Dallas Gets "Ex-Gay" Billboard

"Ex-gay" crackpot David Pickup (real name!) has posted the above billboard in the Dallas area. Zack Ford reports at Think Progress:

ThinkProgress spoke with Terry Kafka, president of Impact Outdoor Advertising, the small Dallas billboard company that is hosting the ad. Kafka explained that they had been convinced the ad was for couples therapy, having never heard the term “reparative therapy” before. He described the true content of the ad as “repulsive to me personally,” promising that the ad would be coming down by next week at the latest. “If we had known, we wouldn’t have put it up in the first place.” A billboard ad promoting ex-gay therapy similarly caused controversy in Virginia last month. That ad, posted by the ex-gay organization PFOX, asserted, “We believe twins research studies show nobody is born gay,” featuring two different pictures of the same model, who is not only not a twin but is also openly gay. Though Lamar, a national billboard company, agreed to keep that ad in place, Kafka promised, “There’s no way you’d ever see one of those on our billboards.”

RELATED: Last year SCOTUS rejected the Liberty Counsel's attempt to repeal California's ban on "ex-gay" torture in an appeal filed on the behalf of Pickup and NARTH. In years past Pickup has run a degayifying program called The WorkOUT in which he urges participants to "go deep into their manhood." Ahem.

Dr. Drew Interviews Daniel Pierce

The Advocate sets up the clip below:

Previewing the video, host Dr. Drew Pinsky and his panel offered a little context on the situation that ensued before Pierce began filming. The teen's grandparents, father, and stepmother were attempting to stage an "intervention" surrounding his sexual orientation, allegedly trying to send him to a "reparative therapy" program where he could try to "pray away the gay." When Pierce stood firm in his conviction that being gay was not a choice, the situation quickly escalated into violence. Before welcoming Pierce to the show, Pinsky hosted a panel to discuss the video, including a call from a self-proclaimed "ex-gay" man who practices so-called reparative therapy. Pinsky acknowledged that he is concerned by those who would try to change a person's sexual orientation but still welcomed David Pickup to the program, noting that he believed Pickup's view, while controversial, was worth hearing. Video of the segment featuring Pickup is not available through the show's website, though a transcript of the conversation is available via CNN. In the second half of the segment, Pinky welcomes Pierce, who he identifies under the pseudonym "David." Most of Pinsky's panelists laud the teenager's poise, grace, and courage in coming out despite the hostile reaction.

David Pickup, of course, is the NARTH-affiliated "ex-gay" crackpot on whose behalf the Liberty Counsel failed to overturn California's ban on "ex-gay" torture.

Liberty Counsel Files SCOTUS Appeal To Overturn CA Ban On "Ex-Gay" Torture

Last week the Ninth Circuit Court refused to consider the Liberty Counsel's en banc appeal to overturn California's ban on the "ex-gay" torture of LGBT youth. But the Ninth has now delayed the implementation of the ban while the Liberty Counsel asks the Supreme Court to hear their case.

California's SB 1172, which the 9th Circuit upheld in August, prohibits state-licensed psychiatrists, psychologists and counselors from using sexual-orientation change therapy on patients younger than 18. After the full court refused to hold an en banc rehearing of the case, the challengers requested a stay of the mandate so that they can petition the U.S. Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari. The appellate panel in turn granted a 90-day stay late Monday. "In the event that the petition for writ of certiorari is timely filed, the stay shall continue until final disposition by the Supreme Court," according to the brief order. Counselors, psychiatrists and their patients filed two cases against Gov. Jerry Brown over the ban, which they challenge as a violation of their free speech rights.

Liberty Counsel is suing on behalf of NARTH spokesman and "ex-gay" David Pickup. Yes, that is his actual name. 

CALIFORNIA: Appeals Court Upholds Law Banning "Ex-Gay" Torture For Minors

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected the attempt to block California's law that bans "ex-gay" torture for minors.

In resolving two separate legal challenges to the new law, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the arguments of a group of therapists and families who sued to block its enforcement. The three-judge panel was unanimous in upholding the statute, the first of its kind in the nation.

"(It) does not violate the free speech rights of practitioners or minor patients, is neither vague nor overbroad and does not violate parents' fundamental rights," Judge Susan Graber wrote for the court.

The therapists and families sued over the ban, arguing that it violates the free speech rights of therapists to discuss gay conversion with young patients, and families argued that the law tramples on religious freedoms to seek therapy to convert their children from homosexuality. The law barred licensed mental health professionals from using the therapy on those under the age of 18.

