Former Ex-Gay Superstar Finally Renounces His Ex-Gay Past

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 4/18/13 at 3:05pm

“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.”

While John Paulk is to be commended, after so many years, for finally being honest, Truth Wins Out believes much more needs to be done. According to Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen, “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.”

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 Updated On: 4/18/13 at 03:05 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 4/18/13 at 3:09pm

Thought this was going to be about Barry Manilow. I totally misread the title.

Updated On: 4/18/13 at 03:09 PM

[WOSQ]

Posted: 4/18/13 at 3:24pm

I was thinking Travolta, but yeah...

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/18/13 at 3:30pm

"I feel great sorrow over the pain that has been caused when my words were misconstrued."

No, Mare, they weren't "misconstrued," they were construed. Maybe when he can say that he is personally sorry for the pain he personally caused and the psychic damage he personally did to others, he can begin the process of making amends.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 4/18/13 at 3:35pm

This glamour shot is giving me life.



Updated On: 4/18/13 at 03:35 PM

[SNAFU]

Posted: 4/18/13 at 3:46pm

Is it wrong to wish someone to burn in Hell while they are still alive?

[Roscoe]

Posted: 4/18/13 at 3:47pm

Let him be shunned by all self-respecting gay men and women for the rest of his pathetic life. Let him die un-laid.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 4/18/13 at 3:52pm

I'd say the odds of that are decent since he looks like a retired lesbian tennis player.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/18/13 at 4:05pm

Billie Jean King responds to SonofRobbieJ



"I cry 'Foul!'"

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/18/13 at 4:16pm

Wow, Elton and BJ are morphing into one. Philadelphia freedom took me knee-high to a man.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 4/18/13 at 4:17pm

Game, set and match to FindingNamo.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/18/13 at 4:26pm

Which one is wearing lipstick?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/18/13 at 4:42pm

It's like post-surgery Liberace and Scott Thorson!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 4/18/13 at 4:54pm

Billie Jean is not his lover!