Truth Wins Out
Truth Wins Out (TWO) is an organization formed by Wayne Besen to fight what it considers "anti-gay religious extremism", especially the ex-gay movement.
Founded | June 2006 |
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Founder | Wayne Besen |
Focus |
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Website | Truthwinsout.org |
History
Besen formed Truth Wins Out on June 7, 2006, as a response to the belief that a person's homosexual orientation can change. In particular, TWO is critical of organizations and religious ministries which treat homosexuality as a diseased behavior pattern which can be "cured".[1] Besen later launched the related RespectMyResearch project to document what he views as distortions of science by the ex-gay movement, especially Focus on the Family.[2]
In 2018, Truth Wins Out started a petition urging Apple to remove an app from the App Store which allegedly portrayed homosexuality as an "addiction" and "sickness". Apple removed the app by Living Hope Ministries in December.[3] Amazon later removed the app from their platform, while Google allowed the app to remain on the Google Play store.[4]
As of 2019, TWO's seat has been relocated in Philadelphia.[5]
TWO conducts interviews with experts regarding the etiology of sexual orientation. Featured guests include J. Michael Bailey,[6] Ray Blanchard,[7] Milton Diamond,[8] Dean Hamer,[9] Lisa M. Diamond, Ken Zucker,[10] Erick Jannsen,[11] Eric Vilain,[12] Simon LeVay,[13] and Marc Breedlove.[14]
Protests
Truth Wins Out conjugates information with advocacy,[5] shows the lies of anti-LGBT organizations, exposing their leaders and defending the LGBT community "against the propaganda campaigns of the religious right".[15]
TWO organizes protests around the country to counter the ex-gay movement. One of TWO's three largest protests occurred on November 4, 2008 at the National Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago. The "Dobson" campaign was being held to protest the induction of James Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family, into the Radio Hall of Fame.[16] On his websites, Besen posts videos of former ex-gays describing their experience with the ex-gay movement.
See also
- Love Won Out
- Christianity and homosexuality
- LGBT-welcoming church programs
- List of LGBT-related organizations
References
- "Besen to Launch Organization to Counter Ex-Gay Myth". Wayne Besen official website. 2006-06-02. Retrieved 2007-03-04.
- RespectMyResearch.org
- Griffith, Janelle (2018-12-24). "Apple pulls religious app accused of portraying being gay as 'sickness' and a 'sin'". NBC News. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
- Ford, Zack (2018-12-27). "Google continues to host ex-gay therapy app on its platform". ThinkProgress. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
- Cohen, Lenny (February 21, 2019). "'Truth Wins Out' founder fighting Google, ex-gays in Philly". Philadelphia Gay News. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- Northwestern's Dr. J. Michael Bailey Talks About Science and Sexual Orientation, retrieved 2020-06-19
- Dr. Ray Blanchard Discusses Gay Brother Studies, retrieved 2020-06-19
- Dr. Milton Diamond Discusses Transgender Research With Truth Wins Out, retrieved 2020-06-19
- "YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
- Dr. Ken Zucker Talks About Sexual Orientation Research with Truth Wins Out, retrieved 2020-06-19
- The Kinsey Institute's Dr. Erick Janssen Talks About His Study on Bisexuality, retrieved 2020-06-19
- Dr. Eric Vilain, M.D., UCLA Professor of Human Genetics, Pediatrics and Urology, retrieved 2020-06-19
- Dr. Simon LeVay Talks About Genes, Biology, and Sexual Orientation Research, retrieved 2020-06-19
- Dr. Marc Breedlove, Neuroscientist, On Sexual Orientation and Science, retrieved 2020-06-19
- "TWO - mission". GuideStar. 2006. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- Dump Dobson Coalition Unveils Full-Page Ad In Chicago Tribune Archived 2008-11-10 at the Wayback Machine