Former "Ex-Gay" Poster Boy John Paulk Competes On Cooking Reality Show

Last night former "ex-gay" poster boy John Paulk competed on the cooking reality show Cutthroat Kitchen. The show was promoted by Go Local PDX on Friday:

"The fast-paced energy I experienced while taping the episode last summer was exhilarating," said Paulk. "I've never had more fun in my life competing with other talented chefs." This in not Paulk's first appearance on T.V. For several years, Paulk was a regular guest on local television morning shows doing cooking demonstrations. Currently, Paulk is preparing to launch his new, weekly radio show, "Talking with our Mouths Full," on Wild Planet Radio, KPQR 99.1 FM. - Portland's new radio station aimed at the LGBT community. Paulk is the former founder and leader of the ex-gay ministry 'Love Won Out,' which promotes freedom from homosexuality through the power of Christ. He has since left the ministry and denounced gay reparative therapy. Paulk's Mezzaluna Fine Catering has serviced many politicians and leaders with close ties to Portland's gay community.

Paulk's fall from "ex-gay" grace began in 2000 when activist Wayne Besen caught him in a DC gay bar. He resigned from Love Won Out shortly after Focus On The Family head James Dobson confronted him about the incident. Paulk disavowed the "ex-gay" movement in 2013 and has since issued public apologies.

(Tipped by JMG reader Daniel)

PENNSYLVANIA: Atheist Protest Of Jesus Statue Charges Meets Counter-Protesters

Remember the teenager in Pennsylvania who faces two years in juvenile detention for posing on a statue of Jesus? This happened this weekend:

A successful protest, where several dozen people rallied in favor of free speech, was marred on Saturday, when a belligerent group of counter protesters, including two from what appeared to be a motorcycle gang, crashed the demonstration and threatened those in attendance, including a 14-year old boy arrested for “desecrating” a Jesus statue and Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director Wayne Besen. Incredibly, there was not a single police officer on-hand to prevent potential violence and this left the protesters vulnerable to thugs and forced them to fend for themselves. “The Bedford police placed us directly in harms way and their inaction nearly caused a full-blown melee,” said Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director Wayne Besen. “This is the first time in two decades of protesting that I’ve been put directly in harm’s way by town officials. We call on Bedford to immediately review its policies for protecting the free speech rights of those who demonstrate in their town.”

From the clip recap:

Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen, American Atheists President David Silverman and Pennsylvania Nonbelievers President Brian Fields all three organizations came together, held a press conference and a demonstration in Bedford, Pennsylvania, to speak out for freedom of speech and freedom of religion for all after hearing of a fourteen year old child is being tried in juvenile court in Bedford on October 3 2014 for “desecrating” a Jesus statue after pictures were posted on Facebook.

Things start to get heated around the 8:00 mark.

"Ex-Gay" Michael Glatze Marries

Wayne Besen writes at Truth Wins Out:

One can’t be an official “ex-gay” rock star until wedding bells ring. Apparently, this happened for publicity hound Michael Glatze, who married his prop, er bride, Rebekah, on October 26. Here are the wedding photographs of Glatze in fundie drag. The victim is attractive and seems rather sweet. I hope she knows what she’s getting into. Mr. Glatze worked for XY Magazine and was the co-founder of a short-lived LGBT teenie-bopper mag, Young Gay America. Suddenly, he broke up with his boyfriend and had what appeared to be a nervous breakdown, where he had severe panic attacks about dying. During these disturbing episodes, he renounced his sexual orientation and temporarily converted to Mormonism. Though he had dived into the Mormon faith with gusto, he just as quixotically abandoned this faith to become an outspoken fundamentalist Christian.

Besen notes that Glatze had a short time in the "ex-gay" spotlight as his racist and vitriolic columns for World Net Daily were too much for even the "ex-gay" industry. Glatze: "Have I mentioned lately how utterly *disgusting* Obama is? And, yes, it’s because he’s black. God, help us all."

Shortest Boycott Ever: Salvation Army Yanks "Ex-Gay" Groups From Website

Mere hours after Truth Wins Out called for boycotting the Salvation Army, the organization has removed the "ex-gay" groups listed on its website. From their letter to Truth Wins Out:

We sincerely appreciate you bringing this matter to our attention. As you know, The Salvation Army strives to live out our mission of meeting human need without discrimination. Our doors are always open to anyone who seeks our help, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation. We simply do not discriminate against the people we serve or the people we hire. We have removed the page of referrals for sexual addiction centers. Truthfully this was an old page that had been archived but was reposted when we launched our new website last month. We apologize for our oversight and any confusion this may have caused. The Salvation Army does not consider homosexual orientation a sin. Please know that we serve anyone who comes to our doors without discrimination.

