Minister found guilty in gay "therapy" case

Isn't this sick (and typical) of people who think homosexuality can be "cured."

A minister and former Christian college instructor has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a young man who sought counselling after he feared he was homosexual.

A jury returned with the guilty verdict early last night after only a few hours of deliberations. Terrance Lewis, 60, will be sentenced at a later date.

In earlier testimony, the alleged victim, now 29, told court he started meeting Lewis for counselling sessions in early 2000 after his parents caught him viewing gay pornography on the family computer.

Lewis — a family friend and minister — confided he had his own sexual identity issues and the two embarked on weekly counselling sessions designed to “assist me to be straight and to live a straight life,” the man said.

The man said Lewis started a program of “touch therapy,” which included the two kissing and fondling each other and engaging in sexual roleplaying.

In God We Trust License Plate

Kentuckians would be able to buy "In God We Trust" license plates under a bill that won unanimous approval Tuesday in the House Transportation Committee. OK, I’m a Christian, but come on…. Isn’t their more important issues? What about in “In Allah We Trust” “In YHWH We Trust” or “In Jehovah We Trust.”

These are all basically the same “God” with different translations and pronunciation. At a minimum, they all sprung from Judaism.

As of 2000, approximately 53% of the world's population identifies with one of the three Abrahamic [term commonly used to designate the three prevalent monotheistic religions—Christianity, Islam, and Judaism which claim Abraham as a part of their sacred history] religions (33% Christian, 20% Islam, <1% Judaism), 6% with Buddhism, 13% with Hinduism, 6% with traditional Chinese religion, 7% with various other religions, and less than 15% as non-religious.

I’m a God loving, and God fearing citizen, but this is a perfect example of why religion and government shouldn’t mix. Sure we use to do it when the Commonwealth and the nation were founded, but this is the 21st Century…. I suppose respect for all religions/translations is still beyond the General Assembly’s capability.

Love in Action's "Refuge" shutdown.

In 2005, 16-year-old "Zach's" MySpace blog revealed that he was about to be involuntarily committed to Love In Action’s youth live-in program “Refuge.” He was committed to a two-month stay in the residential program, and his plight spawned international outrage along with unprecedented protests in Memphis. (more)

The State of Tennessee investigated Refuge last year after learning that clients were being dispensed medications by unlicensed personnel. Finally, after two years of scrutiny, it’s over. Refuge is no more.

It also inspired filmmaker Morgan Fox to begin filming the documentary, “This Is What Love In Action Looks Like,” set for release in January 2008.

Congratulations to the Tennessee's Queer Action Coalition ("QAC") for all their fine and careful activism. Special thanks also to Brandi Walker, Kentucky Equality Federation's Awareness Coordinator for bringing the original story to our attention!

Love in Action (homosexual to heterosexual).

From: Brandi Walker, Awareness Representative, Kentucky Equality Federation

Tenessee based religious Christian organization Love in Action has received national attention for it's efforts in tying to turn gay youth to "straight youth."

This organization makes claims that homosexual behavior is immoral and links it to therapy treatment alongside pornography and promiscuity. Parents of gay youth, especially conservative Christians, are inclined to believe their child is mentally ill and is in need of mental and religious counseling, because they are not walking the path their "God" has chosen for them. The false hope parents grasp to in programs like those managed by Love in Action, are not only unethical, but can cause extreme psychological abuse to an individual, which can contribute to emotional and mental stress in a child. These stressors and detrimental therapy can lead a child to thinking something about he/she is wrong, immoral, out of the ordinary, and/or evil.

For children to be programmed by both their parents, religious leaders, and counselors in a setting like Love in Action's 5 acres of seclusion, can cause a child to have an emotional and mental break down. A child who instead of being accepted for who he/she is, is taught discrimination, denial of one's feelings, and identity rejection. These factors are all labeled "therapy" and the children are fed religious and social standards of "morals" of acceptance, through techniques such as "group think", shame, peer pressure, religious pressure, and guilt. Programs like Love in Action MUST be stopped. These children can grow up doubting and suppressing their emotions and ideas of themselves in matters of opinion, interests, and beliefs, because Love in Action has taught them to reject their inner feelings of truth and identity.

Please, contact corporate supporters of Love in Action and let them know you will not purchase their products/services of their company because of their support of this program.

