NationStates Jolt Archive

Ex-Homosexual Ministry Leader: Brokeback Mountain May Be Tip of the Iceberg

By Allie Martin
January 25, 2006

(AgapePress) - A former homosexual who now heads an international Christian ministry to individuals affected by homosexuality says movies such as the much touted mainstream media darling Brokeback Mountain are sending the wrong message to Americans about culture and sexuality.

Alan Chambers is president of Exodus Global Alliance, an organization that includes the largest evangelical network of former homosexuals and that promotes the message to people struggling with unwanted same-sex desire that change from homosexuality is possible through the power of Jesus Christ. But while Exodus is offering hope based on scriptural truth, the ministry leader contends that movies like the homosexual "romance" Brokeback Mountain are fostering confusion and desperation.

"They don't point to the truth that homosexuality is a very difficult lifestyle," Chambers says. "It's one full of desperation and devastation and heartache. And the great thing is there are men and women who have overcome that lifestyle. That's something I wish was more talked about in the mainstream media."

It comes as no surprise to Chambers that the highly publicized film about two male sheepherders who meet and carry on an adulterous homosexual affair across 20 years has received four Golden Globes and was also named the Best Picture of 2005 by the Producers Guild of America. Brokeback Mountain is also being called a likely Oscar contender, and mainstream film critics have lavished the film with praise.

The president of Exodus Global Alliance expects the film -- sometimes casually dubbed the "gay cowboy movie" in the press -- will usher in similar homosexually-themed projects. He says Hollywood will doubtless continue to push the boundaries of decency, and "certainly, we'll see movies that I think will cause Brokeback Mountain to pale in comparison to what might come down the pike."

Christians can and must fight back, Chambers asserts. "We in the evangelical community, the Christian community, even the pro-family community need to come out and support the movies that are family-friendly by going to see them," he says. "And we need to tell Hollywood that we don't want the others by sending the message that we're not going to pay for this, and we're not going to support it, and we're not going to allow you to bring it into our communities."

Exodus Global Alliance, formerly known as Exodus International, has been in existence for 30 years and serves more than 400,000 people who contact the ministry for help each year. As the largest evangelical organization dealing with homosexual issues in the world today, Exodus is composed of more than 125 professional mental health and church-based member agencies across North America. Its expanding worldwide network of former homosexuals is made up of individuals who are dedicated to sharing the transforming power of Jesus Christ with those affected by unwanted same-sex attractions.

Today Alan Chambers, who left the homosexual lifestyle in 1991, is married with two children. In addition to serving as president of Exodus Global Alliance, he is a guest speaker for Focus on the Family’s Love Won Out Conference, a seminar that travels to six major cities each year to help participants gain understanding about the roots, causes, and social and spiritual implications of homosexuality.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hmmm, something tell me this guy doesn't like homosexuality. Go figure

source:http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/1/252006f.asp

You would have no idea how much I wanted to say something about this a few days ago when the movie was released at our theatre. So many upper-class elitist-bred JOCO bitches come in to see it because they heard it's "artsy" or "edgy", and apparently missed the whole Gay Cowboy-ness of it all (or at least, the gay part), then get all pissy that we dare show such a thing. Hell, I was at the Service counter awhile back and somebody stormed over, told me I personally was going to Hell over that movie (even though I'm fairly sure I had nothing to do with it), and left in an awful hurry.

The disillusioned Christians will always find something to complain about, usually as loudly as possible, and with the hopes that they ruin at least 6 other peoples' day in the process.

"They don't point to the truth that homosexuality is a very difficult lifestyle," Chambers says. "It's one full of desperation and devastation and heartache."
That quote shows that this guy hasn't seen the movie--the entire film s centered around the desperation and heartache of being in a gay relationship when society will do more than just ostracize you for it. That's not what he's talking about of course, because he would no doubt applaud what happens to Jack Twist at the end of the film, but the film in no way makes it look like being gay is a happyhappyjoyjoy way of life.

