Grove City College Despite the controversy surrounding sexual reorientation, there are only a few published empirical reports concerning the experiences of ex-gays. Summarizing these reports, this article describes the role of religious variables in the change process. Some kind of change appears to occur for many who identify themselves as ex-gay. Although sexual orientation is not an easily defined or measured phenomenon, change over time is not theoretically unfounded or empirically unprecedented. Many of the individuals who report efforts to become ex-gay feel that the efforts were helpful, and a small percentage feel the efforts were harmful. Ex-gay is a term that often provokes extreme reactions. Many view the term as a misnomer, connoting an impossible situation (Ross, 1977; Schreier, 1998). For instance, the recently issued Guidelines for Psychotherapy With Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients do not mention issues in working with ex-gays and imply becoming one might be impossible (American Psychological Association [APA], 2000). Other clinicians, however, seem interested in exploring the possibility that people might be able to change sexual orientation (Spitzer, 2000; Throckmorton, 1998). A dispassionate response to the concept of ex-gay is rare. 1 Pattison and Pattison (1980, p. 1553) introduced the term ex-gay to the professional literature; they defined it to mean someone who had "experienced a basic change in sexual orientation from exclusive homosexuality to exclusive heterosexuality." Over the past 20 years, as a gay male/lesbian affirming movement has grown, a parallel group of individuals who identify themselves as ex-gay has developed. Recently, ex-gay leader Worthen (2000) wrote the following: What does ex-gay mean? It is a statement of fact: I am no longer the same. God has changed me, He is changing me, and He most certainly will continue to change me.. .. At New Hope Ministry, we do not attempt to make heterosexuals out of homosexuals. Rather, we attempt to change a person's identity, the way a person looks at himself. We encourage the former gay to drop the label homosexual from his life. However, we do not ask him to become dishonest about his struggle with homosexuality. He is a Christian who has a homosexual problem, rather than a homosexual who believes in Christ Jesus.
