South African Native, André Bekker, Exposes Gay Activist Speculation that Death Was Motivated by Sexual Orientation

April 30, 2013 – Johannesburg, South Africa. On April 29, 2013 GayStarNews reported the headline: “Gay teens starved, tortured, killed at camp to turn them into ‘men.’”

From the bottom of my heart, and in the strongest terms possible, I join with Voice of the Voiceless to condemn this inhumane, brutal, and criminal act. I mourn with Raymond Buys’ family and pray that justice is served.

Unfortunately, some “journalists” may be using this tragedy to further certain political ends in South Africa, which is both outrageous and disrespectful to this young man and his family. What is particularly of interest in the GayStarNews story is that the headline includes the words “Gay teens.” Nowhere is it stated how the reporter knows that they are gay, and in none of the major newspapers in South Africa, nor on the News broadcasts, is there any mention made that these teenagers were gay or that their deaths are related to their sexual orientation.

For example, News24 reported: “Court hears of teen’s terrible torture.” The heading in the Daily Telegraph reads: “Teen dies after being ‘beaten’ at camp that ‘makes men out of boys’.” According to Raymond Buys’ mother, her intentions of sending her son to this camp were “to make him a better man, to give him a better future,” not change his sexual orientation from gay to straight. The Daily Telegraph also stated that Raymand Buys had “learning difficulties,” and The Daily Maverick reported the same fact in their September 2011 press release, where it stated that Buys had been:

“Cast away due to his rebellious nature, by his mother and her boyfriend. They dropped him off at the gate of the Leader [De Koker]… They were willing to pay thousands of rand just to be rid of him. The group known as X-Military Leaders (7,000 members) took him in and cared for him. The young man’s behavioural deviations were noticed immediately.” Exactly what these “behavioral deviations” were (other than a physical inability to carry out certain tasks) is unclear. Buys was believed to have had some sort of learning disability, as, reportedly, did Calitz and Van der Walt, two other young men who previously suffered similar torture, and eventually died as a result.

But activist Melanie Nathan has suggested that the other aspect held in common by the three young men was that they were all perceived as “gay and clearly effeminate.” Gaystarnews also reported “When Calitz requested to leave, De Koker reportedly told him he ‘wasn’t a moffie [gay] and he would make a man out of him’.” It is not stated, but seems to be a quote from Nathan: “What is so shocking is that the murder of Buys is not the first, as Echo Wild Game Rangers has seen the deaths of 2 young teens, also perceived as gay and clearly effeminate, when in 2007, 18-year-old Eric Calitz and Nicolaas van der Walt, 19 both died in similar circumstances. de Koker was handed a suspended sentence in 2009 over Calitz’s death but escaped charges for van der Walt’s death, which was ruled to have been caused by a heart attack. It was reported that de Koker told Calitz that he wasn’t a “moffie” (like saying “fag”) and he “would make a man out of him.”

Interestingly, that remark is made to suggest that Calitz’s death was as a result of the report “de Koker told Calitz that he wasn’t a “moffie” (like saying “fag”) and he “would make a man out of him.” It is worth mentioning that this was never brought up as the motive for this crime in the 2007 trial. Of more importance is the fact that amongst the Afrikaners, to say someone is not a “moffie” is a saying, “you are not a sissy.” In this context it has no reference to a person’s sexual orientation.

For example, a boy would for instance dare his friend to do something risky, and if the friend would not have the courage to take up the challenge, his friend will then say; “come on man do it, you are not a moffie.” What De Koker then said to Calitz is that he is not a sissy, he will make a man out of him,” with no reference to his sexual orientation. This clearly means, “making men out of boys,” not changing gays into straights.

What is troubling is that Melani Nathan “suggested” that “they were all perceived as ‘gay and clearly effeminate’” Gaystarnews quotes her as saying the same and goes one step further with her quotation by suggesting this was a “gay conversion camp” and “with a little bit of digging [into the story], the gay reparative undertones start to emerge.” Just what those “gay reparative undertones” are, is not clear. Although activist Nathan does not mention “gay conversion camps,” there has never ever any mention made in any of the court hearings or news reports of any “gay conversion camp.” This is entirely the Gaystarnews reporter’s own invention.