Simonist']You would have no idea how much I wanted to say something about this a few days ago when the movie was released at our theatre. So many upper-class elitist-bred JOCO bitches come in to see it because they heard it's "artsy" or "edgy", and apparently missed the whole Gay Cowboy-ness of it all (or at least, the gay part), then get all pissy that we dare show such a thing. Hell, I was at the Service counter awhile back and somebody stormed over, told me I personally was going to Hell over that movie (even though I'm fairly sure I had nothing to do with it), and left in an awful hurry.

The disillusioned Christians will always find something to complain about, usually as loudly as possible, and with the hopes that they ruin at least 6 other peoples' day in the process.
What does JOCO mean?

How the hell can they miss the fact that it's a gay cowboy movie? The first time and every subsequent time I heard about that movie the "gay cowboy" angle was stressed. FFS, the gay relationship is central to the plot!

What does JOCO mean?
Local slang. Sorry, I slipped. It used to be short for Johnson County (the "rich" county which I'm *ahem* "proudly" a resident of), but in the past five or six years I've heard people all over the tri-state area use it in a derogatory sense for the quitnessential rich snobs.....reflects poorly upon people like me.

How the hell can they miss the fact that it's a gay cowboy movie? The first time and every subsequent time I heard about that movie the "gay cowboy" angle was stressed. FFS, the gay relationship is central to the plot!
Yeah, that's, um......that's the part that confuses me. The other day we were talking about one (my boyfriend experienced her, not me) who had said that it wasn't the gay themes that bothered her, and it wasn't the cheating or anything else.....it was the one real gay scene they had. Apparently it ruined the movie-going experience for her.

On the other hand, lots of young girls are doing their best to get into this movie to see Ledger and Gyllenhaal nekkid.

Simonist']

On the other hand, lots of young girls are doing their best to get into this movie to see Ledger and Gyllenhaal nekkid. and myself *drool*

The reaction of religious types to the movie is hardly surprising. If they want to waste their time complaining about non-problems instead of making worthwhile use of their lives, not much we can do about it.

*sigh* How can people born with healthy human brains make such poor use of them?
Are you talking to me?

Are you talking to me?

Nah. I realised I wasn't being clear, so I edited my post.

1. gay men exist
2. occasionally, hetersexual men engage in gay behavior (me, for one)
3. Hollywood makes movies about topics they feel audiences may find interesting.


Conclusion: It's just a movie. It's not the vehicle by which the entire world view on homosexuality will be forever altered.

A former homosexual

Oh, please. Once you go gay, you never stray.

A former homosexual

Oh, please. Once you go gay, you never stray.

True enough. But I'm satisfied just watching men in action a couple of feet away from me.

Maybe it's because I have hemorrhoids now, and I know how much it would hurt.

Maybe it's because I have hemorrhoids now, and I know how much it would hurt.

There is help to get (surgery, creams, rubber bands). And if you think all gay men do is fuck each other up the ass, then you know very little about gay sex indeed.

A former homosexual

Oh, please. Once you go gay, you never stray.

But do people "go gay", or are they always that way?

Simonist']<snip>

On the other hand, lots of young girls are doing their best to get into this movie to see Ledger and Gyllenhaal nekkid.
Can't blame them I guess. I bought a copy of "Secretary" to see his sister naked.

But do people "go gay", or are they always that way?

It's a sarcastic expression. People are gay. That's the point of "once you go gay, you never stray." I.e. you are gay forever. If you could "go gay" then you could "go straight," which you can't, because you "never stray." *sigh* :rolleyes:

It's a sarcastic expression. People are gay. That's the point of "once you go gay, you never stray." I.e. you are gay forever. If you could "go gay" then you could "go straight," which you can't, because you "never stray." *sigh* :rolleyes:

I tend not to think of it that way. I think of it as, "I would like to have sex with him, so I do" and "I would like to have sex with her, so I do".

Specialization is for insects.

I tend not to think of it that way. I think of it as, "I would like to have sex with him, so I do" and "I would like to have sex with her, so I do".

Specialization is for insects.

I couldnt agree more:)

I couldnt agree more:)
The problem is getting them to hold still.

