Lisa Ling says she doesn't believe
people can alter their sexuality through prayer.
Gay groups had criticized an Our
America episode which aired on Oprah Winfrey's cabler OWN in
March profiling the “ex-gay” movement.
Ling's reporting was challenged by gay
watchdog the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
and Truth Wins Out (TWO), a group that advocates against “ex-gay”
ministries.
In
an interview with gay male entertainment website AfterElton.com,
Ling defended her work.
Critics said the show's theme –
articulated in its title: Can You Pray Away The Gay? – was
offensive.
“Well I think that's a bit of an
unfair criticism,” Ling said. “[T]he question mark at the end
was supposed to be rhetorical because I think these days, most people
recognize that you can pray the gay away as much as you can pray the
Asian away. Or pray the black away. It has never been proven. In
fact, it's been disproven by reputable medical associations. The
title was to really inspire people to watch the show.”
“My objective wasn't to incite a
reaction from the gay community, and if it did so, I'm so sorry. My
intention was to provoke closed-minded religious folks and hope they
would expand their horizons and really find out what God's love
really means.”
In the video titled Lisa Ling Screws
Up Big-Time On 'Ex-Gay' Segment, Truth Wins Out President Wayne
Besen challenged Ling's assertion that “ex-gay” ministry Exodus
International doesn't make false promises. Ling didn't respond to
Besen's criticisms in the interview. (The video is embedded in the
right panel of this page.)