When we look at Melanie Nathan’s blog entry she unfortunately does not mention what “digging” she did and what “gay reparative undertones start to emerge.” Whatever she discovered is nowhere else reported in the mainstream media. She also made no mention of how she came to know that the “three young men were all perceived as ‘gay and clearly effeminate.’” Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that the crimes committed were done so with the motive that these teens were gay.

In the light of these facts, it seems that these reports in the gay media are nothing but propaganda, based on half-truths and pure speculation. Raymand Buys does not deserve to be dishonored by such exploitation. He was was tortured at the hands of brutal criminals, and now continues to be abused at the hands of activists trying to score cheap political points for their own selfish objectives.

 

Andre Bekker is a Theological Counselor in South Africa and Guest Contributor to Voice of the Voiceless. Note: portions of this story were edited by Christopher Doyle.

Today in their press release, Liberty Counsel (LC) warned of the dangerous “hate” map being put forth by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).

“FBI footage released yesterday reveals that Floyd Corkins sought to kill employees of the Family Research Council (FRC) because the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) listed FRC on its website as a so-called ‘hate group.’ Although FRC is clearly not a ‘hate group,’ the SPLC lists it as such solely because it disagrees with the organization about homosexuality and marriage as the union of one man and one woman.”

Informed readers may remember an op-ed I wrote in mid-February this year about the SPLC’s Hate Campaign Against Ex-Gays where I warned of the “interactive map on their website of over seventy therapists who offer sexual orientation change effort (SOCE) therapy. Similar to the map of gun owners that was recently published in a New York newspaper, this “hate” map acts as a black list, putting professionals at-risk for potential violence from those who oppose SOCE.

LC reports that “Last year, Corkins entered the lobby of FRC armed with a loaded semi-automatic pistol, 100 rounds of ammunition, and 15 Chick-fil-A sandwiches. The security guard was shot, but he was still able to wrestle Corkins to the ground until police arrived. Corkins confessed to the FBI that he intended to kill as many people as possible and to rub Chick-fil-A sandwiches in their faces. He had a list on him of three other pro-family organizations in Washington, DC, where he intended to carry out more murders after he finished slaughtering people at FRC. When interrogators asked Corkins how he picked FRC, he said, “Southern Poverty Law lists anti-gay groups. I found them online, did a little research, went to the website, stuff like that.”

I have first-hand experience of the deceptive practices of the SPLC. In October 2011, I co-facilitated a group therapy seminar in which Samuel Wolfe, an attorney with the SPLC, registered and attended. During one of the breaks, our staff casually attempted to get to know Mr. Wolfe, who avoided telling us his motivation for participating. After the first day of the seminar, we did a little research and discovered that Mr. Wolfe was indeed an employee of the SPLC. One of our staff members asked Mr. Wolfe why he was attending. Mr. Wolfe claimed that he was doing research on so-called “change therapies” and wanted to see if our seminar really harmed persons with SSA.

We politely informed Mr. Wolfe that we only allowed participants, not observers, to attend our healing seminars, refunded his fee, and asked him to leave. Last April, an article appeared in “The Advocate” written by Mr. Wolfe. Below is an excerpt:

“As part of our investigation, I recently attended a conversion program where participants used ‘touch therapy,’ which involves being held like a baby by another man, with lights dimmed and soft music playing. The idea is to receive the nurturing missed as a child, thereby becoming more ‘whole’ and automatically shedding ‘unwanted same-sex attraction.’ Tragically, some of the participants were teens, prodded by their parents and communities that reject them as they are.”

While there is no mention of my organization, the processes he describes are similar to a therapeutic activity that we have individuals participate in, teaching about healthy touch and bonding rather than sexualizing one’s emotional needs. Nothing about this program was intended to “shed” unwanted SSA, as Mr. Wolfe claims.

Not only is the SPLC dangerous and ideological, they are also dishonest about their real motives: branding anyone who disagrees with their radical, liberal agenda as propagators of hate. The SPLC needs to be reminded that tolerance does not include tolerating intolerance.

Christopher Doyle is the Co-Founder and Acting Director of Voice of the Voiceless, the only anti-defamation league for former homosexuals, persons with unwanted same-sex attractions, and their families. For more information, visit: www.VoiceoftheVoiceless.info

Today The Christian Post (CP) reported on the suspension reversal of a Texas student who was punished for saying homosexuality is wrong. “14-year-old, Dakota Ary, from Western Hills High School of the Fort Worth Independent School District was initially given a suspension of one day in-school and two days full.”

