Many companies have diversity sites on their corporate Intranet that perpetuate common myths about homosexuality, including the myth that 10% of the population is gay and the myth that homosexuality is an innate identity issue that cannot be changed. And of course, anyone who thinks it is wrong has the dread mental illness of homophobia (there couldn’t possibly be some rational reason for opposing homosexual activity – must be mental illness!). Such misinformation should be offensive not only to Christians, Muslims, Jews, and others who have moral views on the matter, but it must be terribly offensive to ex-gays themselves who are essentially told that they don’t exist – and certainly don’t count.

I attended a corporate diversity session featuring a highly paid gay activist who, in response to a question I asked about Dr. Robert Spitzer’s research on successful treatment for some homosexuals, essentially denied that they exist. Such a thing simply could not happen, he insisted – if they were really gay, they will always be gay, though they might “fool” themselves temporarily into thinking otherwise. But real ex-homosexuals just don’t exist, he said, and a “cure” is impossible.

Hey, how about a little tolerance for ex-homosexuals? Why not begin with, say, a simple recognition that they do exist? How can we look them in the eye and tell them that they are liars and frauds because what they stand for challenges a myth someone wants to believe in, a myth that justifies behavior that can be controlled and even changed?

This is a widespread form of discrimination. For example, the PTA warmly accepts pro-gay groups and allows them to have exhibits at their conventions, but a group of ex-homosexuals seeking the same privilege were shunned, according to a recent article at WorldNetDaily. The idea that there are ex-gays apparently must be hidden from students and educators.

To learn more about the reality of ex-homosexuals, I recommend the DVD, “I Do Exist” from Warren Throckmorton. Also see the excellent Website, People Can Change. Summaries of related information is on my page, “Homosexuality: Seeing Past the Propaganda.”

It’s one thing to believe that somebody is doing something wrong. That’s not necessarily hateful or discriminatory, though none of us likes others to disagree with our behavior. It’s quite another thing to deny the very existence and integrity of those who have overcome a behavior they wanted to change. The first is a matter of personal values. The second is just being ugly.