Former Lesbian Brings Ex-'Gay' Message to 2006 NEA Annual Meeting
by Jim Brown
June 26, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A former lesbian who now runs a Christian ministry in Minnesota will be holding the first ever ex-"gay" exhibit at the National Education Association Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida.
Janet Boynes lived a lesbian lifestyle for 14 years but later turned her life over to Christ and is now spreading the message that there is hope for homosexuals through a relationship with Jesus. She will be joining members of the NEA Ex-Gay Educators Caucus at the NEA annual meeting and will have a display booth there promoting her outreach, Janet Boynes Ministries.
This meeting, scheduled to run from June 30 - July 5 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, is the 144th Annual Meeting and 85th Representative Assembly of the NEA. Boynes' exhibit will be the first ever ex-homosexual display at the powerful union's national convention. Her attendance comes at the request of the NEA Ex-Gay Educators Caucus.
The former lesbian, now a born-again believer, strongly refutes claims that homosexuals cannot change. "Is it easy to come out of homosexuality? No, it's not," she acknowledges. "You hear a lot of people say, 'I prayed to God. I prayed to God, and I just couldn't come out.' Well, you know what? It's not easy to come out, but God can't do it alone. You have to make some steps."
Boynes' own path out of homosexuality involved at one point moving in with a Christian family. "Everybody can't do that," she says, "but now I surround myself with healthy people." Other homosexuals seeking freedom must take the steps Christ leads them to take; but she insists that even those who claim to have prayerfully tried but given up "can come out if they want. They just choose not to."
The ministry founder's desire is to see lives transformed at the 2006 NEA gathering. "My pure message will always be to anybody who is living a homosexual life or that's struggling with it, or anybody that's for it, that I just want to share the love of Christ," she explains. "I don't have to go in there with whips and chains and any bad attitudes, because I believe that the love of God will change somebody's heart, but also will draw them to repentance."
Boynes adds that she anticipates that she and other former homosexuals "will not be welcomed with open arms" at the NEA Annual Meeting. Nevertheless, she says she is confident that "God's grace will hold" all of them.
The NEA's Ex-Gay Educators Caucus was formed a number of years ago for the purpose of working to prevent discrimination and intolerance against formerly homosexual students, teachers, and their supporters, and to promote a safe environment for all diverse populations, including ex-homosexual education employees and questioning youth. The caucus also advocates alternatives to homosexuality in school curriculum to ensure diversity.
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