After learning of the suspension, the student’s mother contacted Liberty Counsel for legal defense. Matt Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel told CP that he believed Western Hills High made the correct decision in reversing their course of action. “The decision to rescind the suspension is the correct one. The suspension was wrong and improper,” said Staver. “I applaud the student for standing up. We stood with him to resist an unjust suspension and we are pleased that suspension has been reversed.”

CP reports that “Dakota Ary was in a German language class at Western Hills when class conversation shifted to the issues of religion and homosexuality. The student reportedly said that ‘being a homosexual was wrong.’ Upon hearing his remark, the teacher proceeded to take administrative action. Ary himself is an honors student, noted for being a member of the high school’s football team and a volunteer at his church. The rescinding of the suspension allows for him to play in an upcoming football game. In a publicly released statement, the Fort Worth Independent School District said that it does not comment on student matters.”

This is code for: “We don’t want to shine more light on the intolerance of some of our employees to free speech.” I’m assuming the teacher did not object to any student saying homosexual behavior was perfectly normal and carried no consequences to youth involved. I’m sure the teacher also failed to mention that half of all new HIV infections are among men who have sex with men.

Staver also commented that: “These instances are increasing and will continue to increase unless Christians and people who love liberty stand up and resist this intolerance.”

We agree with Staver and Liberty Counsel. Tolerance does not mean tolerating intolerance. Adults and youth have the right to disagree with homosexual behavior, no matter how politically incorrect it may be. Free speech is a fundamental right in America, and activists who are quick to equate “disagreement” with “hate” are treading on dangerous ground.

For more information, see: http://www.christianpost.com/news/texas-students-suspension-for-anti-gay-remark-reversed-94734/cpf

Christopher Doyle is the Co-Founder and Acting Director of Voice of the Voiceless. For more information, visit: www.VoiceoftheVoiceless.info

Voice of the Voiceless Demands Apology for Ex-Gay Defamation

Washington, DC – On April 1, 2013 Dr. Phil aired a show titled: “Shocking Mom Revelations.” As a part of this episode, Dr. Phil interviewed a mother whose daughter identified as a lesbian. During the episode, the mother shared about her disapproval of her daughter’s “lifestyle choice” and expressed a desire for her daughter to get help. While we do not condone this mother’s belief that homosexuality is simply a “choice” per se, science has recognized, through 100 years of peer-reviewed research, that homosexuality is in fact fluid for some individuals.

There is an abundance of scientific peer-reviewed research that shows homosexuality is not an enduring and immutable characteristic, thus proving the very statement that Dr. Phil said at the end of the episode: “I don’t believe there is any such thing as an ‘ex-gay’” as categorically false, unscientific, and defamatory to the thousands of former homosexuals, persons with unwanted same-sex attractions, and their families.

After weeks of attempting to speak with the show’s producers, legal representatives, and media relations spokesperson, all we received was the following statement: “Thank you for sharing your opinions with us. Dr. Phil and his producers stand by the statements he made on this show.”

This “response” is a slap in the face to the tens of thousands of former homosexuals, persons with unwanted same-sex attraction, and their families. Further, Dr. Phil’s complete lack of respect for this mother’s Christian values is defamatory towards the entire faith-based community who hold to traditional Biblical beliefs regarding homosexual behavior.

Join us in signing this online petition to demand that Dr. Phil apologize to the ex-gay community, set the record straight on the etiology of homosexuality, and invite former homosexuals, persons with unwanted SSA, and their families, on his show so that America can learn just how marginalized our community is!

To see more and sign the petition, visit: http://www.comingoutloved.com/drphilpetition

Christopher Doyle, M.A. is the Co-Founder and Acting Director of Voice of the Voiceless. For more information, visit www.Voiceofthevoiceless.info

Anyone close to my generation knows the 1999 hit song “Californication” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. In the very last chorus, the lyrics are as follows: “Pay your surgeon very well to break the spell of aging. Sicker than the rest there is no test but this is what you’re craving . . . Dream of Californication. Dream of Californication.”

On April 17, 2013 the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco heard oral arguments to determine the fate of California’s law to ban sexual orientation change effort (SOCE) therapy for minors. Among the three-judge panel are two democratically appointed judges from President’s Clinton and Obama, and one libertarian-leaning justice appointed by late President Reagan.