I tend not to think of it that way. I think of it as, "I would like to have sex with him, so I do" and "I would like to have sex with her, so I do".

I'm sorry but claims about your person, or well anything by you, is nothing I add credulity to since the plagiarism incident, so, I just won't be commenting your claims of sexuality here, especially after you showed such ignorance about gay sex as to allude to haemorrhoids holding you back.

I'm sorry but claims about your person, or well anything by you, is nothing I add credulity to since the plagiarism incident, so, I just won't be commenting your claims of sexuality here, especially after you showed such ignorance about gay sex as to allude to haemorrhoids holding you back.
Come to the US and I'll show you.

Come to the US and I'll show you.

I boycott US travel at the moment, as I feel no confidence that I would have any rights as a person there any more. Not that it would take anything away in the form of "cockamaiminess" from the haemorrhoid comment.

I boycott US travel at the moment, as I feel no confidence that I would have any rights as a person there any more. Not that it would take anything away in the form of "cockamaiminess" from the haemorrhoid comment.
If you've ever tried anal sex when you have fissures (which I have), you would know differently.

If you've ever tried anal sex when you have fissures (which I have), you would know differently.

And, again, if you think anal sex is all there is to gay sex, then you know very little about gay sex, indeed. Hence my not really having any inkling to believe that you do, in light of your previous deceptions.

And, again, if you think anal sex is all there is to gay sex, then you know very little about gay sex, indeed. Hence my not really having any inkling to believe that you do, in light of your previous deceptions.
I never said it was all there was to it - I'm saying it's the part I prefer.

It's a sarcastic expression. People are gay. That's the point of "once you go gay, you never stray." I.e. you are gay forever. If you could "go gay" then you could "go straight," which you can't, because you "never stray." *sigh* :rolleyes:

Yeah, but surely the phrase is a reference to similar phrases that describe preferences that are changes from a previous state. By using a modified form, you are implying that one can undergoing a similar transformation with respect to sexuality.

Tempted to sigh and roll eyes right back at you, but I feel no compulsion to make a childish display of assumed superior intelligence.

Yeah, but surely the phrase is a reference to similar phrases that describe preferences that are changes from a previous state. By using a modified form, you are implying that one can undergoing a similar transformation with respect to sexuality.

You didn't get the "sarcastic comment" part, did you?

Tempted to sigh and roll eyes right back at you, but I feel no compulsion to make a childish display of assumed superior intelligence.

Yes, you fail to do so because of a lack of "compulsion." Sure.

Tempted to sigh and roll eyes right back at you, but I feel no compulsion to make a childish display of assumed superior intelligence.
See now, if you'd really wanted to do that without the "childish display" you seem so against, you would've said something more like "but I don't feel like pretending to be a smart-ass intellectual punk". Instead, your word choice works entirely against you in this case -- you're playing right into Fass' capable hands, my friend. Chances are he'll just chuckle and brush you away like an unwanted fly...

You didn't get the "sarcastic comment" part, did you?
Oh, that sarcastic. The one that means "logically flawed" in a way that causes it to give a different impression from what it's supposed to mean. There I was, thinking that sarcasm was a kind of disparaging irony. Whoops!

I'm surprised nobody brought up Larry H. Miller of Utah.
By the way, I think he made a good choice banning that movie from his theaters. As a business venture, it's simply genius in a mostly mormon place. Now people are coming to his theater out of principle.

Oh, that sarcastic. The one that means "logically flawed" in a way that causes it to give a different impression from what it's supposed to mean.

There I was, thinking that sarcasm was a kind of disparaging irony. Whoops!

The sort of "sarcastic" that lies in using the ex gay persons' own terminology to mock them. You know, the sort of sarcastic that "is an intentional infliction of pain by deriding, taunting, or ridiculing through the use of satirical language."

You know, the exact kind of sarcasm you fail at.

