The real story behind “ex-gay” ministries and reparative therapy!

Nationally known activist Wayne Besen spent four years examining the phenomenon of “ex-gay” ministries and reparative therapies—interviewing leaders, attending conferences, and visiting ministries undercover as he accumulated hundreds of hours of research. The result is Anything but Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth, a groundbreaking exposé of the controversial movement that's revered by independent religious groups and reviled by gay and lesbian organizations. The book presents a historical perspective on the dispute, examining “ex-gay” groups such as Love In Action, Exodus International, Homosexuals Anonymous, and profiling a cast of characters that includes Pat Robertson, the Rev. Jerry Falwell, “ex-gay” poster boy John Paulk, National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality activist Richard Cohen, and psychiatrist Dr. Robert Spitzer.

Joretta Marshall writes this book not only for pastoral caregivers, but also for the general public. She clearly defines words such as lesbian, homosexuality, heterosexism, sexism and identity. This book is a wonderful introduction for how the wider public can best relate to and affirm women who are in covenantal partnerships with other women. She also emphasizes the crucial importance of the role that pastoral caregivers play in counseling women in lesbian relationships. It is imperative, she says, that pastoral caregivers affirm lesbians in their relationships as well as challenge institutions, such as the church, to accept and affirm the relationships that women have with women.

(Review by Camille Reeves at Amazon.com)