Monday, July 18, 2005
Feedback on Salon article: 80% of Exodus Founders are still straight
Here is a quote from the Salon article regarding the founders of Exodus International:
This is not true. Only one of the founders are gay today (Michael Bussee). His partner (Gary Cooper) was not a founder and died of AIDS several years ago. 80% of the founders are still ex-gay. I know; I have talked to all of them personally to research it. This should be corrected. Wayne Besen knows there were more than 2 founders of Exodus and he knows that Gary Cooper was not a founder but he still claims these things to anyone who will listen.
"Besen tracks down a dizzying array of former ex-gayleaders who later came out of the closet for good, including the two founders of Exodus."
This is not true. Only one of the founders are gay today (Michael Bussee). His partner (Gary Cooper) was not a founder and died of AIDS several years ago. 80% of the founders are still ex-gay. I know; I have talked to all of them personally to research it. This should be corrected. Wayne Besen knows there were more than 2 founders of Exodus and he knows that Gary Cooper was not a founder but he still claims these things to anyone who will listen.
# posted by W. Throckmorton @ Monday, July 18, 2005 
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Whether Cooper was a co-founder is subject to debate: It depends on how one defines "co-founder": Bussee considered Cooper's work instrumental to the formation of Exodus.
While Bussee and Cooper were concerned for their exgay clients' wellbeing, Worthen (perhaps with good intentions) pressured people to leave homosexuality while ignoring the harm his unprofessional advice was doing to some people.
While I feel sorry for their wives, I am glad Bussee and Cooper were honest and spared their wives additional years of sexless and half-hearted romance. Before smearing Bussee/Cooper, "exodus friend," you might bother taking the time to ask their wives how they felt about the situation.
While Bussee and Cooper were concerned for their exgay clients' wellbeing, Worthen (perhaps with good intentions) pressured people to leave homosexuality while ignoring the harm his unprofessional advice was doing to some people.
While I feel sorry for their wives, I am glad Bussee and Cooper were honest and spared their wives additional years of sexless and half-hearted romance. Before smearing Bussee/Cooper, "exodus friend," you might bother taking the time to ask their wives how they felt about the situation.
I guess an organization should have some role in saying who founded it. Exodus clearly does not view Cooper as a founder, nor do any of the other founders except Bussee. He is not on incorporation papers, nor on any board minutes. If Cooper is a founder, then every volunteer that worked the first conference is a founder. You can say, "I'm a founder" but that does not make you one.
Investment in this discussion obscures the bigger point. Four out of five of the original board are still ex-gay. Even if Cooper was a founder, then the tally would be four of six. It is just intentional distortion for critics to continue to refer to "the co-founders of Exodus."
Investment in this discussion obscures the bigger point. Four out of five of the original board are still ex-gay. Even if Cooper was a founder, then the tally would be four of six. It is just intentional distortion for critics to continue to refer to "the co-founders of Exodus."
PS - One of the wives involved, I can't remember which one, and I am not sure she would want her identity disclosed if I did, still supports Exodus.
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