I interrupt my vacation in South Africa (ah it is lovely) to alert you to the January airing of In the Life, a public TV program about LGBTQ issues and concerns. In addition to a conversation with Bishop Gene Robinson, In the Life will also highlight the Ex-Gay Survivor Movement including interviews from some of us who attended the first Ex-Gay Survivor Conference.
In the wake of many defeats sustained by the LGBT community on Election Day, with the historic passage of Proposition 8 in California and similar amendments in other states, the entire country has been witness to how religion is used as a wedge in the larger community.
Believing that homosexuals have no place in the Christian Church, ex-gay ministries like EXODUS International promise gay and lesbian people struggling to live within the margins of religious fundamentalism “freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ.” In its lead-story, “In God We Trusted,” this episode of IN THE LIFE examines evangelical ex-gay ministries that have been established around the country to “re-program” LGBT people into heterosexuals — often with tragic consequences endured by its members: guilt, desperation, even suicide.
You can see a preview here. Find out when this program airs in your viewing area here. (It will also appear on-line)
South Africa
Now back to my previously scheduled vacation. Today in the Eastern part of South Africa I took in the view of the Escarpment from Kaapsche Hoop. Wild horses ran, well wild. I also went deep into the Sudwala Cave, the biggest cave I’ve ever been in (a bat flew right in my face and I only squealed a little.)
The first few days of the trip we (meaning Glen, my boyfriend and Jenna, his colleague, and me) explored Johannesburg and Pretoria. The Voortrekker Monument felt scary on several levels. I’ve been doing most of the driving zipping around on the left side of the road, whipping around traffic. It’s like a video game, but real. Tomorrow we head out for three days in Kruger National Park. Yummy.
I am trying not to be jealous – although I don’t like the sound of the bats or the crazy drivers!
Enjoy the holidays and the time with Glen – I hope you can bring him to England sometime soon. We’ve got a big comfy bed in our spare room now :).
RA
xx
The opening sentence of your post immediately transported me to a warm place that i’ve never been. As incongrous or contradictory as that may sound, I’m in Brooklyn on the third consectutive bitterly cold day (and I mean bitterly cold) so please indulge me.
So enjoy your vacation even though there are some aspects that are heartbreaking. Let’s continue to make this world a better place. Happy holiday.