The Wingate Hotel (http://www.wingateinns.com/Wingate) offers discounts to travels who mention "Love in Action." This is ridiculous, irresponsible, and morally unjustifiable.

Tell them of your disapproval at the following link: http://www.wingateinns.com/Wingate/control/contact_us_form.

- Daniel Newell

Northern Kentucky's new museum (must read to believe).

I raised my children to be religious, but you have to read this to believe it:

• http://www.cknj.com/articles/2007/06/10/opinion/letters/01letter.txt

Isn't it amazing this was actually printed in a Kentucky newspaper?

-Paige

Soulforce - Touched by Angels.

3 are arrested at gay-rights group's event
CUMBERLANDS ONE OF 32 STOPS

By Bill Estep
SOUTH-CENTRAL KENTUCKY BUREAU

Click here to view images of the Soulforce reception.

WILLIAMSBURG --Police arrested three people yesterday when a gay-rights group tried to talk to students at the University of the Cumberlands, which found itself embroiled in controversy last year after expelling a gay student.

About 25 people taking part in the Soulforce Equality Ride had stopped at the school. Soulforce is visiting 32 colleges and universities to draw attention to policies the group says discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and to promote hope and reconciliation, members said.

Members have been arrested at other stops, including earlier this week in Louisville.

"Throughout our stops in the South we have encountered a lot of hostility," said Matt Comer of Greensboro, N.C., an organizer of Soulforce.

Comer said that when the bus got to the school about 10 a.m., Michael Colegrove, the school's vice president for student services, told the riders they would be trespassing if they came on campus.

Dozens of police officers were on hand. Comer said police told the activists that they could not stand on a public sidewalk beside the campus, but rather would have to keep walking or face arrest.

Williamsburg Police Chief Denny Shelley said police charged Soulforce member Jacob Reitan with trespassing and failure to disperse. Two Cumberlands students were charged with failure to disperse.

Comer said it seemed the university and police tried to keep the Soulforce riders from talking to students.

"It sounds ridiculous to even say" someone could be charged for standing on a public sidewalk, Comer said. "The police know what they're doing is wrong."

Colegrove said the university also tried to cooperate with the group and offered members a spot on campus for their visit. However, the group wanted free run of the campus, which wasn't possible because of the potential disruption, and rejected the university's offer, he said.

Comer, however, said Soulforce did not reject the university's offer. A university official quickly withdrew the offer because of a miscommunication and later refused to agree to terms in writing, he said.

The group talked to students for about three hours.

Later yesterday, Soulforce members held a rally on the steps of the Whitley County courthouse. About 40 people listened and about 10 protesters stood on the courthouse lawn holding signs with Bible verses on them.

Many conservative Christians believe the Bible condemns homosexuality. Soulforce members, however, say that belief is hurtful and wrong; several said they consider themselves Christians.

Emily Harlow, a freshman at the University of the Cumberlands, said she came to the rally to hear what group members had to say.

"It's time Cumberland realized it's OK to be gay and be a Christian."

There had been concern on campus that students could face trouble for talking to Soulforce members or attending the rally.

Colegrove, however, said that wasn't the case. Students have First Amendment rights too, he said.

Still, Jordan Palmer, president of the Kentucky Equality Federation, which helped pay for the Soulforce visit to Williamsburg, gave students cards and said to call him if they encountered a problem as a result of coming to the rally.

Kyle DeVries, a Soulforce spokesman, identified the two Cumberlands students who were arrested as Warry Woodward and Annie Decrescente.

Last year, the university expelled Jason Johnson of Lexington, who had disclosed on a Web site that he is gay.

The university's policy said any student who engages in or promotes sexual behavior not consistent with Christian principles, including homosexuality or sex outside marriage, could be suspended or asked to leave school.

University President Jim Taylor said at the time the policy was in line with traditional denominational beliefs.

Johnson returned to Williamsburg yesterday to be with the protesters and thanked students at his former school. "Bless you," he told the students. "You have more courage than you know." Johnson is now a student at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond.

Click here to view images of the Soulforce reception.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

KY's largest Methodist Church bars gays from membership.

Click here for the complete story from Bible Belt Blogger.

Anti-gay Christians miss message.

Anti-gay Christians miss message. Click here to read the article by Staff reporter Kevin Eigelbach who writes on religion for The Cincinnati Post and Kentucky Post.