"Not Everyone Who Is Gay Is Happy" (KY billboard)

[redheadbaker]

^o) 

www.nydailynews.com/news/national/gay-therapy-billboard-sparking-controversy-kentucky-article-1.1638957

Kentucky billboard promoting gay conversion therapy sparks controversy

Abba’s Delight, a Louisville Christian organization, seeks to counsel people who have ‘unwanted same gender attractions.’ Despite criticism, the billboard will stay up for three months in a neighborhood that is heavily populated with LGBT people.

A Kentucky billboard has a message for LGBT residents: “Not everyone who is gay is happy,” the Louisville sign reads. “You have options.”

The gigantic billboard, which sits in a neighborhood that is home to many gay and lesbian people, is the brainchild of the Abba’s Delight organization. The Christian not-for-profit seeks to counsel people who have “unwanted same gender attractions.”

He acknowledges that while some people who are gay may be perfectly content, others may be uncomfortable because their sexuality comes into conflict with their faith.

“We're not trying to change people from gay to straight,” founder Daniel Mingo told WHAS11. “We're trying to disciple them so God can work in their lives and do whatever character changes he wants to do.”

Mingo has had a lifetime of experience with this. He identifies himself as a born-again Christian who “walked away from homosexuality” 21 years ago because he couldn’t reconcile the lifestyle with his faith. He pledged his life to Jesus when he was 17, but secretly participated in "homosexual activity through anonymous encounters." He is now married with three adult sons.

“I knew that in my life homosexuality is not what he designed for me,” Mingo said. “That's not his created intent for sexuality and I had a conflict going on in my life going on about that. So God won.”

Abba’s Delight offers support groups for people who are questioning their sexuality, as well as family and friends of LGBT people.

Mingo believes that even though God doesn’t approve of sinful behavior, God still loves all people equally.

But some Kentucky residents think the billboard is hiding a message of hate.

“I thought as a society we'd moved on from that,” Chris Lebrasseur said. “I don’t think you can reprogram a person to be gay or straight and I don't think we should be wasting our energy trying to do it.”

The American Psychological Association has condemned the practice of conversion therapy since 2009. For decades, the Exodus International ministry attempted to turn gay Christians straight. It shut down in 2013, after apologizing for being part of a “system of ignorance” that perpetuated hurt, CNN reports.

Exodus International used to be a parent organization of Abba’s Delight.

Chris Hartman, director of the Fairness Campaign, called the billboard offensive and hurtful.

“If someone is experiencing same gender attraction or believes that they're lesbian gay bisexual or transgender and is struggling with it they should see a licensed therapist,” Hartman said.

Mingo said he’s not offering therapy, but wants to reach people with mentoring. Despite the mixed feedback, he says billboard will stay up for the next three months.

[cattledogkisses]

I'd wager to say that if they're unhappy it's probably a product of the judgement, discrimination, and hate that they face.

The solution isn't to change them...

[bronxgirl]

Feb 23, 2014 18:29:49 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

I'd wager to say that if they're unhappy it's probably a product of the judgement, discrimination, and hate that they face.

The solution isn't to change them...

Not to mention the fact that they're still, you know, human beings with full lives and no one is ever 100% happy all the time.

[havarti]

News flash: Not everyone who is straight is happy.

[aurora]

My reaction was the same as havarti and bronxgirl: the billboard should simply read "Not everybody is happy" - but that wouldn't get them into the news.

[W.T.Faulkner]

Feb 23, 2014 18:29:49 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

I'd wager to say that if they're unhappy it's probably a product of the judgement, discrimination, and hate that they face.

The solution isn't to change them...

Came in here to say just this.

My BFF and her fiance are lesbians who grew up in devoutly Catholic families.  Ask them, and they'll tell you the only unhappiness they've ever experienced as "out" lesbians is the constant fear and worry of what their families and friends would think.  That's not a "them" problem.  That's an US problem.

[zarapipe]

Shocker. I thought if you were gay everything was puppies and rainbows. 

[phunluvin82]

Abba's Delight?...how gay does THAT sound

[NewOrleans]

Of course this is true. Because 1. assholes put signs in their neighborhoods and pass Jim Crow laws against them and because 2. they have normal people problems since they are exactly the fucking same as every other human.