Bolding is mine. Way to go, Truth Wins Out. Now...we wait for the sadz.

Truth Wins Out: Boycott Salvation Army

Via press release:

Truth Wins Out called on people today to withhold holiday donations from The Salvation Army until the organization removes all anti-LGBT materials from its website, starting with two “ex-gay” ministries that are listed as sexual addiction resources. “Don’t drop change in The Salvation Army’s bucket until it changes its website into a platform that doesn’t refer clients to dangerous groups that attempt to pray away the gay,” said Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen. “Ex-gay organizations are harmful, ineffective, and rejected by every mainstream mental health association in the world.”

The existence of this resource was surprising, considering that The Salvation Army’s public relations arm has launched a new campaign that portrays the organization as pro-LGBT. On its website is a page that “debunks the myth of LGBT discrimination.” According to the website: “For years, Facebook posts, forwarded emails and rumors have been leading some people to believe that The Salvation Army does not serve members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. These accusations simply aren’t true.” [snip]

“While we appreciate The Salvation Army’s recent outreach to the LGBT community, we won’t settle for cheap spin, we insist on substance,” said TWO’s Wayne Besen. “If The Salvation Army is truly committed to non-discrimination, it will immediately eliminate these “ex-gay” groups as resources, and scrub its entire website of all anti-gay materials.”

Read much more here.

About Those Totally Not-Gay Magnets

Truth Wins Out head Wayne Besen notes that the "magnets prove gay marriage is unnatural" crapola out of Nigeria actually started with the American "ex-gay" nutjob Richard "Tennis Racket" Cohen.

How do you know when your university has become an international punchline? When its star “scholar” is plagiarizing work from International Healing Foundation crackpot Richard Cohen. University of Lagos should immediately expel Amalaha for academic fraud. It should also strongly consider closing its doors, for the university has lost all respectability and credibility. If this is what University of Lagos is teaching students, the degree is essentially worthless.

Besen points out Cohen demonstrating his "magnet proof" in an excerpt from the 2009 documentary, Chasing The Devil.

LAUNCHED: The NALT Project

Via press release:

On Wednesday, Sept. 4, Christians everywhere will begin to rise up and proclaim their unconditional love and support for their gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family members. This new movement, inspired by Dan Savage’s “It Gets Better” project, encourages LGBT-affirming Christians to upload videos that unapologetically express their full acceptance of LGBT people. The NALT Christians Project, created by Christian author John Shore and Truth Wins Out, will be an online platform that directly challenges the idea that anti-gay Christians represent all or even most of the Christian faithful. The first two videos on the website are from author and advocate Dan Savage, and NALT co-founder John Shore and his wife Catherine.

The website has just gone live.

Quote Of The Day - Wayne Besen

"There was never going to be an actual ‘Ex-gay Pride Month’ because ex-gays are as rare as the Dodo bird. They simply could not find real ‘ex-gays’ to participate and had to cancel to save face. This was nothing but a desperate publicity stunt intended to revive a failing industry that has repeatedly embarrassed anti-gay organizations.  We challenge [Christopher] Doyle to come forward and release the names of LGBT activists and organizations that have allegedly jeopardized his organization’s security.  Until concrete allegations are made, we can only assume Dole is making an excuse for his organization’s abject failure to produce a viable Ex-Gay Pride Month event." - Truth Wins Out founder Wayne Besen, "laughing" at the yesterday's cancellation.

BREAKING: "Ex-Gay" Group Exodus International Announces It Will Shut Down

Following a lengthy apology from its head Alan Chambers, tonight the world's largest "ex-gay" organization, Exodus International, announced that it will shut down. Founded in 1976, at its peak Exodus had over 100 chapters in the United States and over 150 affiliates worldwide. From the group's website:

“Exodus is an institution in the conservative Christian world, but we’ve ceased to be a living, breathing organism,” said Alan Chambers, President of Exodus. “For quite some time we’ve been imprisoned in a worldview that’s neither honoring toward our fellow human beings, nor biblical.”

Chambers continued: “From a Judeo-Christian perspective, gay, straight or otherwise, we’re all prodigal sons and daughters. Exodus International is the prodigal’s older brother, trying to impose its will on God’s promises, and make judgments on who’s worthy of His Kingdom. God is calling us to be the Father – to welcome everyone, to love unhindered.”

