Contact: Wayne Besen, 917.691.5118

Truth Wins Out Calls On Sarah Palin To Comment On Her Church’ Support of “Pray Away The Gay’ Conference

Coalition To Hold Educational Forum On Thursday To Counter “Ex-Gay’ Program

Truth Wins Out (TWO) today urged GOP Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin to speak out about her church’ support for an “ex-gay” conference that will be in Anchorage on Saturday. Palin is scheduled to be in Alaska today and should use her visit as an opportunity to inform Americans whether she agrees with her church that homosexuals can be cured through prayer, says TWO.

“It is time Sarah Palin lets the American people know whether she shares her church’ view that being gay is a choice that can be prayed away,” said Truth Wins Out’ Executive Director Wayne Besen. “Voters are entitled to know who Palin is and what her views are on this issue before they go into the voting booth. Palin’ visit to Alaska is an opportunity for her to address whether she supports the goals of Focus on the Family’ divisive anti-gay conference.”

The controversy began when Time Magazine discovered that Wasilla Bible Church, where the Palins worship, had a Sunday morning program insert advertising an upcoming Focus on the Family conference on curing homosexuality in Anchorage called Love Won Out.

Truth Wins Out’ Executive Director, Wayne Besen, is now in Anchorage to oppose this anti-gay symposium. He will speak at a forum on Thursday evening in Anchorage with local religious and community leaders to discuss the danger of so-called “ex-gay” ministries. The “God Loves You Just as You Are,” symposium is sponsored by the Metropolitan Community Church (7208 Duben Avenue) and will take place at 7:00 p.m.

“We appear wherever Focus on the Family spreads lies and fear,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “Love Won Out distorts gay life and conflates stereotypes with science, while selling false hope to vulnerable people. We are looking forward to working with Alaskan advocacy groups to counter Focus on the Family’ false and destructive messages.”

John Paulk, an “ex-gay” leader who was on the cover of Newsweek originally founded the program. Love Won Out suffered a major setback after Paulk was photographed in a Washington, DC gay bar in 2000. Besen is the author of “Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the “Ex-Gay’ Myth.” TWO shadows this anti-gay seminar across the nation to ensure that the public is armed with the facts and aware that Focus on the Family is deliberately disseminating misinformation about gay and lesbian people.