Truth Wins Out Kicks-Off Eleven State Tour in Chicago to Highlight the Harm Caused by the 'Ex-Gay' Industry

Activist and Author Wayne Besen To Speak Across The Midwest and South

NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Author and activist Wayne Besen will kick-off an eleven state speaking tour in Chicago next week to discuss the harm caused by programs that claim to turn gay people straight through prayer and therapy. At each stop, Besen will show a multi-media presentation pointing out the psychological damage caused by these unscientific religious programs.

"The message of this tour is that you can't 'pray away the gay' and LGBT people are fine just the way they are," said Wayne Besen, founder of Truth Wins Out. "Organizations that claim they can change one's sexual orientation are committing consumer fraud and harming a great number of people."

The Chicago speaking venues are free and open to the public:

*January 24, 2011*

Chicago, IL

Northwestern University

Norris University Center

1999 Campus Dr.

Northwestern Room 202

Noon

* *

*January 25, 2011*

Chicago, IL

University of Chicago

5710 South Woodlawn Avenue

Community Lounge

7 p.m.

Truth Wins Out aims to educate local communities, counter misinformation, and help LGBT people find self-acceptance and freedom. Truth Wins Out organized the tour after the nation's largest "ex-gay" organization, Exodus International, announced it would focus on youth in 2011.

"We were outraged that Exodus would target vulnerable and desperate teenagers who need genuine love and self acceptance," said TWO's Besen. "The last thing young LGBT people need is scientifically bankrupt misinformation that tells them they are sick and sinful."

Truth Wins Out's Wayne Besen will visit: Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Alabama.

Besen's multi-media presentation offers a unique, innovative and entertaining look behind the mask of so-called "ex-gay" programs. Besen is the author of two books including the critically acclaimed, "Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth." He is also noted for photographing "ex-gay" poster boy John Paulk in a gay bar in Washington, DC and helping expose the late Rev. Jerry Falwell's personal "ex-gay" activist Michael Johnston as a fraud.

"This tour hopes to educate people in an exciting and memorable way," said Besen, who has spoken at more than 100 leading universities, community organizations, business groups and religious institutions.

During his hour and a half show, Besen takes the audience on a whirlwind tour of "ex-gay" programs. Audiences will learn the history of these groups, the bizarre techniques they use, and the political players that finance these ignoble efforts.

In 2009, Besen was noted in Instinct Magazine's "Leading Men" issue. In 2006, he was recognized in the Advocate Magazine's "People of the Year" issue. Besen has appeared as a guest on leading news and political talk shows including: The Rachel Maddow Show, NBC Nightly News, The O'Reilly Factor, Hannity and Colmes, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He has been quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone and the Advocate Magazine.

For additional information, please visit www.TruthWinsOut.org  

SOURCE Truth Wins Out

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