Ex-Gay Therapist Into Molesting Men

Truth Wins Out is all over ex-gay "therapists," debunking their methods and monitoring and exposing their hypocrisy. Yesterday, they passed along the good news that a sexual predator masquerading as one of these ex-gay counselors has been convicted of sexual assault and is likely out of business (although these types always seem to resurface):

NEW YORK – Truth Wins Out expressed relief today that Christopher Austin, an ‘ex-gay’ counselor in Irving, Texas, was convicted of sexually assaulting a client. Austin was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but received seven years probation, had to register as a sex offender and was ordered to pay a $2,500 fine. After years of reported abuse – including several alleged victims who testified at the trial - it is welcome news that Austin has finally been put out of business, says TWO.

“We are deeply gratified that this ‘ex-gay’ predator is no longer in the counseling business, where he exploited his position of authority to sexually abuse vulnerable clients,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “Ex-gay therapy is extremely dangerous and places confused clients in the hands of repressed therapists. It is a recipe for disaster.”

According to the 283rd Criminal District Court, a jury convicted Austin of a Second Degree felony. Court documents said that the ex-gay leader, “unlawfully, intentionally and knowingly caused penetration of [pseudonym Stephen Trask].”

Austin had started Renew Ministries, a counseling center run out of a church in Irving. He was affiliated with the National Association For Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH). Indeed, Austin taught a seminar at NARTH’s 2004 annual convention entitled, “Understanding and Treating Compulsive Sexual Behavior in Men with Value-Incongruent Homosexual Issues: A Multidimensional Approach.”

Austin spoke of the “devastating spiritual effects homosexuality has on a man’s heart.” However, he failed to take his own advice when he once wrote, “Before addressing the brokenness in others, we must defeat all the responses of our own flesh.”

Living a life of self-loathing and engaging in activism against something so fundamental to your composition can result in some terrible behavior. These ex-gays demonstrate that repeatedly.