For Immediate Release
June 1, 2015
CONTACT:
Deborah Hamilton, Hamilton Strategies, 215.815.7716, 610.584.1096, ext. 102, or Beth Harrison, 610.584.1096, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com
Religious Freedom on Trial in New Jersey
Christopher Doyle of International Healing Foundation Says New Jersey Jewish Group JONAH is the Real Victim in David vs. Goliath Lawsuit
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Jews
Offering New Alternatives for Healing (JONAH) is heading to a New
Jersey courtroom tomorrow to defend the right to offer therapy for
unwanted same-sex attractions.
The
New Jersey-based JONAH, along with its co-founder, Arthur Goldberg, and
life coach Alan Downing, are being accused in a lawsuit filed by the
Southern Poverty Law Center of fraudulently claiming to provide services
that “convert” people from gay to straight, allegedly violating New
Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act.
The
suit claims the plaintiffs, four young men and two of their parents,
were lured into JONAH’s services through deceptive practices.
“It
is an outrageous state of affairs in our society when a three-hundred
million dollar liberal extremist organization like the SPLC can bully a
small Jewish non-profit group because they find their religious beliefs
intolerable,” said licensed clinical professional counselor Christopher
Doyle, who is the director of the International Healing Foundation (www.ComingOutLoved.com).
“This sham lawsuit is nothing more than a shameless effort from the far
left to prevent those voluntarily seeking counseling to find help and
healing for unwanted same-sex attractions. The real victims here are
JONAH, and all those the SPLC seeks to silence through their
intimidation tactics.”
At
the request of the plaintiffs, New Jersey State Superior Court Judge
Peter F. Bariso, Jr. banned Doyle and other key witnesses for JONAH from
testifying as experts in the case, primarily due to their beliefs on
the immutability of homosexuality.
“As
if the deck weren’t already stacked against JONAH, Judge Bariso’s
decision to disqualify me and other highly educated and trained
psychotherapists to testify as expert witnesses in this case is
astounding, especially since he is allowing several gay-affirming
therapists to serve as experts for the SPLC. This case is truly a David
vs. Goliath fight, and although the judge has handicapped JONAH, we all
know how that biblical battle ended. I am confident that despite these
challenges, the ten witnesses who will testify of sexual orientation
change will be the stone to sling this giant down for good.”
Doyle, who is a leader in the #TherapyEquality movement of Equality And Justice For All
has been actively involved in fighting proposed bans on sexual identity
affirming therapy in several states, including the most recent, Nevada,
where legislators recently cancelled a hearing on the proposed ban,
effectively killing the harmful bill.
Over
the past several months, Washington, Colorado, and Virginia rejected
bills that would ban talk therapy for minors in an effort to protect the
rights of minors and sexually abused and sexually confused youth who
seek voluntarily therapy for their unwanted same-sex attractions. These
states joined at least 10 others in 2015—as well as an additional 15
states in 2014—that have either voted down or failed to advance this
harmful legislation.
More
than 50,000 licensed medical and mental health professionals support
the rights of youth to receive such therapies, including the American
Association of Christian Counselors, the Alliance for Scientific
Integrity and Therapeutic Choice, the Catholic Medical Association, the
American College of Pediatricians, International Network of Orthodox
(Jewish) Mental Health Professionals and the Christian Medical &
Dental Association.
Equality And Justice For All will co-host the Safe Exit Summit
on Oct. 2-3 in Washington, D.C. with Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays
& Gays (PFOX). The event will focus on equipping churches to become
safe exits for individuals seeking to resolve unwanted homosexual
attractions. ###
To interview Christopher Doyle, contact Deborah Hamilton at 215-815-7716 or 610-584-1096, ext. 102, or Beth Harrison at 610-584-1096, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com.
International Healing Foundation
(IHF), founded in 1990, believes some live a heterosexual, homosexual,
bisexual, transgender or transsexual life, while others are unsure about
their sexuality and seek to explore alternatives. IHF upholds the
rights to self-determination and values the right of autonomy, and is
committed to helping people on their journey of self-discovery. IHF’s
goal is to promote healthy individuals and relationships, while
assisting in the healing of families, communities and places of worship.
Equality And Justice For All
is the only civil rights organization that works to further the general
welfare of the ex-gay community by promoting fair and equitable laws
and policies protecting their rights. By furthering individual
self-determination and liberty for former homosexuals, the organization
strives to reduce bigoted representations of the ex-gay sexual
orientation status, ensuring that ex-gays and their friends and families
can be open, honest, safe and respected in a diverse society.
