"Dr." Marcus Bachmann has finally addressed the media firestorm surrounding his family counseling clinic's efforts to help people "Pray The Gay Away."
Speaking with Minnesota's Star Tribune about the recording that circulated over the last few weeks, Bachmann says it's a myth he ever called homosexuals "barbarians."
From the Star Tribune
A doctored recording?
Meanwhile, an audiotape circulating on the Internet depicts Bachmann as calling gays barbarians in a 2010 interview he gave to the "Point of View" Christian radio talk show.
"We have to understand: Barbarians need to be educated,'' Bachmann's voice is heard saying on the tape. "They need to be disciplined. Just because someone feels it or thinks it doesn't mean that we are supposed to go down that road.''
Bachmann said that someone must have doctored the recording of the interview, in which he addressed child discipline as well as homosexuality and sex education.
The recording also became a focus of media attention this week, including ABC's "Nightline."
"I was talking in reference to children. Nothing, nothing to do with homosexuality. That's not my mindset. That's not my belief system. That's not the way I would talk," Bachmann said.
Entertainer Cher helped spread word of the "barbarians" quote to her 250,000-plus Twitter followers, ripping him for talking about gays in a "most UNCHRISTIAN way."
Then on Wednesday night, Bachmann was lampooned by comedian Jerry Seinfeld and host Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show."
"I think the strongest myth. ... is the myth that I have ever called a homosexual a barbarian," Bachmann said.
Sure. It's all a big media conspiracy to take you down. "Nothing, nothing to do with homosexuality." Yeah sure.
This bullshit is transparent as your therapy is fraudulent and your wife is crazy.
Bachmannn also says on the topic of his clinic's therapy practices:
"We don't have an agenda or a philosophy of trying to change someone,'' Bachmann said.
Truth Wins Out, who documented their own experiences with the clinic responds:
“Marcus Bachmann is not telling the truth when he dishonestly claims that his clinic is not anti-gay,” said Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director Wayne Besen, responding to Bachmann’s new statement in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “Our investigation clearly shows that his clinic has great antipathy towards gay and lesbian people and his therapists work to convert clients from gay to straight.”
“Marcus Bachmann is willfully and wantonly misrepresenting what I experienced during my five therapy sessions at his clinic,” said John Becker, TWO’s Director of Communications and Development, who led an undercover operation at Bachmann’s clinic. “We urge Bachmann & Associates to stop misleading the public and commit to ending the harmful and discredited practice of ‘ex-gay’ therapy.”
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Meanwhile news arrives that the nation’s largest “ex-gay” organization, Exodus International will be convening in the Twin Cities of Minnesota for a conference in July 2012.
A big ex-gay convention coming to St. Paul, Minnesota? Well, isn't that convenient? In 2004, then State Senator Bachmann gave a very warm welcome to this very same "ex-gay" group. From Think Progress:
Bachmann not only lent a quote for the group’s press release but also “opened the conference with a greeting and blessing.” From the release:
“We are so pleased that Minneapolis has invited us back to share again that change is possible for those who are no longer satisfied with their homosexuality,” said Mike Haley, host of the Love Won Out conference, a former homosexual and the author of the book 101 Frequently Asked Questions About Homosexuality. “In fact, we have been officially welcomed by Minnesota Sen. Michele Bachmann, the author of the state marriage-protection amendment.”
Though her amendment was blocked in the Legislature, Bachmann remains committed to protecting marriage and looks forward to hearing about the causes of same-sex attraction.
“I know that Love Won Out will present the truth about homosexuality,” Bachmann said, “and present it in a compassionate and loving manner. Those of us working to safeguard marriage from redefinition by radical judges must inform our efforts with an understanding of the deep emotional wounds that many in the homosexual community carry. I look forward to welcoming Minnesotans and residents of surrounding states to hear the message of healing that is possible.”
Of course, the "truth" about homosexuality from
Michele Bachmann's own mouth is:
"It’s a very sad life. It’s part of Satan, I think, to say this is gay. It’s anything but gay."
I wonder if Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann will be welcoming them as warmly in 2012 to her state to "tell the truth about homosexuality?"
Oddly, candidate Bachmann, who has built her entire political career on talking about the gays, continues to maintain her silence on the topic of whether the clinic she co-owns with her husband is practicing "gay repartive therapy."