For these reasons, the Board of Directors unanimously voted to close Exodus International and begin a separate ministry. “This is a new season of ministry, to a new generation,” said Chambers. “Our goals are to reduce fear (reducefear.org), and come alongside churches to become safe, welcoming, and mutually transforming communities.”

Truth Wins Out reacts:

Alan stated in his talk tonight that he doesn’t want to see another “ex-gay” organization fill the void left by Exodus’s closing, but called on the Church to actually become a safe place for gays and lesbians. Of course, the Restored Hope Network is having their conference in Oklahoma City, featuring the biggest quacks in the “ex-gay” industry, so they’ll fight tooth and nail to make sure that Alan’s vision of the Church being a loving place will never come to pass. Thus, our work must continue. Exodus was a large pillar in the “ex-gay” world, but this fight is far from over. We wish Alan Chambers all our best and look forward to a day when we can truly consider him an ally.

You can expect celebratory messages from anti-gay groups as Exodus has become one of their most hated enemies ever since Chambers began making conciliatory gestures towards the LBGT community that he so horribly hurt. It remains to be seen what this new "Reduce Fear" group is going to really be about.

Ex-Gay Poster Boy John Paulk Apologizes: I No Longer Support Ex-Gay Movement

John Paulk, the man many "credit" with launching the "ex-gay" movement in the United States, has apologized for his past and denounced the "ex-gay" industry.  From an interview with Portland's PQ Monthly:

"Until recently, I have struggled all my life in feeling unloved and unaccepted,” Paulk said. “I have been on a journey during the last few years in trying to understand God, myself, and how I can best relate to others. During this journey I have made many mistakes and I have hurt many people including people who are close to me. I have also found a large number of people who accept me for who I am regardless of my past, any labels, or what I do.”

Paulk continued, “I no longer support the ex-gay movement or efforts to attempt to change individuals — especially teens who already feel insecure and alienated. I feel great sorrow over the pain that has been caused when my words were misconstrued. I have worked at giving generously to the gay community in Portland where I work and live. I am working hard to be authentic and genuine in all of my relationships.”

Truth Wins Out provides some background on Paulk:

John Paulk was at one time the most well known and influential person in the “ex-gay” industry, appearing on the cover of Newsweek with his wife Anne in 1998 under the headline, “Gay For Life?” He was instrumental in forming the Love Won Out “ex-gay” roadshow, which subjected countless LGBT youth and their families to misinformation, indoctrination and lies, and which destroyed many families in the process. In 2000, Wayne Besen, founder of Truth Wins Out, photographed John Paulk coming out of a Washington, DC, gay bar, and the lies began to unravel. Though John resigned from the board of Exodus International following this incident, the Religious Right continued to use the Paulks’ story as evidence that the “ex-gay” life was a fairy tale rather than a nightmare, and many LGBT people and their families have been damaged or destroyed over the years as a result.

Truth Wins Out founder Wayne Besen says "not good enough."

"It is not enough to simply send an e-mail that says, ‘I’m sorry.’ John Paulk must work to atone for the damage he has done to LGBT families by taking a public role in renouncing and working against the harmful ‘ex-gay’ industry by embarking on a speaking tour to show that he truly has changed. Further, he should advocate for a bill in Oregon that would ban so-called ‘reparative therapy’ for minors. Only then can he start to repair the damage he has done to countless LGBT people and their families.”

RELATED: Last April I posted a report that Paulk's Facebook page was "littered with Glamor Shots-style images of Paulk and attractive men" and that his profile stated that he is "interested in women and men."

Wayne Besen Slams Porno Pete

"It appears that even this stalwart homo-hater, who slithers around gay porn palaces and scurries about licentious leather bars looking for smut to post on his prurient website, knows the end is near. It is clear that there is a shrinking market for professional gay bashers and one can only hope he polishes off his cracker-thin resume and finds a new gig before it is too late. Since he has so much experience visiting the tubs in Chicago, and is likely a familiar face, maybe they will be kind and offer him an exciting, new opportunity cleaning the cubicles." - Wayne Besen, head of Truth Wins Out, slamming Porno Pete's latest delirious screed. Suh-NAP.

Wayne Besen Vs Peter Sprigg

Today Truth Wins Out head Wayne Besen appeared on CNN to counter Family Research Council spokesdouche Peter Sprigg, who is ever so pissed about the Louie Giglio flap. Note that Sprigg doesn't attempt to deny his calls for the imprisonment and deportation of gay Americans.

UPDATE: Think Progress reporter Zack Ford reacts.

