Christian Ex-Homosexual Offers Unique School Curriculum
by Jim Brown and Jenni Parker
June 18, 2004
(AgapePress) - A new public school curriculum speaks not only against homophobia and ridicule towards homosexual and lesbian students, but also addresses discrimination against ex-homosexual youth.
The 20-page, full-color resource is called The Homophobia Stops Here: Addressing the Ex-Gay Perspective in Public Schools. It was designed by Chad Thompson, the formerly homosexual founder of "Inqueery," who runs the organization and the Inqueery.com Web site and whose ministry is all about educating people about homosexuality and teaching them to treat homosexuals -- and ex-homosexuals -- with sensitivity and respect.
"The resource provides information about individuals who have overcome homosexuality," Thompson says, "and as far as I know it is the only ex-gay resource available for public schools right now. All of the other resources that have been created to address the issue of homosexuality in public schools are gay-affirming."
Besides addressing sensitivity issues, this first publication from Inqueery offers an unbiased look at research that has been done in the search for a "gay gene" and also examines varying theories about the development of sexual orientation. Furthermore, the booklet discusses the potential that all students have to change their sexual orientation if they so desire.
According to Thompson, the curriculum has received mixed reactions from the homosexual community. "I think they're actually bewildered that I speak so much about the importance of treating gay and lesbian people with respect, and I speak against bullying, and I speak against homophobia. That's something they're not used to hearing from the Christian community," he says.
The ex-homosexual turned Christian educator and activist has printed 5,000 copies of the resource and plans to pass out copies to school teachers at the National Education Association's upcoming annual convention in Washington, D.C. At its last two conventions, the National Education Association has denied exhibit space to a group called Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX).
Thompson says normally when Christians address homosexuality, "we speak about the importance of 'Repent or die' and that kind of thing." But he says even though the evangelical Christian community opposes the homosexual lifestyle, it is time for the Church to acknowledge and combat the "legitimate struggles being faced by gay and lesbian youth."
The Homophobia Stops Here resource is designed to facilitate objective discussions about human sexuality in public schools and on college campuses.
