SHOPLIFTERS OF THE WORLD UNITE: Wow, every single aspect of this story sounds awful.

1. I’ve expressed before (oh, at length!) my problems with the “ex-gay movement.” (And I do think “ex-gay” as a political cause is different from “ex-gay” as a personal narrative. I agree with the people who suggested that if you’re looking for people who used to consider themselves 100% super extra gay, and now do not, the “ex-gay movement” is the last place you should look.) So… I’m really, really not on board with this TV show. Actually I would love to come on as a guest, and wreak polite havoc.

2. But–I’m kind of inarticulately horrified at the way that professed “ex-gay” people are having their own honesty and vulnerability used against them. OMG, Alan Chambers says he stole stuff! I wonder if Jesus had anything to say to repentant thieves! …No, probably not. Jesus came to save the good people–not the sinners. YA RLY.

Actually, this article reminds me of nothing so much as the constant stream of “gay people are evil drug-using alcoholic miserable losers!” commentary from anti-gay lit. Every single thing you ever do wrong in your life is used against not only you, but an entire class of people who may have nothing to do with your own personal mess. If any gay guy admits that ten years ago he tricked or snorted coke, all gay people are promiscuous cokeheads; if any ex-gay guy admits that years ago he stole stuff or prostituted himself, all ex-gays are promiscuous thieves. Which is so compassionate. And so in line with Jesus’ actions. …Oh, and if you succumb to the pressure placed on you to be “one of the good ones,” and lie about or conceal the stuff you do wrong, expect triple the fury if you are ever exposed. But if you talk about where you lost your way, expect blame not only for what you did, but for being a self-aggrandizing Oprah-culture professional victim.

Yeah… riled, a little. This got under my skin.

Use each man after his desert, and who shall ‘scape whipping?