Jeremy Hooper is right to celebrate this as a victory for GLAAD’s Commentator Accountability Project, which seeks to expose the anti-LGBT records of conservative spokespeople whose positions are typically not given proper context by the news outlets that interview them. Sprigg’s presence on CNN is the quintessential example of this whitewashing, because as Besen pointed out, his positions are seemingly even more anti-LGBT than Pastor Giglio’s. Sprigg has proven time and time again that he does not even have the most basic understanding of sexuality but does have a significant antipathy toward the very existence of gays and lesbians. He has no authority to speak about LGBT issues, and CNN should learn from this interview not to provide a pedestal for his bigoted point of view again.

Wayne Besen Vs Michael Brown

Today David Pakman hosted Truth Wins Out founder Wayne Besen and anti-gay activist Michael Brown, who is part of a massive push by hate groups to force networks into banning Besen from their shows. Besen: "I'll tell you what, pal. Why don't you sue me? Because you are a liar and I'm calling you a liar. And if you think you can win in court, take me."

Hate Group Hypocrisy Of The Day

Remember back in the spring when GLAAD launched a campaign to inform the media about the incendiary rhetoric of the hate groups leaders regularly invited to appear on cable news? Remember how those targeted hate groups leaders screamed blue bloody murder in dozens of blog posts and press releases? "Freedom of speech! Religious liberty! Censorship! You hate Jeeeeeeeebussss!"

Well. Guess who is now doing the very thing that they all fucking screeched about exactly five months ago? Via press release from a literal who's who of hate groups:

In light of last week's attempted murder of employees at the Family Research Council (FRC), we pro-family organizations ask Fox News to discontinue guest appearances by homosexual agitator Wayne Besen on the popular O'Reilly Factor TV show.

Besen has a long history of slandering conservative groups and the ex-gay community in language that foments hatred and undermines civil discourse. t is time that the O'Reilly Factor cease using Besen as a guest commentator. Providing Besen with a forum lends credibility to his pernicious tactics and enables Besen to exploit his appearances for fundraising purposes.

When Fox News provides a forum to a radical homosexual activist known for employing inflammatory and hateful language in the service of promoting lies, the network becomes complicit in the damage done to the victims of Wayne Besen's and the SPLC's smear campaigns.

We ask the News Corporation, Fox News, and Bill O'Reilly to find more ethical spokespersons for the liberal view of sexuality. In their infamous Washington Post ad accusing FRC of hateful values, Besen and the SPLC claim that "words have consequences." Yes, they do. And Besen's may lead to violence.

Signing the above letter: Matt Barber, Mat Staver, Sally Kern, Peter LaBarbera, Linda Harvey, Scott Lively, Diane Gramley, Regina Griggs, Greg Quinlan, and several other hate group leaders. Sounds like I need to do another round of flashback quotes excerpting their own screams about "censorship." I'm sure Wayne Besen is falling the fuck out of his desk chair with laughter. I sure did.

Clinton Visits Uganda To Discuss U.S. Funding Of HIV/AIDS Program

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Uganda today to discuss U.S. funding to address that nation's burgeoning HIV/AIDS pandemic. Via White House press release:

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, joined by Uganda’s Minister of Health Dr. Christine Ondoa, on August 3, 2012, in Kampala, Uganda, highlighted the additional $25 million the U.S. government recently committed to help Uganda eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The U.S. government seeks to ensure that HIV-positive pregnant women receive the treatment they need to protect themselves their partners, and prevent their babies becoming HIV positive. With a population of 32 million and the world’s second-highest fertility rate, Uganda faces growing demand for health services. Uganda is among the top-five highest burden countries, contributing to seven percent of the global unmet need for PMTCT services, with more than 100,000 HIV-exposed babies born each year. HIV prevalence in Uganda rose from 6.4 percent in 2005 to 7.3 percent in 2011, with more than 120,000 new infections each year.

RELATED: Today Truth Wins Out founder Wayne Besen today issued a statement declaring that Uganda's surging HIV/AIDS rate can be directly traced to the work of American evangelicals who have deluged the impoverished nation with anti-gay and pro-abstinence messages. An excerpt:

“Uganda was the laboratory for evangelical polices on sex education and their risky experiment has blown up in their faces. What American ideologues have foisted on the Ugandan people is unforgivable and has caused an enormous amount of pain and suffering,” said Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director Wayne Besen. “By replacing sound science with their version of scripture, the American interlopers badly exacerbated the problem. They ought to feel deeply ashamed and stop interfering in a country where they have already done an staggering amount of damage.”

