Oblivious, Hypocritical, something else

Let’s see, Randy Thomas complains about being the subject of ridicule on Youtube. That’s because at one point he says, ” that we respect a person's right to self determination regarding what they want to do with their same sex attraction.” And then goes on to say, “Oddly enough, the video doesn't make a point that this was the parent's decision by their own initiative.” If the parents are making a child go to those so-called treatments that have not been shown to be effective and have been shown to cause harm, then that is forcing a person, and a child is a person, to do something that is not their own decision.

This is a subject fit for ridicule. Randy Thomas writes an article in which he contradicts himself in the same paragraph. At one point claiming that every one is allowed self-determination and then giving that power of determination over to the parents. It’s also what’s known as hypocrisy – claiming to do one thing and then doing something else. If it is someone else, including the parent, who is making the decision it’s just not self-determination.

I messed up on getting the link so have posted the whole article below.

I have been made the subject of a YouTube video.
The activist, someone I actually like when he is using his talents toward other non-destructive purposes, is upset that I said on the Adam Carolla Show, twice, that we respect a person's right to self determination regarding what they want to do with their same sex attraction. One of Exodus' Member Ministries, Love In Action (LIA) (one of the oldest ministries out of the close to 150 agencies who work with us) allows parents to enter their underage teenage children into their residential program. This activist features quotes from a two young men who were made, by their parents, to go to the program. Oddly enough, the video doesn't make a point that this was the parent's decision by their own initiative. He also highlights Jerry Falwell (who spoke at our conference in 2005). Falwell was quoted, according to a gay website, that he agrees it is ok for parents to make such a decision for their children.
Where this video fails is that it tries to make LIA's policy, an autonomous ministry incorporated as their own organization, as somehow a huge policy issue for Exodus and the other 149 or so agencies and churches we work with. He mentions that LIA is one of the oldest ministries, but conveniently leaves out that their program for young people is relatively new. The video also fails because it completely ignores parental rights afforded to the parent's by the state. It further fails because it assumes that teenagers can't think for themselves as obviously displayed by the young man in the video who came out of the program to determine he was going to pursue his identity centered around homosexuality. Plus, there are many others who have been helped by Love In Action. Exodus and Love In Action didn't go out and force anyone into their program. In the very few cases of people entering the program against their will (only two highlighted and I am not aware of any others) the parents came to Love In Action and entered their underage children...which they have a right to do according to law.
http://exodus.blogs.com/liveoutloud/2006/11/youtube_activis.html

have been made the subject of a YouTube video.
The activist, someone I actually like when he is using his talents toward other non-destructive purposes, is upset that I said on the Adam Carolla Show, twice, that we respect a person's right to self determination regarding what they want to do with their same sex attraction. One of Exodus' Member Ministries, Love In Action (LIA) (one of the oldest ministries out of the close to 150 agencies who work with us) allows parents to enter their underage teenage children into their residential program. This activist features quotes from a two young men who were made, by their parents, to go to the program. Oddly enough, the video doesn't make a point that this was the parent's decision by their own initiative. He also highlights Jerry Falwell (who spoke at our conference in 2005). Falwell was quoted, according to a gay website, that he agrees it is ok for parents to make such a decision for their children.
Where this video fails is that it tries to make LIA's policy, an autonomous ministry incorporated as their own organization, as somehow a huge policy issue for Exodus and the other 149 or so agencies and churches we work with. He mentions that LIA is one of the oldest ministries, but conveniently leaves out that their program for young people is relatively new. The video also fails because it completely ignores parental rights afforded to the parent's by the state. It further fails because it assumes that teenagers can't think for themselves as obviously displayed by the young man in the video who came out of the program to determine he was going to pursue his identity centered around homosexuality. Plus, there are many others who have been helped by Love In Action. Exodus and Love In Action didn't go out and force anyone into their program. In the very few cases of people entering the program against their will (only two highlighted and I am not aware of any others) the parents came to Love In Action and entered their underage children...which they have a right to do according to law.
And, on an important technical issue also not clarified in the video, I don't represent Love In Action or Jerry Falwell, I represent myself and Exodus. I highly respect these other ministries. Even so, neither have asked me to represent them.
This video is an attack against me by fusing multiple issues into sensational soundbytes. Typical, and while visual (with great music in the background), not a very creative attack...except for the music. What I said is completely accurate to Exodus' thirty year position on self-determination.
We do respect a person's right to self-determination. Perhaps the maker of the video should be attacking state defined parental rights and the expression of religious liberties within that context ... instead of me. For some reason this person doesn't want to dig into the subject on that level and would rather attack me personally by reducing this personal and complex issue to name-calling (i.e. "liar".)
By the way, Tennessee, the state that was investigating Love In Action (LIA) dropped it's investigation after Love In Action sued them for religious discrimination. The state, fully aware of LIA's activities and policies, upheld LIA's right to operate as a faith based organization and settled with them out of court. The state even paid for Love In Action's court fees that resulted from their investigation.
Technorati Tags: Ex-gay, Exodus, Youtube, exgay, homosexuality, love in action, self-determination Posted by Randy Thomas on Tuesday