The tragedy isn’t that their are just many unsuccessful stories, it is that the Ex-Ex Gay people in these stories were hurt so much, emotionally and physically – granted, most of the hurt was unintentional, but it was still there. Story after story of young kids being forced into change camps by parents, or of adults wanting to change and not being able to, finally being led to suicidal and destructive thoughts. Many of these people have not only left Ex-Gay programs, they left the Church as well. If Reparative Therapy wants to continue to exist it must stop being used as a political tool, and the people who push it must not force anyone, old OR young, into such situations.

We would include as a “success story” anyone who actually achieved what they genuinely wanted.

If complete celibacy, for life, was their aim; and (at least so far) they’ve happily stuck to that — then, well, bully for them.

We can name a few (heterosexual) priests that seem perfectly content with that choice for their life.

Leaving aside the issue of blatant lies etc…

It’s the “I am (at least publically) doing it — so can/should/must you be the same” that I have a problem with. Particularly if they look for the law to help impose that on others.

In many cases, that sounds less like success and more like a desperate clutching for affirmation. And very intrusive. And none of their business.

I’ve heard stories from both sides. One needs to be smart about these things. the religious right will try to trump up the success stories, whereas gay activists love to up-play the unsuccessful stories. One may never know the objective truth.

As for many people with SSA being bisexual, I would extend that statement to ALL people, not just those with SSA. A lot of people, I believe, are bisexual to varying degrees. Only some appear to be truly exclusively straight or gay.

That said, psychosocial factors may dicate which side of Bi a person ends up on. For instance, a distant father, smothering mother may very well push boy with bisexual potential towards the gay side, and some sort of psychological therapy may be able to bring him back (if that is what he desires as an adult).

That said, one cannot deny that there are congenital versions of homo and heterosexuality–that is, the orientation is present, and quite obvious, at a very young age.

Going back to the exgay success stories: I truly believe many of the authentic success stories were bisexuals who fell on the gay side of the train tracks, and were somehow able to come back to the straight side through some sort of counseling.

Ariel