Another big loss for the Liberty Counsel! Stand by for the sadz AND threats about SCOTUS.

UPDATE: Courtesy of JMG reader Joe, I've posted the full 42-page ruling to my Scribd account.

UPDATE II: The National Center For Lesbian Rights responds via press release.

NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter, who argued the case on behalf of Equality California in the Ninth Circuit, said: “This decision clears the way for this life-saving law to protect California youth from cruel and damaging practices that have been rejected by all leading medical and mental health professional organizations. The court of appeals ruled in very clear terms that state-licensed therapists do not have a constitutional right to engage in discredited practices that offer no health benefits and put LGBT youth at risk of severe harm, including depression and suicide. We thank Attorney General Kamala Harris, Deputy Attorney General Alexandra Robert Gordon, and the entire legal team at the California Department of Justice for their brilliant and tireless advocacy in defense of these vital new protections for LGBT youth.” “The court's decision today on Senate Bill 1172 is a major victory for anyone who cares about the well-being of our youth. It will directly impact the lives of thousands of young people by protecting them from this horrific practice," said John O’Connor, Equality California executive director. "We thank Sen. Ted Lieu for authoring this bill and Speaker John A. Perez for his bold leadership in getting the law passed."

CALIFORNIA: Judge Temporarily Blocks Ban On "Reparative Therapy"

Last yesterday afternoon a federal judge issued a temporary injunction against California's recently-approved ban in "ex-gay" therapy for minors. However the judge restricted his order (for now) to only the three individuals who filed lawsuits against it.

U.S. District Court Judge William Shubb made a decision just hours after a hearing on the issue, ruling that the First Amendment rights of psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health professionals who engage in "reparative" or "conversion" therapy outweigh concern that the practice poses a danger to young people. "Even if SB 1172 is characterized as primarily aimed at regulating conduct, it also extends to forms of (conversion therapy) that utilize speech and, at a minimum, regulates conduct that has an incidental effect on speech," Shubb wrote.

The judge also disputed the California Legislature's finding that trying to change young people's sexual orientation puts them at risk for suicide or depression, saying it was based on "questionable and scientifically incomplete studies." Although the ruling is a setback for the law's supporters, the judge softened the impact of his decision by saying that it applies only to three people — psychiatrist Anthony Duk, marriage and family therapist Donald Welch, and Aaron Bitzer, a former patient who is studying to become a counselor who specializes in clients who are unhappy being gay.

The exemption for them will remain in place only until Shubb can hold a trial on the merits of their case, although in granting their request for an injunction, the judge noted he thinks they would prevail in getting the law struck down on constitutional grounds.

Among those testifying yesterday was "ex-gay" whackadoodle David Pickup (real name), about whom I've written several times. Below is a clip from Pickup's "WorkOUT" program, which encourages men to "go deep with their manhood" and reject their disgusting nelly behaviors.

"Ex-Gay" Crackpot Vs CNN Host

"Ex-gay" activist, NARTH con man, and wackadoodle therapist David Pickup (real name!) sparred with CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin today over California's new ban on "reparative therapy" for minors. Things got rather heated towards the end.

(Tipped by JMG reader Gigi)

RELATED: In 2008 I posted a clip that promoted David Pickup's scam program which calls on his patients to "Go deep into your manhood." I wrote:

A couple of the best quotes from the clip: "The WorkOUT is a unique program that helps a man who's dealing with homosexual issues go deep." And: "I love helping other men be men." Oh, me too, sister! The cost of joining the WorkOUT program is $250 a month. That includes a one-hour life coaching session per week (which is conducted "face-to-face" (ahem) or on the phone), plus one hour of "911" phone counselings, for those "Help! I'm buying poppers!" moments.

Back then I actually wondered if the "suspiciously named" Pickup wasn't pulling a Poe on the "ex-gay" movement.

NYT: Rift Between "Ex-Gays" Deepens

The New York Times reports that more "ex-gay" ministries are moving to distance themselves from Exodus International, whose head Alan Chambers has admitted that reparative therapy never works.

Mr. [David] Pickup, an officer of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality [NARTH], composed of like-minded therapists, said reparative therapy had achieved profound changes for thousands of people, including himself. The therapy, he said, had helped him confront emotional wounds and “my homosexual feelings began to dissipate and attractions for women grew.” Some in the ex-gay world are more scathing about Mr. Chambers. “I think Mr. Chambers is tired of his own personal struggles, so he’s making excuses for them by making sweeping generalizations about others,” said Gregg Quinlan, a conservative lobbyist in New Jersey and president of a support group called Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays.

