We've written about the Day of Truth, an annual event dreamed-up by the Alliance Defense Fund in order to counter GLSEN's annual “Day of Silence," a number of times before. ADF has always claimed that the "Day of Silence" was “part of [an] overall strategy to change how our society perceives homosexual behavior" and thus a "Day of Truth" was needed in order to give anti-gay students an opportunity to “stand up for their First Amendment right to hear and speak the Truth about human sexuality in order to protect that freedom for future generations.”
As such, the event was initially conceived as a way to protect the free speech rights and religious freedoms of anti-gay students, but not necessarily as a day to try and convert gay students. But now, via the Box Turtle Bulletin, it looks like that is about to change, because ADF has handed over control of the nationwide event over to the "ex-gay" organization Exodus International, whose mission is to offer "freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ."
As the ADF explained in a press release:
As the movement has grown, the focus has continued to broaden…providing students not only with legal assistance when their free speech rights are challenged, but also providing them with information on how to minister and witness to individuals struggling with homosexual behavior.
It's because of growth in this latter area that this transition is occurring. For more than thirty years, Exodus International has provided thoughtful care to individuals wishing to leave homosexuality and offered support for related families, friends and churches. With 230 member organizations, the Exodus network is mobilizing the body of Christ to minister grace and truth to a world impacted by homosexuality…perfectly positioning them to lead the Day of Truth into the future.
ADF will continue to serve as the legal support arm for this project and represent any student who is silenced or punished for speaking the Truth.
So, what began as an effort designed merely to protect the free speech rights of anti-gay students has officially become a full-blown effort to convert gay students in schools throughout the nation.
You can consider us less than shocked by this entirely predictable development.
