April 9, 2008

Truth Wins Out Comes to San Jose CA!

We just got notice that there will be a number of events in San Jose to educate people on the dangers of the “Ex-Gay” industry and to protest the Love Won Out symposium. While this is short notice, particularly for the Thursday events, all who can attend are encouraged to do so.

What: TruthWinsOut.org Executive Director Wayne Besen will travel to San Jose this week to help educate people about the dangers of the ex-gay industry. Besen will join a group of local organizations at a press conference on Thursday, in an effort to ensure accurate information reaches the public and those attending the Love Won Out conference. Besen is also the author of “Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth.”

“It’s tragic that most of the people attending Love Won Out are parents who are looking for answers in the wrong place,” said TruthWinsOut.org’s Executive Director Wayne Besen. “We are speaking out to stop these parents from being exploited and we hope to dispel myths and misconceptions so they can learn to love and accept their gay children.”

Where: The Billy DeFrank GLBT Community Center
938 The Alameda
(West of the HP Pavilion Arena, between Race St and Hwy 87)

When: Thursday, April 10
11 AM

Who: Aejaie Sellers, DeFrank Center’s CEO/Executive Director

Bill Roth, Catholic Democrats of California

Gloria Nieto, Santa Clara County LGBT Democrats

Wayne Besen, Executive Director, TruthWinsOut.org

Rev. Michael Ellard, Metropolitan Community Church of San Jose

Saturday Activities: On Saturday, April 12, a prayer vigil will take place at 11 AM, in front of the church hosting Love Won Out - Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, 2440 Leghorn Street, Mountain View. Also on Saturday, the DeFrank Center will host a panel discussion on the ex-gay industry at 1:00pm (938 The Alameda, San Jose). Joining Sellers and Besen will be Rev. Michael Ellard (Metropolitan Community Church of San Jose), Bill Roth (Catholic Democrats of California), Gloria Nieto (Santa Clara County LGBT Democrats) and ex-gay survivors.

Love Won Out is a quarterly ex-gay symposium sponsored by Focus on the Family. John Paulk, an ex-gay leader who was on the cover of Newsweek and appeared on Oprah, 60 Minutes and Good Morning America, originally ran the program. Love Won Out suffered a major setback after Paulk was photographed in a Washington, DC gay bar by Besen.

TruthWinsOut.org is a non-profit organization that counters right wing propaganda, exposes the “ex-gay” myth and educates America about gay life.