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September 10, 2008

PFLAG Condemns "Ex-Gay" Conference Endorsed by Palin's Church

Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays condemned an "ex-gay" conference taking place Saturday in Anchorage, Alaska. Love Won Out, which claims to "cure" conferencegoers of homosexuality, has been endorsed by Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's church, the Wasilla Bible Church, according to a PFLAG press release.

Jane Schlittler, president of PFLAG's Anchorage chapter, said in the release that the conference is bad for families.

"The conference's organizers maliciously target often well-meaning parents who are dealing with a difficult issue in their lives, and in the process put their kids' well-being at risk," Schlittler said. "Make no mistake: There is far more 'preying' than 'praying' taking place at these meetings, and far more harming than healing in the doctrine of Love Won Out."

The group asked Palin in the statement to stand up against the conference.

While PFLAG Anchorage did not want to peg Palin as someone who believes that a person could stop being gay, it called on her to "make clear that she, as a mother and a public servant, will not condone, either explicitly or implicitly, such attempts at dividing our families and hurting our kids." (The Advocate)

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: Candie Leigh White
    Date posted: 2008-09-13 6:38 PM
    Hometown: Tucson, AZ

    Comment:

    Dear Ms Tefft- Bless you for being such a wonderful parent. I am 46 and came out when I was 19. My mother would have preferred another daughter who did things "like all the other kids" and got married, gave her more grandkids.. etc.. but mom never batted an eye. She loved me and supported me and even got to where she was telling folks about her "gay" daughter before I was ready to tell them. Mom always said- "just be happy" and she knew I would not have "chosen" a life that offered instant judgement and rejection. She knew that this is who I was, ( am ) and she was always proud of me. Her love was unconditional. In a world full of way too many viscious and bigotted people, thank "God", truly- that there are parents like you and my mother who are the shining examples of God's love.


  • Name: Lisa Tefft
    Date posted: 2008-09-10 10:31 PM
    Hometown: Houston Texas

    Comment:

    I was going to vote for her,but after seeing this article,I wouldn't vote for her for a million dollars also, I have a lot of friends who feel the same way.I have a gay son and I don't want her to pray for him to be straight. If prayer would help we would all be straight,beautiful,and rich. God meets us where we are and God didn't make a mistake when he made my son. If this is any preview of things to come from her then count me out. I want no part of what she stands for.


  • Name: Colin V. Gallagher
    Date posted: 2008-09-10 1:50 PM
    Hometown: San Francisco

    Comment:

    Why haven't the Log Cabin Republicans also called upon Palin to repudiate her church for sponsoring this event? I guess that preserving the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy is more important to the Log Cabin gays than standing up for their community.


  • Name: Arthur N. Siegel, O.D.
    Date posted: 2008-09-10 10:12 AM
    Hometown: Glendale, CA

    Comment:

    Palin probably won't comment on anything related to gay issues. She is being shielded from discussing anything off of the "shopping list" of things she is allowed to say.


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