV. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LL: THE ONLY THG THAT I WOULD SAY IS THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF HATEFUL THGS THAT HAVE E OUT OF THE EVANGELIL MUNY ABOUT GAY PEOPLE. AND I HOPE THAT THE GAY PEOPLE DON’T ADOPT THAT STRATEGY AND BEE AS JUDGMENTAL AND VOLVE TO THAT KD OF BETRAYAL AS THE EVANGELILS HAVE. I REALLY HOPE WE N TAKE THIS TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL AND EXPLORE WH A DIALOGUE AND FD PASSN AND TRY AND BETTER FE THAT GOD LOV YOU AND ME AND I’M NOT EVEN RELIG, SO LET’S PUT BACK OUT THERE TO THE RELIG MUNY. SO LET’S ASK THEM TO REALLY REFE OR REALLY RETERPRET OR TERPRET AT ALL WHAT GOD’S LOVE SHOULD {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AE: I AGREE. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LL: BEE QUE HONTLY ONLY ENTRENCH BOTH SIS EVEN MORE. IT MAK ME WANT TO FIGHT HARR AND NAME LL EVEN MORE, BUT ULTIMATELY IS THAT GETTG ANY CLOSER TO ACHIEVG OUR OBJECTIVE RATHER THAN EXPANDG THE DIALOGUE AND LETTG PEOPLE UNRSTAND WHAT ’S LIKE TO LIVE MY SHO AND WHY PEOPLE MIGHT BELIEVE WHAT THEY BELIEVE. ONLY THEN N PEOPLE UNRSTAND WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE WHAT THEY BELIEVE, AND THEN PEOPLE BE ABLE LEARN HOW TO AL WH AND GET TO A PLACE WHERE THEY UNRSTAND EACH OTHER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AE: IT’S AN IMPORTANT TOPIC TO TAKE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LL: AND I SAID TO GLAAD YTERDAY, RATHER THAN N PICKG, WHY DON’T WE ALL OPEN A DIALOGUE AND DO SOMETHG POSIVE? LET’S DO SOMETHG THAT CHANG PEOPLE’S PERCEPTNS. LET’S REALLY DO SOMETHG THAT’S REALLY PRODUCTIVE AND THE MORE WE NPICK, THE MORE CHALLENGG THGS BEE, I THK, AND DON’T ADVANCE OUR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

"I know there's a lot of people that say you n [be both gay and Christian], " she told Lg. "I thk 's a misterpretatn of Scripture to say that the Bible would bls and affirm homosexual relatnships.

PRAY THE GAY AWAY?

"Alan Chambers, print of Exod Internatnal, may be more well-known for leavg homosexualy.