But, on the other hand gay activists use non-studies to trash the ex-gay movement. It is okay for them to use "anectodotal" information not backed up by "controlled group studies" but it is not okay for Exodus, which is a ministry not a mental health organization, to use anecdotal studies or testamonies? As to suicides, I know of gay men and lesbain women who have suicided because of the gay community, so to state one testamony found on the Exodus site is from a person who later committed suicide is irrelevant.
As to gay activist's get a copy of the January "Psychology Today" and read the editors rebuttal to gay activists who were critical of a NARTH ad they published. Any hint that the APA will conduct studies causes a riotous backlash the APA can't handle. BTW, how can you have a control group of men or woman who want to change their sexuality? Inadequate counseling for one group, no counseling for one group, placebo's?
Any, and I mean any, attempt to change behavior or mental image is harmful in the beginning since you have to question a lot about yourself. It is not only uncomfortable it is terrifying beyond imagination. I know men who have failed, but those who failed did not really try and did not really want to in the first place. I am not saying that some were sincere and failed, but to paint a broad brush of failure on the ex-gay movement based on poor, inadequate, and/or antiquated procedures developed by "mental health experts" is ludicrous and just plain propoganda.