On Saturday October 31, 2009 dozens of people from Fox Valley and five of us from La Crosse, WI assembled outside of the Green Lake Conference Center in Green Lake, WI to protest Exodus International's North Central Regional Conference. Travis Swanson was the organizer of the protest. His boyfriend, Bryce Faulkner, was financially forced into an Exodus International program.
We stood outside the gates holding signs and waving at the locals. Several people stopped to talk and some even brought gifts! It was rainy and cold but we persevered. The Green Lake Sheriff's Department allowed us to stand outside the gates for no longer than 4 hours at a time and no closer than 10 yards from the middle of the road. Our group protested while the attendees of the conference drove in early that morning.
After our time was up 22 of us decided to enjoy a nice lunch inside the same venue as Exodus International. The restaurant was a buffet cafeteria type setting with many round tables. We went in during the time Exodus was breaking for lunch. Our group took up three tables and as soon as we sat down we had a representative at each.
The Exodus member who came to the table where I was sitting was named Jeff. Jeff talked about finding Jesus and how having Jesus in his life solved all of his problems. He expressed his belief that faith helped him overcome alcoholism, sexual addiction, and other problems. By solving these problems his homosexual desires no longer afflicted him.
At first I was very respectful to Jeff. Here is a person with many issues struggling to find his place in the world and we felt we had to be respectful as possible. I started asking questions like, “How do you feel that being a non practicing homosexual has bettered you as a person?” and, “Why did you feel that your sexuality is something about you that you had to change.”
Sadly he dodged every question. But he did say that when he was attracted to men he was attracted to big muscle men because “he needed to feel that strength.” Apparently he now finds that strength in Jesus. But it was when he compared homosexuality to alcoholism that I felt as though I was being disrespected. He also stuck up for a Milwaukee pastor who has been convicted of pedophilia, calling the act “consensual.”
I really did feel bad for Jeff. He seemed completely withdrawn when he told us that he no longer had a TV, computer, or text messaging on his phone. When I was tired of going around in circles I shook his hand, told him I hope this path does work for him, but I feel that it doesn't work for most and does a lot of harm.” We then went back out to the street!
Some of the people I was with handed out cards with information in case they needed resources and someone to talk to. I learned a lot by listening to Jeff. The whole experience was very intense and I felt a range of emotions. I wanted to scream in anger and cry in sympathy. I don't ever want someone to feel as though they are less of a person because of who they are attracted to sexually. Exodus International is a organization that spreads hate and bigotry . They are responsible for influencing violent legislation against gay people in Uganda and an increased suicide rate here at home. They must be stopped.
-J O S H
(These are the pictures I have. I'll try to find more of the bigger groups soon. The top picture is us checking with the hotel. We didn't think they were going to let us in at first but they did. The 2nd is the group of us from La Crosse and the third is one of the shirts we were wearing. Kudos to Ash for making them! Also I want to point out that many of the people at the protest were not gay but great supporters. But thats just the title I selected.)
