No Public Benefit: "Ex-Gay" Group Denied Charity Status In New Zealand

An "ex-gay" group related to Exodus International has been been judged to have "no public benefit" and therefore ineligible for charity status.

The Charities Commission says the Exodus Ministries Trust Board is not performing any public benefit, because being gay is not a mental disorder and does not need curing. The trust is affiliated with the United States-based Exodus Global Alliance, which promises "freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ". It has had charitable status for more than a decade, but that status has now been removed by the Charities Commission under a regime introduced in 2007. The trust claimed it had a legitimate point of view and provided support to homosexuals during "very difficult times". It said a comparison could be made with Rainbow Youth having charitable status, "clearly an education provided by Rainbow Youth Inc. would be from a preconceived point of view, ie that homosexuality and other forms of sexuality are perfectly normal for some people."

It's a pity the same can't be done here.

(Tipped by JMG reader Arthur)