Common Sense

Though I have yet to actually drive by and see one, I’ve heard the uproar over billboards stating: “I questioned homosexuality. Change is possible. Discover how.”

A fairly recent Wacoan, B. Joe Cline of Lighthouse Freedome Ministry, has decided he can cure gay people with something called “conversion therapy.” Basically, he says, you’re only gay because your dad wasn’t around or your mom was domineering or because you are genetically predisposed to being gay… like alcoholism. I don’t know what the treatment is, but I assume it is a lot of praying.

In addition to his billboards, he is planning a “conference” in March. Details when I have them.

So far the only snag in Cline’s hypothesis is that he is completely full of shit.

According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Web site, “There is no published scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of ‘reparative therapy’ as a treatment to change one’s sexual orientation.”

The Web site concludes, “Clinical experience suggests that any person who seeks conversion therapy may be doing so because of social bias that has resulted in internalized homophobia, and that gay men and lesbians who have accepted their sexual orientation positively are better adjusted than those who have not done so.”

I can’t imagine why that might be.

Valerie Fallas, a board member of the Waco chapter of PFLAG — Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians And Gays — said she was initially shocked by the messages’ appearance.

“I really thought we had moved forward from this way of thinking. With all the information about homosexuality we have nowadays, I really think that most people realize that this is not a choice,” she said.

Fallas noted that the PFLAG Community Center is named for the late Eddie Dwyer, a Baylor religion professor who had a gay son. After searching his heart and researching Scriptures, Dwyer wrote a booklet on homosexuality and religion.

“Mr. Cline should read this,” she said. “He needs to be helping young people be who they are and not make them feel that there is something wrong with them. We see many young people who are turned away by their churches because they are not accepted, and that is such a shame.”

What I’m wondering is if this is anything like the last pastor guy who thought you could change gay people straight. You know, the louder you protest, the more people are going to wonder. I mean, his name is BJ fro chrissakes!

Cline says that his message is only for those that want to change. Another local minister thinks that is super.

The Rev. Charley Garrison, pastor of the gay-friendly Central Texas Metropolitan Community Church From the Heart, said he was relieved to hear from a reporter that Cline’s ministry is not geared toward those who are comfortable with their orientation, only those who want to change it.

“Because that means I won’t have to worry about him picketing my church or supporting others to do the same,” Garrison said. “You see, we worship a God who loves unconditionally, with no strings attached.”

Aw, snap! I never seen that kind of smackdown before: Pastor-on-gay bigot bitch slappin’.

We’ll see where this goes from here.