I'm surprised nobody brought up Larry H. Miller of Utah.
By the way, I think he made a good choice banning that movie from his theaters. As a business venture, it's simply genius in a mostly mormon place. Now people are coming to his theater out of principle.
By the same token, he drove away some pretty loyal customers. If he hadn't cancelled, the chances of a successful boycott, when the plan from the religious right has so far been "ignore it and it'll go away," were slim and certainly short-term. But now he's pissed off the activists (and there are a surprisingly large number of them in Salt Lake City, believe it or not), and they have long memories.

Besides, the film's still making three grand a screen, way more than most other films, even new releases.

The sort of "sarcastic" that lies in using the ex gay persons' own terminology to mock them. You know, the sort of sarcastic that "is an intentional infliction of pain by deriding, taunting, or ridiculing through the use of satirical language."

You know, the exact kind of sarcasm you fail at.

I didn't see any use of "going <adjective>" or "straying" in the article. Perhaps you refer to the terminology you would expect him to use.

I didn't see any use of "going <adjective>" or "straying" in the article. Perhaps you refer to the terminology you would expect him to use.

Your ignorance of the language used by this group I am familiar with, as, well, they are infamous for having their leaders "relapse into homosexuality" in several public ways, is of no consequence to me, or the comment itself.

Your ignorance of the language used by this group I am familiar with, as, well, they are infamous for having their leaders "relapse into homosexuality" in several public ways, is of no consequence to me, or the comment itself.

Aw, how am I going to continue this virtual bitch-slap-fight if you won't make any assertions for me to criticize trivial parts of using flawed logic?

Aw, how am I going to continue this virtual bitch-slap-fight if you won't make any assertions for me to criticize trivial parts of using flawed logic?

No need to quit. If your failure didn't stop you several posts ago, there is no reason it should do so now.

No need to quit. If your failure didn't stop you several posts ago, there is no reason it should do so now.

Ok. What did I fail at? I wasn't paying attention. If I failed at pissing you off, then I'm glad because I never really intend to do that, even if I do take a joke too far.

Hmm. Dare I submit myself to another round of verbal abuse at the hands of this ol' boards Promosexual populus?

To speak, or not to speak. That is the question...

Fass, you ain't helpinng, move along there's nothing to see here.

Promosexual populus?

People who have sex at promotional presentations? Now that's a moral issue for today!

People who have sex at promotional presentations? Now that's a moral issue for today!

Hah! No, it's word I invented on another thread and I'm subtley trying to force it into circulation. It refers to Pro-Homosexuals - both homosexuals and people who are not homosexuals, but who ascribe to the increasingly militant gay rights movements.

"They don't point to the truth that homosexuality is a very difficult lifestyle," Chambers says. "It's one full of desperation and devastation and heartache.

Gay people dont have a monopaly on thouse things. Im strait and my life is full desperation, devistation and heartache.

Hah! No, it's w word I invented on another thread and I'm subtley trying to force it into circulation. It refers to Pro-Homosexuals - both homosexuals and people who are not homosexuals, but who ascribe to the increasingly militant gay rights movements.

Oh, you mean people who haven't been indoctrinated with religion from a young age. Right right.

It refers to Pro-Homosexuals - both homosexuals and people who are not homosexuals, but who ascribe to the increasingly militant gay rights movements.

If that's what it means, then I shall wear it proudly, for I am indeed pro-gay rights. Those that aren't are with whom the shame lies.

Oh, you mean people who haven't been indoctrinated with religion from a young age. Right right.

Ooh! Cutting. I wasn't indoctrinated at a young age, and I'm not a Promosexual - but that's not what matters here. I'm trying to pervey my term. Be proud promosexuals. I want an entry in the dictionary.

Ooh! Cutting. I wasn't indoctrinated at a young age, and I'm not a Promosexual - but that's not what matters here. I'm trying to pervey my term. Be proud promosexuals. I want an entry in the dictionary.

Why not just write your own dictionary? You could invent all of the words yourself.

Why not just write your own dictionary? You could invent all of the words yourself.

Ooh! Ooh! Can it have piengestist in it? It describes people who believe in the right of pies... to be eaten!

Ooh! Ooh! Can it have piengestist in it? It describes people who believe in the right of pies... to be eaten!

Yes. Yes you can.

