Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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^_■ PHOTO BY MORGAN FORD/THE GAMECOCK Wayne Besen speaks in Calcott Tuesday evening on the ex-gay movement and his book. Forum CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 the aloneness a homosexual ashamed of his or her orientation might feel. Besen spent four years exam ining ex-gay ministries, inter viewing leaders and visiting ministries and therapies under cover for his book. He said he was prompted to write about four years ago when he heard that a right-wing Christian fundamen talist movement was about to launch a $1 million ad campaign claiming that one can “pray the gay away” and that homosexual ity is a choice that can be changed, not a preference one is born with. Besen said the ministries cause severe emotional damage and that many homosexuals with fundamentalist Christian beliefs who try to change their orienta tion through these ministries find themselves living in a hell on Earth. Besen talked about the archaic nature of reparative therapy, which he said is ludicrous. One ex ample Besen gave was from a lead er in the field of reparative thera py. The subjects are told to beat pillows with a bat while yelling a parent’s name, until they have a flashback to the moment they “re alized they were gay,” which is supposed to “fix” everything. This same therapist believes that one can achieve memories from when they were within the womb, a sci entifically impossible concept, since the physiological means for memory do not yet exist while in the womb. Besen predicts these ministries and reparative therapies will eventually be put out of business by the costs of litigation. People are suing the ministries for the frequent instances of sexual as sault and suing the therapists for using false methods and creating unpleasant false memories. The forum was sponsored by the South Carolina Gay and Lesbian Community Center and the USC Bi Gay Lesbian Straight Organization. They are sponsor ing another forum on April 20 from 7-9 p.m. at the USC Law School Auditorium. A panel of re ligious leaders from different faiths and denominations will discuss same-sex marriage. “I wish there were more peo ple like him who would speak out about these things because a lot of people don’t even know what goes on at these ministries, and don’t know the pain and emo tional suffering it causes a lot of people," said second-year public relations student Brian Breitenstein. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecocknews@gwm.sc.edu Bar CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Parrish said. “The coffee shop of bars, where you can bring a book, play backgammon, make friends. Parrish and Florian are paying for the licenses and building sup plies with a loan from Florian’s father. “It’s less than your average car loan. Since we didn’t have to build anything, we’re just gutting it and painting,” she said. The bar will feature mostly stereo music and acoustic players could perform, but it’s not sup posed to be a venue, Parrish said. “It’s supposed to be like a lounge, not a concert hall.” The partners are painting over the peacock blue and white walls and making repairs to plumbing, lighting, ventilation, as well as setting up a proper kitchen to meet Department of Health and Environmental Control standards. Parrish doesn’t know what this could lead to, but said she plans to work at the bar for at least a year. “This may be the beginning of future businesses, or it may just be a good experience to help me get into graduate school,” she said. “Who knows? I think the ex perience of opening a business, no matter how small, is invalu able.” Comments on this story?E-mail gamecocknews@gwm.sc.edu I Kerry CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 to tap into a voting base with waning political interest. “I think young people have to re-emerge as a political force in America,” Kerry said. But the extent of his collegiate tour — University of New Hampshire, University of Rhode Island, City College of New York City and University of Pittsburg — is limited entirely to Northern areas and recalls complaints during South Carolina’s prima ry in February that he sidesteps the South. “He is smart to not come to South Carolina,” Dargan said. “Republicans have a good base at USC.” Others say it’s just political strategy. “He’s not writing off the South,” said Craig Swaisgood, president of the Young Democrats of USC and fourth-year political science student. “It is a game of statistics and targeting.” With media spotlights on the September 11 investigations and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice's testimony, Kerry's media presence has been slim. His political opponent, George W. Bush, has been seeing a lot of attention, but it mostly pertains to investigations and war, not politics. Kerry said he hopes the cam pus tour will stir somg collegiate attention. “We want students to start rec ognizing their power,” he said. Comments on this story? E-mail garriecocknews@gwm.sc.edu Solving Problems Including: DUI Criminal Defense Auto Accidents 2910 Devine Street 254-7900 Cromer Law Offices A General Practice of Lew J.L. "Bubba" Cromer, Jr. Former S.C. State Representative -1-1 ?j! TRAVEL CUTS See the world your way 800-592-CUTS (2887) www.travelcuts.com •istiliSyour n first time! we’ll pay you $50 to travel abroad I* •travel through Europe for as little as $75 a day! •receive $50 cash back when you book by March 31! r-. ' ..... You’ve Got News Get The Gamecock in your Inbox. Register now on our website and automatically receive an Email Edition of the paper with every new issue. Headline News • College Sports • Campus Calendar Local Weather • Daily Horoscope It’s the best way to stay informed... and it’s free. www.dailygamecock.com WE DELIVER! 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