The interdenominational Christian organisation Exodus International that sought to cure gay people of their homosexual desires has shut up shop after 37 years.
In an open letter to the LBGT community, founder Alan Chambers has apologised for the pain and hurt inflicted on people over nearly four decades saying that the group had “been imprisoned in a worldview that’s neither honoring toward our fellow human beings, nor biblical.”
There were several years that I conveniently omitted my ongoing same-sex attractions. I was afraid to share them as readily and easily as I do today. They brought me tremendous shame and I hid them in the hopes they would go away. Looking back, it seems so odd that I thought I could do something to make them stop. Today, however, I accept these feelings as parts of my life that will likely always be there. The days of feeling shame over being human in that way are long over, and I feel free simply accepting myself as my wife and family does. As my friends do. As God does.
I am sorry (Alan Chambers, Exodus International)
Closing time: “Ex-gay” group realizes they’re wrong (GLAAD)