Chambers continues to call for lifelong celibacy for gays who can't force themselves into opposite-sex relationships.

Mr. Chambers said he was simply trying to restore Exodus to its original purpose when it was founded in 1976: providing spiritual support for Christians who are struggling with homosexual attraction. He said that he was happy in his marriage, with a “love and devotion much deeper than anything I experienced in gay life,” but that he knew this was not feasible for everyone. Many Christians with homosexual urges may have to strive for lives of celibacy.

The Latest From "Ex-Gay" David Pickup

In yesterday's post about NARTH joining Facebook, I noted that one of their page administrators is "ex-gay" activist David Pickup, who has apparently launched yet another wacko "reparative therapy" scam. Here's what the clip is about:

Several clinical members of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) have filed a formal ethical complaint against the Board of Directors of the San Francisco chapter of CAMFT. The therapists have complained about the dissemination of biased and inaccurate statements about SOCE (Sexual Orientation Change Efforts) since the American Psychological Association's publication of Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation (APA, 2009).

NARTH Joins Facebook

A reader tips us that NARTH has joined Facebook.

NARTH upholds the rights of individuals with unwanted homosexual attraction to receive effective psychological care, and the right of professionals to offer that care. How to become a friend of the NARTH page: We honor your request to be a NARTH friend. In order to establish professionalism, honest discourse, and security of accurate information, it is REQUIRED that you send David Pickup, Katie Rowe, or Christopher Doyle (admins of the page) the following information along with your request:

1. Your profession
2. Your contact information
3. Your motivation for joining the NARTH friend’s page
4. Any professional or religious organization of which you are a member.

As for the page administrators, you might recall Christopher Doyle from that time I chased him out to his car at the NARTH convention in Philadelphia. David Pickup (real name!) is famed for his unintentionally hilarious masculinity instruction video and butch-up coaching lessons. From a 2008 JMG post:

Here's a couple of the best quotes from Pickup's clip: "The WorkOUT is a unique program that helps a man who's dealing with homosexual issues go deep." And: "I love helping other men be men." Oh, me too, sister! The cost of joining the WorkOUT program is $250 a month. That includes a one-hour life coaching session per week (which is conducted "face-to-face" (ahem) or on the phone), plus one hour of "911" phone counselings, for those "Help! I'm buying poppers!" moments.

Here's the clip.

Go Deep With Your Manhood

Over on Good As You, I found another hilarious "ex-gay" video, this one hawking The WorkOUT, a degayifying "Life Coaching" program from the suspiciously named David Pickup. A couple of the best quotes from the clip: "The WorkOUT is a unique program that helps a man who's dealing with homosexual issues go deep." And: "I love helping other men be men." Oh, me too, sister!

The cost of joining the WorkOUT program is $250 a month. That includes a one-hour life coaching session per week (which is conducted "face-to-face" (ahem) or on the phone), plus one hour of "911" phone counselings, for those "Help! I'm buying poppers!" moments. Pickup's counseling appears to all but ignore the usual Christian admonitions against gayness and mostly focuses on "manhood" and "masculinity."

Pickup: "The authors of this site are opposed to any hate-filled effort to judge or disrespect any man, and recognizes that bigotry sometimes comes from the very people who claim to love God." Mostly, he seems interested in men who are unhappy with their gay-ass queeniness and pledges that he can turn them into self-loving butch breeders.

So. Real or satire? A little research reveals that Mr. Pickup has been in a couple of queer-themed movies: Queerspiracy, a 2007 short that played at least one gay film festival, and Deviant Desires, a 2002 flick that appears to be soft-core lesbian porn. With Pickup's film history and the double entendres in the above clip, one is inclined to think that he's pulling a Donnie Davies on us. But on the other hand, on his site he does link all the foul "ex-gay" ministries and he has penned at least one definitely unfunny anti-gay rant. (Donnie Davies was always funny.)

On the other other hand, this gem also appears there: "Dave has a passion for helping men be men. He wants to help as many guys as possible and invites men who have the same desire to join with him. If you are interested in joining the Life Coaching team, please contact David for an interview and training program details."

So I don't know. As someone said about The Daily Show, "The best satire is transparent, sitting back and letting the absurdities of its subject do the talking." Therefore David Pickup is either a (mostly) sharp satirist or an unintentionally funny masculinity-obsessed self-hater. You decide.