NOTE: Uganda's "kill the gays" bill, which came to be in 2009 with the help of U.S.-based evangelicals, was reintroduced in the national parliament earlier this year and remains pending. Some activists have called for ending foreign aid to Uganda should the bill ever pass.

Former Exodus Head To Divorce Wife

Back in April I reported that former Exodus International chairman John Paulk had made some interesting changes to his Facebook profile. Yesterday Truth Wins Out took the story further:

“Ex-gay” poster couple John and Anne Paulk may be Splitsville. Sources tell Truth Wins Out today that John has moved out of the couple’s Portland, Oregon home. Other sources in Portland have informed Truth Wins Out that Paulk was dating a man, although the current status of that relationship remains murky, and that Paulk has frequented homosexual establishments in the city. Speculation on the status of their relationship was heightened today after TWO spotted a cryptic status message posted by John Paulk on his business’s Facebook page:

“After a lifetime of heartache, July 19, 1992 [the date he married Anne] was the happiest day of my life. I will never forget it… It is emblazoned in my memory. And although a lot has occurred since that day long ago and I am on a hard journey right now, i want this woman to know how much she has always meant to me and that no matter where things pan out… I always will love you.”

You may recall that years ago TWO founder Wayne Besen photographed Paulk fleeing a DC gay bar where he'd been chatting up patrons. Paulk later claimed that he'd only been in the bar to use the bathroom. (And buy a couple rounds for the hotties.) Besen notes that Paulk spoke at an Exodus event as recently as two years ago. Besen is calling for Paulk to apologize to the LGBT community.

Richard Socarides And Wayne Besen Discuss Marriage Equality And SCOTUS

Wayne Besen Interviews Former "Ex-Gay" Researcher Dr. Robert Spitzer

Truth Wins Out founder Wayne Besen sends us his interview with Dr. Robert Spitzer, who earlier this month renounced his own study claiming that people can change their sexual attractions. Spitzer's now worthless study continues to be cited by hate groups and the enemies of civil equality.

Federal Court Dismisses Libel Suit Against PFOX "Ex-Gay" Activist Greg Quinlan

After wacko "ex-gay" weirdo Greg Quinlan told a live television audience that Truth Wins Out founder Wayne Besen had threatened to "inject him with AIDS," Besen sued him for libel when Quinlan refused to retract his statement. That suit was thrown out this week by a federal judge.

Although Besen argued the contrary, Hudson found that Besen qualifies as a public figure as a chief spokesman for a nonprofit advocacy group. The judge noted that "plaintiff recognizes the public 'dispute,' in which both he and defendant Quinlan are actively involved, concerning the question of whether one's 'sexual orientation can be changed.'" "As a public figure, plaintiff must show that the allegedly defamatory statements were made with knowing falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth," Hudson wrote. "'Reckless conduct is not measured by whether a reasonably prudent man would have published, or would have investigated before publishing. There must be sufficient evidence to permit the conclusion that the defendant in fact entertained serious doubts as to the truth of his publication.' As the Fourth Circuit has observed, 'establishing actual malice is no easy task, because the defamation plaintiff bears the burden of proof by clear and convincing evidence."

Quinlan also heads the New Jersey Family Policy Council and testified before the state legislature in opposition to same-sex marriage.

RELATED: After a brief marriage characterized by triumphant press releases, in 2008 Quinlan was divorced by his pretend wife, who presumably was sick and tired of never getting fucked. Quinlan likes to brag about what a butch stud he was, even when he was still taking cock up his ass:

“I wasn’t your flaming faggot, you know. I can say that because I’ve been there and done that. You know, the one’s whose wrists are so limp that when the wind blows they slap themselves in the face. I wasn’t one of them,” Quinlan said, as the small audience chuckled.

Has Another "Ex-Gay" Given Up?

You may remember John Paulk as the nationally infamous "ex-gay" activist once touted on the cover of Newsweek as the poster boy and chairman for Exodus International. Paulk was chased out of the organization some time later after activist Wayne Besen accosted him in a DC gay bar, where Paulk claimed he had only dropped in to get directions on how to get away from there. Or something.

This week it was noticed that Paulk, now the owner of a Portland, Oregon catering company, lists himself as "interested in men and women" on his Facebook page, which is littered with Glamor Shots-style images of Paulk and attractive men. Hello. Besen's own organization, Truth Wins Out, was named in response to Love Wins Out, an "ex-gay" advocacy group founded by Paulk. In response to Paulk's Facebook page, yesterday Besen asked: "What would James Dobson say?"