Syndicated Broadcaster Urges Gay Youths to Seek “Cure”

Undercover phone calls reveal that when young gay people call into the nationally syndicated radio show Dawson McAllister Live to discuss their problems, representatives who believe homosexuality is comparable to "adultery, theft or murder" counsel callers to seek a "cure" through God and direct them to "ex-gay" groups.

Greg Kimball at KnowThyNeighbor.org wanted to investigate how the show, geared toward teenagers on Top 40 radio stations nationwide, would handle a youth caller questioning his sexuality. According to his own account, the 24-year-old pretended to be a 16-year-old boy this past Sunday and spoke with a representative for 20 minutes.

"The first thing he told me (which he told me several times throughout our conversation) is that they get a ton of calls like this," said Kimball. "He then asked if I had been raised religiously. I told him no, and that is where things began to explode. He told me that it is common for 'children raised with no God to question their sexuality.' He went on to say that 'if I embraced God, I could be cured.' He continued, comparing homosexuality to 'alcoholism or pornography or drug addiction.' He said that 'homosexuality was not natural.' He then quoted several Bible verses, saying that homosexuality was just as bad as 'adultery, theft, or murder.'"

In a follow-up call, Kimball, still posing as a 16-year-old boy, spoke with a different representative, who directed him to "ex-gay" groups like Exodus International and Live Hope Ministries.

Kimball has more on the exchanges, and Dawson's ties to the Christian Right, here.