Any one else have any terms they'd like to ass?

I'm also adding 'Gife'. It's an involuntary facial tic developed by accident, after many incidences of deliberately twitching for comic effect.

Yes. Yes you can.

Any one else have any terms they'd like to ass?

I'm also adding 'Gife'. It's an involuntary facial tic developed by accident, after many incidences of deliberately twitching for comic effect.

:eek: I so have that.

Simonist']You would have no idea how much I wanted to say something about this a few days ago when the movie was released at our theatre. So many upper-class elitist-bred JOCO bitches come in to see it because they heard it's "artsy" or "edgy", and apparently missed the whole Gay Cowboy-ness of it all (or at least, the gay part), then get all pissy that we dare show such a thing. Hell, I was at the Service counter awhile back and somebody stormed over, told me I personally was going to Hell over that movie (even though I'm fairly sure I had nothing to do with it), and left in an awful hurry.

The disillusioned Christians will always find something to complain about, usually as loudly as possible, and with the hopes that they ruin at least 6 other peoples' day in the process.

just remember that, they dont speak for everyone, they just have the loudest voice

But do people "go gay", or are they always that way?

An interesting question. Perhaps in his youth he was lured in by fast boys, cheap thrills and pleasant ointments.

The sort of "sarcastic" that lies in using the ex gay persons' own terminology to mock them. You know, the sort of sarcastic that "is an intentional infliction of pain by deriding, taunting, or ridiculing through the use of satirical language."

You know, the exact kind of sarcasm you fail at.
Damn, Fass, you sure know how to get a straight girl all frustrated when you tell people off in such an intelligent manner like that.

You don't happen to know someone almost exactly like you except interested in women, do you?

Damn, Fass, you sure know how to get a straight girl all frustrated

You, know, I get that more often than you'd expect.

You don't happen to know someone almost exactly like you except interested in women, do you?

Yeah, but she's a lesbian.

Ooh! Ooh! Can it have piengestist in it? It describes people who believe in the right of pies... to be eaten!

Don't forget about "fastigio: see degenerate."

just remember that, they dont speak for everyone, they just have the loudest voice
Trust me -- as a member of the Catholic religion, I know that better than most would expect.

And I'm pretty sure if I'd just stuck to nonsense and/or political threads from the start on the NS forums, the general opinion would be that I'm not even Christian :p

"It's one full of desperation and devastation and heartache.
Whose fault is that? :rolleyes:

By the same token, he drove away some pretty loyal customers. If he hadn't cancelled, the chances of a successful boycott, when the plan from the religious right has so far been "ignore it and it'll go away," were slim and certainly short-term. But now he's pissed off the activists (and there are a surprisingly large number of them in Salt Lake City, believe it or not), and they have long memories.

Besides, the film's still making three grand a screen, way more than most other films, even new releases.
Hell, most filmmakers do a happy dance in the street if thier films are doing $3 Grand in the first month. After the first month small companies start talking about becoming big companies.

Last weekend it managed @$6 grand a screen and was the fifth highes grosser of the weekend, and this is with 1/3 to 1/2 of the screens of the other top films and it being its seventh week.

Last weekend was a 28% boost, after gaining 500+ screens, largely on the heels of the Golden Globe success. Expect another jump after Tuesday's Oscar Nomination announcements. I imagine exhibitors are falling all over themselves to have this on thier screens by next Friday. Enough nominations (especially Best Picture and Best Director) and you can expect this film to continue to play well all the way into March. Having already made an estimated $44,482,262 (pretty percise number for an estimate, huh? Not my number obviously) for a $14 million movie...Focus Pictures is well on it's way to that magic $100 million mark that the big studios pray for every year just to survive. Focus has moved up with one movie.

It's seems better business to show it than not.

This is where the numbers come from (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=brokebackmountain.htm)

- snip -
LOL :). Seriously, you must know those statistics in your sleep by now. Focus Features should hire you, already.

maybe brokeback mountain was just a good, sweet, tender, romantic, and HEARTBREAKING movie. just a good american love story.

who cares who is falling in love, as long as people are!