Minnesota Independent

Bachmann takes in ‘ex-gay’ presentation at Iowa church

By Andy Birkey | 08.08.11 | 1:23 pm

MSNBC reports that Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann and her husband Marcus attended a church service in Des Moines, Iowa, over the weekend that included an ex-gay presentation. Bachmann, who built her political career in Minnesota fighting against rights for LGBT people, has blown off reporters’ questions about her views on LGBT rights and about evidence that her husband’s counseling clinic which performs “ex-gay” therapy.

Marcus Bachmann. Photo: Andy Birkey, Minnesota Independent

Reports: Bachmann’s clinic performs ‘ex-gay’ therapy

By Andy Birkey | 07.11.11 | 7:30 am

Two witnesses said over the weekend that a counseling clinic founded by Michele and Marcus Bachmann performs a controversial “ex-gay” therapy. A former client of Bachmann’s clinic told The Nation that he was counseled to become straight when he was in high school. And the group Truth Wins Out sent a staffer undercover and was treated for his homosexuality. Bachmann’s clinic has taken in thousands in state and federal money despite its overt Christian conservative message.

Focus on the Family cuts 8 percent of workforce

By Andy Birkey | 09.03.09 | 2:33 pm

James Dobson’s Focus on the Family announced Wednesday that it’s cutting 75 jobs due to a decrease in profits and donations, according to the Denver Post. The organization, which works…

Focus on the Family drops ex-gay program, faces budget shortfall

By Andy Birkey | 08.14.09 | 3:47 pm

Focus on the Family, James Dobson’s anti-LGBT empire and the largest organization in the religious right, announced earlier this week that it would be selling off its ex-gay therapy program called…

Top psych group: You can’t pray gay away

By Andy Birkey | 08.13.09 | 1:03 pm

The world’s largest professional association for psychologists released a report last week criticizing attempts to turn gay people straight. The American Psychological Association (APA) reports that such efforts — variously called reparative therapies, sexual orientation change plans or “ex-gay” movements — are ineffective and, at times, dangerous. Minnesota has several organizations that engage in ex-gay therapy, but even their leaders acknowledge that it doesn’t often work.