今日吃瓜

Gay rights activists will stage a protest outside a religious gay conversion conference on Saturday in Melbourne.

The religious groups are operating as part of the Exodus Global Alliance, which states on its website (www.exodusglobalalliance.org) that 鈥渃hange is possible for the homosexual through the transforming power of Jesus Christ鈥�.

The conference claims it will teach troubled young gay men and lesbians how to overcome their 鈥渦nwanted homosexuality鈥�.

Conference organisers will fly in 鈥渆xpert鈥� speakers from across the country to inform participants they don鈥檛 have to lead the 鈥渉omosexual lifestyle鈥�.

今日吃瓜 of the conference has angered gay rights activists, who will stage a protest outside the conference as participants arrive. Their message will be that homosexuality is nothing to be ashamed of and that conversion is a farce.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 choose to become straight just because your religious leaders tell you that homosexuality is a sin,鈥� Melbourne gay rights campaigner Tim Wright said.
鈥淐hurches need to be teaching their gay and lesbian members to be proud of who they are, not ashamed. This conference will only cause more pain and anguish for the participants, not help them.
鈥淭he conference organisers may have seen the light, but they are certainly not enlightened. It鈥檚 as if they鈥檙e living in a different age.
鈥淥ur message to participants is: if your church rejects you because of your sexuality, you should reject your church. Closets are for clothes, not people.鈥�

info: The protest will be held from 10.40am this Saturday, September 19, at The Factory, 8-12 Simla St, Mitcham.