nbcrusader said:
Perhaps the cultural definitions are not as clear as you would like them to be. If your assertions were absolute, the "ex-gay" speakers would not exist - unless you suggest they are there because they have been brainwashed or under duress and coersion.
no, i think you need a better understanding of what cultural definitions are -- "ex-gays" already claim to belong to a culture, heterosexual culture. their label of "ex-gay" is designed precisely to antagonize gay people, nothing more, and they make no claims to have any of the traditional markers of what we would consider social groups. indeed, they exist only to dispute the legitimacy upon which gays and lesbians assert their identity as part of a social sub-culture; if they are akin to any sort of group it would be to former alcoholics or drug users, which is precisely what they are told to equate homosexuality with: a harmful addiction that must be overcome.
and, yes, the vast majority of "ex-gays" are gay people who come from very religious homes who've been rejected by their families, communities, and churches, and see this bogus "ministry" as a way "out" of being gay. they are sadly brainwashed, under duress, and more often then not coerced by religous bigots who tell them that this is the only way to avoid hellfire and damnation.
and i want to hug each and every one of them.
[q]But, as you said, it is not up for debate. [/q]
the debate has already happened, and everyone knows where science, psychiatry, the large majority of gay people and their friends all stand. the only people even claiming that there is a "debate" to be had are a small group of hateful fundies who come at you with smiles and "compassion" and leave you filled with even more self-hate as you start to find out that, guess what, the treatments don't work.
sure, there are debates to be had between gays and ex-gays, but that doesn't mean, for a second, that they should be a part of a Diversity Day when their only function is to antagonize another group.
http://www.anythingbutstraight.com/