‘Ex-gay’ takes exit ramp on highway to heterosexuality

December 22, 2007

Guest Post by Morbo

The Carpetbagger recently ran a short item on a truly insane segment that aired on TV preacher Pat Robertson’s “700 Club” about Interstate 35, a highway that bisects the country, running from Texas to Minnesota.

Most segments on the “700 Club” are insane, so this one had to be really nutty to stand out. And it was: Apparently, some rather imaginative Pentecostals have got it into their heads that I-35 is some kind of highway to hell and are convinced they can reclaim the nation for Jesus by praying at various sites along the road.

During the piece, a minister named Joe Oden and his allies confronted men coming out of a gay bar in Dallas. One of them, a 19-year-old named James Stabile, claimed on camera that he was touched by the Holy Spirit and immediately stopped being gay.

Well, it turns out Stabile is still gay. As the Dallas Voice, a gay newspaper, noted this week, Stabile is bipolar and hadn’t been taking his medication when he gave that interview. After the segment, people affiliated with Oden’s ministry shipped Stabile off to an “ex-gay” boot camp in Kentucky to complete his transition to heterosexuality. He was kicked out after a few months when it became obvious he had no desire to stop being gay.

Voice columnist John Wright noted that Stabile’s parents accept their son’s sexuality. His father, Joseph Stabile, is a Methodist minister who does not believe being gay is a choice. Joseph Stabile told the Voice, “James did not fit into the program because their whole aim was to have him not be gay.”

Stabile’s parents say their son does not want to talk about his experiences at the boot camp, which he referred to as “horrible.” He intends to see a therapist first.

Joseph Stabile said he has contacted the “700 Club” and asked them to retract the information that was aired about his son. I can’t help but admire the man’s moxie, but I have a feeling it will be a cold day in you-know-where before we see that follow-up story.

I can’t remember where I read it, but someone recently made the point that all the anti-gay gays like Larry Craig and Ted Haggard are living proof that homosexuality isn’t a “choice” – it’s hard-wired. Why would these guys choose gayness when it’s something that they loathe about themselves?

But this inconvenient truth is in conflict with Pat Robertson’s worldview – that Jesus can and will cure all your ills if you simply give your life to him, and maybe send Pat some money.

  • some rather imaginative Pentecostals have got it into their heads that I-35 is some kind of highway to hell

    well, it does end in Texas so they might have a point.

  • No, no – clearly it is I-80, which connects those heathen Blue States on the east coast with those even-more debauched Blue States on the west coast — and allows their evil denizens to pass through good, clean wholesome Nebraska and Iowa and other good heartland states. Surely that is the highway to hell.

    Of course I live about 3/4 mile from the intersection of I-35 and I-80, so I’m obviously screwed either way.

  • Of course, the CINOs (Christians In Name Only) called it “The Highway to Holiness” – more like POTholiness.

    I hope people urge Pastor Joseph Stabile to sue CNN, Heartland Ministries and New Hope Ministries (the “pray-away-the-gay” camp) for everything they’ve got. Even though Robertson employs more lawyers than there are in hell, the suit might give ministries a second thought about infringing on people’s lives. Must we now take out restraining orders against people outside bars holding “purity sieges”?

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