Some, such as Wayne Besen of Truth Wins Out, argue that it is the ex-gay movement that poses the greatest threat to LGBT equality. I simply cannot help but agree.

The ex-gay movement says sexual orientation and gender identity can be changed through religious conviction and therapy. They teach a doctrine of “love the sinner; hate the sin” that is rapidly being embraced by the evangelical Christian community, a community which over 50% of Americans identify with. These beliefs create an atmosphere that condemns LGBT individuals, perpetuating verbal and emotional violence, while falsely convincing people that they are LGBT-supportive.

The ex-gay movement can trace its origins far back in history, including to Nazi Germany, where some of the original experiments on “changing” sexuality were conducted. Today, therapy can include anything from religious consultation to electro-shock therapy (yeah, it still happens). For more information on the ex-gay movement visit Truth Wins Out.

But the real danger comes from the misinformation the ex-gay movement uses to indoctrinate well-meaning religious individuals. The belief that sexual orientation can be changed is hardly novel, however the perpetuation of this myth to a new and increasingly LGBT-friendly generation does worlds of harm to both LGBT and allied youth. People begin to believe that they can be ‘tolerant’ of LGBT people while still trying to change them. However, it is theis often loudly spoken belief that LGBT individuals can and should change that does the most harm.

Take, for example, the case that PageOneQ recently exposed in Montgomery County Maryland. Due to a fluke in the schools flyering policy, an ex-gay group, P-FOX(Parents and Friends of Ex-gays) will be the only organization providing materials to the district’s schools on February 1^st. Thousands of students will be exposed to the anti-gay views of this organization while being provided no opposite viewpoint that affirms LGBT individuals.

How many of those students will begin to believe that they can ‘tolerate’ their friends’ sexuality while continually trying to change them? How many LGBT students will be told they should change or else go to hell by friends who think they are doing the right thing? LGBT individuals already face huge amounts of societal pressure to not accept their own identity. Every day four more youth kill themselves because of their queer identity and the verbal violence that surrounds them. Adding in friends who think they are helping but are in fact only adding to that verbal violence does not help the situation that most LGBT individuals face. The mental and emotional harm is done is apparent. And because of the ex-gay movement these students will continue to think that they are being tolerant of LGBT individuals and have no need to change themselves. After all, to christians who have bought into the ex-gay messaging, it’s the LGBT kids who need to change and become better people, not them.