Turning a gay teen straight ... on "Good Morning America"- Page 2

[TVBoy]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 1:47am

ok... I was finished with you, then you took it to a different level. I think you advanced a simple issue into a complex one. I also believe your concern is misplaced. Rather than mis-blame the television network for a promo (which is not fictional, they are only stating the basics of the story, which I will get to), maybe you should take your campaign to the root of the problem --the controversial church mentioned in the promo.

Let's break down the promo, because, forgive me, I don't see any negativity...

-Coming up next on Good Morning America...

-Can you turn a gay teen straight? (Notice it's asking a question with the word "CAN." It's not saying a gay teen WILL turn straight.)

-One controversial church group says it can---with prayer. (Notice the use of the word "controversial," meaning it's not mainstream. Also, the promo says the group "says," attributing the information back to the "controversial" church.)

-Is it possible? (The promo isn't saying it IS possible. It means they are going to address the issue, probably from both sides.)

-The SURPRISING story you'll be talking about all day---
Only on Good Morning America... next!

I don't think this promo, which has not been airing all week, will do any damage.

Updated On: 7/28/05 at 01:47 AM

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 2:04am

Well, tell me how it goes too, because I ain't hauling my ass out of bed early just to listen to complete garbage.

"And I clearly remember like a crowd of people and some people held up signs "GAYS BURN IN HELL." I don't know remember how that related too the program."

Ah, you're referring to the Westboro Baptist Church (their term, not mine. I would personally call them more of a "blatant hate group.").

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 2:05am

Imagine my surprise, I thought I was finished with you too. But you know what it's never finished. It's just dormant. Bubbling under the surface. And the moment someone pops up and says I'm on your side but acts differently, I will be back.
----------------------------------
Westboro Baptist Church. This is the web page of this church, www.godhatesfags.com. Unbelievable! Updated On: 7/28/05 at 02:05 AM

[TVBoy]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 2:13am

It's definitely a debate that will continue -- on tomorrow's "Good Morning America." :)

"And the moment someone pops up and says I'm on your side but acts differently, I will be back." I think that's great, but going to the root of the problem, instead of ranting on BWW and misblaming others, would prove much more beneficial.

Updated On: 7/28/05 at 02:13 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 2:27am

Okay that site scares me, a lot. I must stay off that page.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 2:57am

good boy, ljay!

[Marquise]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 3:22am

i'm hungry. . .

[Forester]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 7:18am

"Can you make a Black man white?"
Michael Jackson

:) :) :)

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 8:53am

I saw this commercial last night and thought it sounded horrible. Aren't we at war? Isn't there something more important they could be devoting time to?

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 9:44am

Did anyone watch the spot? I meant to set my DVR to record it but I got sidetracked. UGH! I really wanted to see this...

[Jess1483]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 9:50am

It hasn't aired yet where I live, I saw a "Coming up on Good Morning..." and the anchor said something about the boy that's putting stuff out on the internet calling for help, and two teens who "have a different story." Sounds to me like they're going to do both sides of the story...
I do plan on watching it (although I do need to go to work) so I'll report back.

[KelRel]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 9:53am

Has anyone seen Saved!? It had a camp like that on there and the gay boy they sent there to be "turned straight" was gay when he left, but now he had a church supplied boyfriend.

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 10:03am

This kinda makes me angry. I mean I have a ton of gay friends and family members but being a straight guy I don't understand the big deal just because they don't have the same sexual prefrence doesn't mean that they are and different then you and I. And it makes me sick that some people would say that gays should burn in hell and stuff like that, They just dont understand anything.

[Jess1483]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 10:15am

Homosexuality is an addictive disease?? (The "church" says that)
They had a doctor on that said the program was very dangerous.

The two boys that were on both made a choice to be there, as opposed to the first boy (with the blog.) One thinks it's a horrible "program" and the other liked it and works for them. (The program doesn't change attraction, it changes behavior says that one.)

He also claims that they treat the people who want to be there (not who are forced.)But "respect the parents' responsibilities" to have the children there but they don't have locks on the doors or guards so they can leave when they want. The other boy brought up the point that financially they have no choice.

The 65% success rate? The boy who went and didn't like it said that's a lie.

The anchor (I don't know her name) is certainly on the side of the boy who thought it was a horrible program. All in all, a pretty fair report. They said they're going to hear more tomorrow from the boy with the blog who is going to be released today (or maybe tomorrow.)

Sorry if that didn't make a ton of sense. I was taking notes while watching and trying to get ready for work.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 10:44am

Salon did a story on this (A series actually) (The graphic in Chita's post is from that coverage) and among the many many interesting issues raised- the "Program" could not provide any "Ex-gay" who was not on the payroll of an "Ex-Gay organization."

[ConvinceMe2]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:00am

Bet I could turn those "ex-gays" gay again!!!!

Updated On: 7/28/05 at 11:00 AM

[lildogs]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:19am

The Sunday Times ran a huge article on this kid (Zach) who was going into this place (Love in Action I think) which is run by an ex-gay who said that of the 11 kids who went through the program, 8 of them returned to being gay. So if I'm right the kid on GMA was probably this kid and the 65% rate is WAY off...

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:29am

I think the problem with that sort of advertising and even this sort of news story is that it gives legitimacy to that sort of thinking;

Exactly, Penguin. That was my original point: would Good Morning America ever do a program with a tagline, "Can you turn all Jews Christian? One controversial church group says it can! Is it possible?"

Having said that, from Jess' description (thank you, Jess!) it seems the news department actually reported with some journalistic integrity -- maybe the doubts brought up by their report will steer parents away from sending their kids to be "reprogrammed."

(TVBoy and Chita, please don't fight -- you both are intelligent posters with very valid points, don't let it descend into ranting.)

[M J R]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:41am

I'm all for everyone having their Julia Sugarbaker rants, but why don't we all wait for the piece to run first and then we'd have more to comment on instead of speculating.

To those who keep asking "can you turn a _______ person into a _______ person" - that mentality will never work on Bible belt America. While you and I know that being gay is not a choice, MILLIONS of people across this country vehimently disagree, and will not be convinced otherwise.

At the end of the day, I SPECULATE that this piece will probably end up making the "reformists" look like idiots...

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:42am

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:48am

LOL That was good Diva :P

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:58am

LMAO Diva!

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:13pm

Here's two articles on this from GMA:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Health/story?id=983209&page=1

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=878912&page=1

[eyeonbroadway]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:51pm

Ok, help me with this concept. I don't know what "ex-gay" means. I don't understand the point of changing behavior, not attraction. Isn't that the same as "stuffing back in the closet"? Pretend you're straight so you can get along in our intolerant society? This is appalling on so many levels...

[The Grovers Corners Yenta]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:56pm

Ok, I am a straight woman. My question is how does one change what G-d created in the first place? I mean, G-d created straight, gay, bi etc. I didn't realize that there were people who were more powerful than G-d. And just for the record, you can change someone who is black to white..........Michael Jackson.