Zach's Blog Storm

[Egalia]

The blogger manages to capture the poignancy of Zach’s nightmare, while documenting the phenomena of the 'blog storm.'

http://guerillawomentn.blogspot.com/2005/06/zachs-blog-storm.html

Sometimes, as a blogger, it’s easy to get caught up a blog storm without realizing how many people don’t even know it’s going on.

[thrift_store_angel]

1. Great Editorial About LIA

here: http://www.memphisflyer.com/MFsearch05/full_results.asp?xt_from=1&aID=7473

How does God make a gay man straight? In 1997, John Smid, the ex-gay director of Love in Action, a homosexual conversion center located in Memphis, tried to explain this mystery to a Memphis Flyer reporter:


"I'm looking at that wall and suddenly I say it's blue," Smid said, pointing to a yellow wall. "Someone else comes along and says, 'No, it's gold.' But I want to believe that wall is blue. Then God comes along and He says, 'You're right, John, is blue.' That's the help I need. God can help me make that wall blue."


You don't have to be a psychology major to recognize that Smid's metaphor for gay conversion is a dictionary definition of delusional: "a false belief strongly held in spite of invalidating evidence." Love in Action, which received media attention this week as the result of ongoing protests over its youth camp, purports to help its clients recognize that their crayons have been lying to them. Adding insult to irony, LIA literature states that homosexuality is "a distortion of God's intent." As are paint chips, apparently.

[Egalia]

3. Homo No Mo

This is great. Thank you!

[donco6]

2. Love in Action Rules for Home/Temp Lodging

Why would ANYONE place themselves or a loved one into this situation? It's absolutely CRAZY!



1. No discussing therapeutic issues at home. Keep conversations positive.

2. Clients must gain permission through C.O.C. to make or receive phone calls from friends and family members outside the program.

3. No cell phones, beepers, computers, or e-mail/internet access at. Exceptions by C.O.C. approval only.

4. No visitors from out of town without permission via C.O.C.

5. Refuge clients may only read materials approved by staff.

6. No television viewing, going to movies, or reading/watching/listening to secular media of any kind, anywhere within the client¹s and the parent¹s/guardian¹s control. This includes listening to classical or instrumental music that is not expressly Christian (Beethoven, Bach, etc. are not considered Christian). The only exception to the media policy is the weekly movie.

7. Refuge clients may watch one video/DVD per week that has been approved by staff via C.O.C. Movies submitted for approval must be rated G or PG. The parents/guardians are responsible for securing the video/DVD.

8. Weekend curfew (Friday and Saturday) is 10:00pm. Weekday curfew (Sunday through Thursday) is 9:30pm.

9. Refuge clients must be with at least one parent or guardian at all times when off-campus.

10. On certain occasions Refuge clients have the opportunity, with the C.O.C. approval and their parent/guardian¹s permission, to visit the residential houses of the Source program clients. On these occasions Refuge clients must be in phase at all times, and must abide by all the house rules and follow instructions given by Source program house managers. House rules will be communicated to Refuge clients as the need arises. Refuge clients are encouraged to ask for clarification if they are unsure about a particular house rule.

11. Refuge clients may not enter any restuarants with bars, even when accompanied by a parent or guardian.

12. Refuge clients must be accompanied by a parent during any trip to a public restroom.

13. No access to malls of any kind.

14. Clients are not allowed to visit any video, music or media stores that are not expressly Christian, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian. Clients may visit LifeWay Christian stores with a parent or guardian.

15. Refuge clients must report off-casmpus emergencies, illnesses, or injuries to their parents/guardians as soon as possible. Parents/guardians are required to inform LIA staff members of such situations by phone as soon as possible.

16. Total silence time at home begins at 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. Refuge clients may use this time for resting, but are encouraged to make a habit of using it for a nightly quiet time with God.

17. Lights-out time will begin each night at 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.

18. Refuge clients are allowed a one-time 15-minute maximum closed bathroom door time for shower/grooming purposes. The only other closed-door alone time allowed is for using the restroom.

19. Refuge clients must keep their bedroom doors open at all times, day or night.

20. Proper bedclothes must be worn during nighttime sleeping hours. Appropriate bedclothes include full pajamas (tops and bottoms) or a pair of non-underwear-type shorts and a T-shirt. Nightgowns are not allowed.

21. Refuge clients are expected to eat dinner with their parents/guardians/other family members (if any) at least four times per week.

22. Refuge clients are expected to cook dinner one time per week.

[davidinalameda]

4. Beethoven, Bach, etc. are not considered Christian

so what can they listen to--Patty Sandy and Michael W Smith?

:puke:

[donco6]

5. They're probably on the OK list.

Isn't that just utterly appalling? They can't even close the door to the bathroom. I would go completely insane under HALF of those rules. No one should be subjected to this.

[Occulus]

7. This is child abuse.

This place should be shut down for good and the entire staff prosecuted and thrown in jail.

[davidinalameda]

8. it's meant to break the will of the kids

so they'll buy any of the shit that these people are shoveling

[mitchtv]

6. B minor mass? Miss Solemnis?

Oh they are Catholic (worse than gay)

[noamnety]

9. Guess what tv show today

showed all the protestors that were out there for Zach?

The 700 club!

I flipped past right at the start of the hour, and there was a big rainbow flag waving so I paused long enough to see what it was, then realized the 700 Club was showing a gay pride flag, and had to watch.

They only interviewed the people with the "right" views, of course, at least in the parts I watched, but the protestors were well represented, in multiple shots, and they didn't come off looking like extremists or anything. The dad came off looking conflicted and upset, but stuck to his guns about being right - though he did say once Zach was 18, he could make his own decisions. It's just his job, as a parent to brainwash make those decisions until he turns 18. I turned it off after the converted love in action guy started talking because I just couldn't listen to him.