It is very interesting to me that people like Jared Strong (“Yet another way to condemn gays,” letter to the editor, Friday) have the guts to tell tens of thousands of formerly gay men and women that their experience isn’t valid. How arrogant and uninformed you, as a lifelong heterosexual, have to be to make the ignorant comments that you did in Friday’s paper.

For instance, Jared, you say that homosexuals “want nothing more in the world than to be accepted by society.” Not true. I, a formerly gay man, wanted more than mere acceptance. I wanted to be happy. I wanted a wife and family. I wanted not to be addicted to the second by second craving for a man to meet my needs. I wanted freedom from what I considered prison. I was gay and I did not want to be. I may not represent the majority of gay people but I do represent more than you could ever imagine.

Twelve years ago when I was a suicidal 18-year-old looking for freedom, I found Exodus International, North America. Exodus taught me that I shouldn’t hate myself. Exodus taught me that God loved me unconditionally. Society told me that being gay was unchangeable and that made me want to die. Exodus showed me that there was life beyond homosexuality.

Before you condemn people like Regina Griggs and the organization that she represents (Parents and Friends of Gays & Ex-Gays), why don’t you do some research. Ex-gays aren’t out there recruiting and brainwashing their members. Ex-gays are simply living their lives according to their convictions. Some ex-gays are out there speaking truth, in love, hoping that others like them will be brave enough to walk away from homosexuality. This message is for those who want it.

Jared, I was gay and today I am not. Face it, this is the 21st century; people can do anything from changing their gender to being cloned. Why is it so difficult to believe one can change their sexual orientation? I mean, come on, who made you, a computer science major, God for the day?

I didn’t choose to be gay. I chose not to be. Don’t be so quick to judge.

Alan Chambers

Executive Director

Exodus North America

Orlando, Fla.