Australian MP Who Promoted Exodus International Argued That Homosexuals Can “Grow Into Heterosexuality Over Time”

People can grow out of the homosexual lifestyle thanks to efforts by “compassionate” support groups, according to a previous speech by the Queensland, Australia Member of Parliament likely to oversee community services in a Liberal National Party government. The Brisbane Times reports that a Bligh Government minister last night condemned LNP frontbencher Fiona Simpson over the speech she made to State Parliament in 2002 promoting the efforts of Exodus ministries to help gay and lesbian people “grow into heterosexuality over time.” Simpson, whose current shadow cabinet responsibilities include community services and women, read out Exodus’s phone number during her parliamentary address about anti-discrimination laws. She did not respond to questions Tuesday about whether she still thought homosexuality was something people could outgrow. Simpson dismissed the criticism of her views as “another distraction” and insisted she had been “verballed.” The incident comes amid renewed debate in state politics this week over same-sex relationships and equality, with Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser championing a bill to allow gay civil unions to be registered in Queensland. Community Services Minister Karen Struthers branded Simpson’s past comments as “way out of touch and patronising,” saying the promotion of Exodus was disturbing. “She seeks to be the minister of an agency who will have responsibility for funding organisations, and it’s very clear her views are very supportive of groups like Exodus,” said Struthers. According to its website, Exodus Asia Pacific is a Christian evangelical ministry that aims to help men and women “find a way out of sexual brokenness” but warns the journey out of homosexuality may take five to 10 years. The website features testimonials from people who describe receiving counselling to overcome same-sex attraction, striving to be “healed and free.” One person’s testimonial said she cried through initial sessions but was glad to find “newfound freedom” from same-sex attraction. During debate on anti-discrimination law changes in November 2002, Simpson said some MPs had told tragic stories about people who had suffered due to their sexual identity or sexual orientation. Simpson said such people should be shown “compassion and understanding” and then she discussed the work of Exodus and read out a phone number for the local contact. “I noted some comments in the debate and some very genuinely held beliefs that people are born homosexual people and cannot change and that is life,” she said at the time. “I wanted to make members aware that, based on my information from some of the former homosexuals I know, there is a compassionate ministry called Exodus. I have a number of acquaintances who have worked with Exodus. Today I was talking with a particular gentleman who is a former homosexual. They have a compassionate understanding and a desire to get alongside people who choose and who want to leave the homosexual lifestyle. This is about offering them options and not imposing only one set of values on other people. Their mission is to support people who want to not live a homosexual lifestyle, but they also give them the freedom to grow into heterosexuality over time. There are a number of support groups throughout Queensland and, as I said, some very compassionate and genuine people who have come from a homosexual background who are in those groups.” Struthers said Simpson appeared to be implying that homosexual people had a problem and should get counselling to grow out of it. But Simpson last night dismissed the matter as “another distraction thrown up by Labor that is based on a speech made in Parliament a decade ago,” adding that “The mischievous personal attack on me has come from a minister who is intolerant of people who don’t always agree with her views. She has tried to dishonestly verbal me.”