While most of the mainstream media failed to wait until the actual hearing to publish stories, sticking to their usual talking points that SOCE is “harmful” and “discredited” and that every “major mental health association is against it,” the Los Angeles Times piece actually shed some light on the tone of the hearing.

While the Libertarian-learning Chief Judge Alex Kozinski asked the question: “Why can’t the Legislature say, ‘We looked into it, we think it is harmful, we think it causes harm to minors … and we the Legislature are going to protect them,” he also observed that even a small limitation on free speech was impermissible – “It doesn’t have to be breathtaking — and would have to be justified by compelling reasons.”

But Judge Graber, the Clinton appointee, noted that compelling justification of the ban would only be required if the court determined it infringed on free speech. “Talk therapy is entitled to some constitutional protection but is not immune from regulation.”

Still not satisfied, Kozinsky went onto say: “We don’t have any compelling evidence” that SOCE therapy should be banned. “Point me to the one piece of evidence we can call compelling saying that this causes harm.”

The truth is, there is no scientific evidence that SOCE causes harm or is ineffective for minors. While major mental health organizations have made this claim, they have no data to back it up. Instead, some have cited research that shows homosexual youth are more likely to experience poorer outcomes when rejected by their families.

For example, a 2009 study in Pediatrics found that minors who experience family rejection based on their sexual orientation face especially serious health risks and that such youth were 8.4 times more likely to report having attempted suicide, 5.9 times more likely to report high levels of depression, and 3.4 times more likely to use illegal drugs compared with peers from families that reported no or low levels of family rejection.

However, this study did not examine outcomes of minors in SOCE. But LGBT-activist committees within major medical and mental health associations are using it to advance their agenda. It is also being peddled in several state bills, as well as in California Rep. Jackie Speier’s Resolution in the United States House of Representatives titled “Stop Harming Our Kids Act.”

I spoke with the legislative aide in Speier’s office who was in charge of writing the language, and she admitted that SOCE was not mentioned in the aforementioned study, but told me that family rejection towards LGBT children can be compounded to make that conclusion of SOCE. To this I replied: “Well, that may be a good enough argument to make politically, but this will not hold up in a court of law.”

As the conversation progressed, the legislative aide became more agitated with my challenges, and eventually, hung up on me. Attempts to land a meeting with Rep. Speier have been turned down due to “multiple scheduling conflicts.” However, according to her office, the congresswoman plans to reintroduce this Resolution again this year (it died in committee last session).

I expressed my concern that the congresswoman should at least meet with those persons she seeks to marginalize in this Resolution – that is, former homosexuals and persons with unwanted same-sex attractions. But according to her office, the congresswoman does not recognize persons who experience SSA but do not identify as gay. Apparently, her office was also unaware that former homosexuals are now a protected class in Washington, DC.

Speier’s refusal to meet with and recognize former homosexuals is now treading into a case of sexual orientation discrimination. In fact, just a few years ago a group of ex-gays, myself included, met with Joseph Wheeler, Attorney for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, who agreed with the 2009 Washington D.C. Superior Court ruling that ex-gays are a legally protected class (PFOX v. Government of the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights).

While Rep. Speier and a handful of state legislatures continue to promote falsehoods about SOCE, Pedophiles such as convicted former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky will continue to molest boys, some of whom will develop homosexual inclinations as a result. In fact, a 2012 study in the peer-reviewed, scientific journal Child Abuse and Neglect found that “gay/lesbian respondents had higher odds of exposure to child abuse.”

But you’ll never hear of that research, nor will you see any of the hundreds of other studies over the last one-hundred years that demonstrate some men and women can and do change from homosexual to heterosexual. So we wait for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to decide if California will apply the same standard to youth who want to change their sexual orientation as they do for transgender youth who seek counsel to change their gender.

While transgender youth might not be paying their surgeon to “break the spell of aging,” California could prove to be “sicker than the rest” and give gay activists exactly what they’re craving: no choice, no freedom, and no way out of unwanted same-sex attractions. For a group that has fought so many years for tolerance and equality, this tyrannical direction by the LGBT lobby may backfire on them. As Nietzche once said: “Be careful when you fight the monsters, lest you become one.” (Note: this article was published in The Christian Post on April 22, 2013).

Christopher Doyle, M.A. is the Co-Founder and Acting Director of Voice of the Voiceless. For more information, visit: www.VoiceoftheVoiceless.info