THIS BLOG IS A HATE FREE ZONE

This weekend, Love Won Out, a Focus on the Family-sponsored group, held a conference in Indian Wells to encourage parents of gay children, or those who believe their children might be gay, to send their children to “gay conversion therapy" camps and programs. The group claims that theirs is a "dynamic one-day conference on homosexuality that balances truth-in-love with grace and compassion."

What they really mean is that they preach that being gay/lesbian/bi/trans is a sinful disease that thoughtful prayer and guidance can cure. To prove their point, in addition to the "experts" (including Anne Heche's mother) they have reformed homosexuals give their holy testimony of their conversion from the gay lifestyle to God's path. You know, I'm ex-gay and you can be too. One of the speakers, get this, wrote a book entitled A Parent's Guide to Preventing Homosexuality.

The straight and gay residents of the Coachella Valley, of which I am one, are collectively offended and outraged by this message. This community thrives because of the richness of diversity of its residents. It is the obligation of those of us in faith-based fellowships to do more to combat the hate, blame, and intolerance of the antiquated, neoconservative rhetoric of groups like Focus on the Family. We need to do more, especially to provide unconditional support for our gay youth, who have to face this kind of crap every day, on top of body image and peer pressure and everything else that makes it hard enough to be a teenager.

We need our neighbors to know, our coworkers to know, our local city leaders to know, and everyone else that comes here to enjoy all that the valley has to offer to know that here, this shit won't fly.

Being gay and being spiritual are not mutually exclusive concepts.

UPDATE: For excellent coverage on this very important issue, please visit Ex-Gay Watch.