Beyond Ex-Gay
Encyclopedia
Beyond Ex-Gay, or bXg, is a website devoted to people who at one time participated in the ex-gay
movement in an attempt to change their sexual orientation
to heterosexual, but who then later went on to acknowledge their sexual orientation as falling under the LGBT
umbrella. These people are also known as “ex-ex-gay
”. The site was founded by Christine Bakke
and Peterson Toscano
with technical help from Steve Boese.
, bXg put together the Ex-Gay Survivor Conference in Irvine, CA, the first conference of its kind which also coincided with the Exodus International
conference happening the same week also in Irvine, CA.
They also organized a press conference on June 27, 2007 in Los Angeles, CA where three former Exodus International leaders issued a public apology for their roles in providing and promoting ex-gay conversion therapy. These three included Jermey Marks of Courage UK, Micheal Bussee, one of the original founders of Exodus International and Darlene Bogle.
Ex-gay
The ex-gay movement consists of people and organizations that seek to get people to refrain from entering or pursuing same-sex relationships, to eliminate homosexual desires, to develop heterosexual desires, or to enter into a heterosexual relationship...
movement in an attempt to change their sexual orientation
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
to heterosexual, but who then later went on to acknowledge their sexual orientation as falling under the LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
umbrella. These people are also known as “ex-ex-gay
Ex-ex-gay
The term ex-ex-gay is used to describe people who at one time participated in the ex-gay movement in an attempt to change their sexual orientation to heterosexual, but who then later went on to publicly accept that their sexual orientation falls under the LGBT umbrella...
”. The site was founded by Christine Bakke
Christine Bakke
Christine Bakke spent four years in the ex-gay movement attempting to alter her sexual orientation through conversion therapy...
and Peterson Toscano
Peterson Toscano
Peterson Toscano is a playwright, an actor, a blogger, a stand-up comedian, and a gay activist. Before accepting his gay orientation, he spent nearly two decades submitting to ex-gay treatment and conversion therapy designed to alter his gay orientation and gender differences...
with technical help from Steve Boese.
Public Website
The public area of the site includes narratives of people who spent time in the ex-gay movement involved in conversion therapy and other forms of ex-gay treatment and ministry. In addition, there are pages with poetry, artwork, and articles by ex-ex-gay people.Private Ning Network
The site also includes a private Ning network that serves as an online support group for people who have gone through ex-gay experiences. Here, ex-ex-gays can help each other unpack their emotions and experiences using online forums, blogs, and discussion groups.Events
Together with SoulforceSoulforce
Soulforce may refer to:* Soulforce is an American LGBT-issue-focused social justice and civil rights organization.* Soulforce Revolution is the 1989 release of the punk band 7 Seconds....
, bXg put together the Ex-Gay Survivor Conference in Irvine, CA, the first conference of its kind which also coincided with the Exodus International
Exodus International
Exodus International is a non-profit, interdenominational ex-gay Christian organization founded by Michael Bussee, Gary Cooper, Frank Worthen, Ron Dennis, and Greg Reid...
conference happening the same week also in Irvine, CA.
They also organized a press conference on June 27, 2007 in Los Angeles, CA where three former Exodus International leaders issued a public apology for their roles in providing and promoting ex-gay conversion therapy. These three included Jermey Marks of Courage UK, Micheal Bussee, one of the original founders of Exodus International and Darlene Bogle.