KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Jay Bakker is a pastor who grew up witnessing both the good and bad of the church. His parents are Jim and Tammy Faye, ministers-turned-TV-hosts, who helped start both the Trinity Broadcasting Network and the 700 Club in the 1970’s, and later founded the PTL (Praise The Lord) Club. At the height of their popularity, they pastored the largest church in the country – until their lives were changed by one of the biggest scandals in American history. For the first time, Jay was exposed to the dark underbelly of religion; an experience that would stay with him to this day. In 1994, Jay, along with Kelli Miller and Mike Walls, started Revolution Church in Phoenix, AZ, to minister to those being ignored and rejected by the Christian church. He started a Revolution Church in Los Angeles, CA, and Atlanta, GA, before moving to New York and starting a church there in 2005. Jay has been an ally and friend to the LGBTQI community.

Daniel Helminiak teaches psychology and spirituality as Professor at the University of West Georgia. He is also a psychotherapist, Catholic priest and theologian, author, and lecturer. He holds a PhD in psychology from The University of Texas at Austin and a PhD in theology from Andover Newton Theological School and Boston College, where he was teaching assistant to Prof. Bernard Lonergan, whom Newsweek magazine called the Thomas Aquinas of the 20th Century. He is certified as a Fellow of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and is licensed as a Professional Counselor in the state of Georgia. His book, What the Bible Really Says about Homosexuality (Alamo Square Press, 1994, 2000), is an international best-seller.

PRESENTERS & CONTRIBUTORS

Vincent Cervantes is a queer Chicano, speaker, writer, and activist. His work explores discussions around the intersections of religion, theology, gender, sexuality, and race. Since 2006, Vincent has traveled throughout North America to share his own personal story as an "ex-gay" survivor. His story has been shared through Details Magazine, The Tyra Banks Show, and other various media outlets. He is currently a graduate student at Harvard Divinity School, focusing his research on the areas of religion, gender, and culture. He has authored and contributed to several publications and has presented conference papers that highlight religious discourse surrounding the "ex-gay" movement. He recently completed an autobiographical memoir that is expected to be released next year. For more information, visit Vincent’s website, www.vincentcervantes.com.

As a gay man, Peterson Toscano‘s journey out of the closet has been long and complicated. After years of submitting to reparative therapy through counseling and even three exorcisms, in January of 1999 he finally came OUT and fully accepted himself as a gay man. Peterson began writing and performing one-person comedies shortly after this including  Doin’ Time in the Homo No Mo Halfway House–How I Survived the Ex-Gay Movement. In 2007 he and Christine Bakke launched Beyond Ex-Gay (www.BeyondExgay.com). Through a partnership with the US non-violent social justice organization, Soulforce and the University of California at Irvine, bXg organized and ran the Ex-Gay Survivor Conference June 29-July 1, 2007.Peterson has broadened his focus to include gender and transgender issues (Transfigrations–Transgressing Gender in the Bible) as well as racism, privilege, the environment and sexism (I Can See Sarah Palin from my Window! Lessons Before the Second Coming.) A member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers,) Peterson lives in Sunbury, PA with his partner, writer, Glen Retief. For more information see www.petersontoscano.com

Christine Bakke is an ex-gay survivor who spent over four years trying to change her sexual orientation. In 1998 she started on her ex-gay journey and participated in an Exodus program, Living Waters, the "casting out of demons", and private reparative therapy. In 2003, she realized that while she had changed in many areas, her sexual orientation remained the same. She found that telling her story through words and art to be cathartic and healing. She has told her story in the pages of Glamour magazine, Good Morning America, and other media venues. Along with Peterson Toscano, she founded Beyond Ex-Gay, and is excited about journeying with other ex-gay survivors to find healing and true wholeness. For more information, visit Christine’s website, Rising Up Whole

Kevin Trimell Jones is a public health advocate who combines his passions for history, urban communities and social justice to promote dialogue and change. For the past ten years, he has organized around community and public health issues, and has worked with various individuals, communities and organizations locally and abroad. Professionally, he serves as a behavioral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania’s HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Division where he designs recruitment and retention strategies for clinical HIV vaccine trials. Additionally, Kevin is a national trainer with the Gay Men’s Health Leadership Academy, a co-founder of the Black Gay Men’s Leadership Council and the founder of the Black LGBT Archivists Society of Philadelphia, an organization that strives to provide opportunities for creating, documenting, preserving and exhibiting Philadelphia’s Black LGBT history. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and Masters-level graduate degrees from the University of Massachusetts — Amherst and the University of Pennsylvania. Kevin was born in Saginaw, MI, grew up in Detroit, MI and currently resides in Philadelphia, PA.

Darlene Bogle was an assistant Pastor in the Foursquare church, while leading an Ex-gay ministry for almost ten years. She was asked to resign both positions when God changed her heart and overwhelmed her with His unconditional love. She has appeared in the film documentary, God and Gays-Bridging the Gap; has authored or contributed to 5 books, dispelling the message that change is required or desired from God to be a healthy member of the faith community. She has partnered with Soulforce; Beyond Ex-Gay, and other Christian ministries with a message of God’s love and acceptance. She stood with Michael Bussee and Jeremy Marks three years ago to issue an apology to the Gay community for their harmful message as Exodus leaders. Darlene is active is social justice work around the country and works with her Partner Becky to further the message of God’s unconditional Love for all His children. They live in San Jose California and attend the First Congregational Church-a UCC fellowship. Darlene can be reached at Turtlehrt@aol.com

Dr. Christine Robinson is an Associate Professor of Justice Studies in the Department of Justice Studies at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Kansas. She has published peer-reviewed articles, presented conference papers, written an outline article, and published a scholarly book review on issues related to the ex-gay movement. She is a 2009 recipient of the Monette-Horwitz Trust Award, honoring individuals and organizations for their significant contributions toward eradicating homophobia. She has also been honored with the 2009 Christopher L. Gatesman Service Award, the 2009 Faculty Diversity Enhancement Award by the Office of the President at James Madison University, and in 2007 the blossoming Professional Award by the society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality.

Gloria Casarez never planned to work in government, but in 2008 she joined forces with Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter to handle lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) affairs on behalf of the city’s residents. In 1995, Casarez began work at the LGBT Center of the University of Pennsylvania. In 1997, she moved on to a position at the Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative (GALAEI), where she ran a program for LGBT youth. Two years later, she took over the reigns as executive director, where she increased the organization’s outreach, tripled its budget and created the first transgender-led services in Philadelphia as part of its peer-based programs. As a government director, Casarez continues to work on various projects to improve the lives of LGBT people in Philadelphia, including ensuring that municipal agencies provide services fairly and equally, advancing pro-LGBT legislation and training school faculties on how to support queer-identified students. 

J. Mason is a highly engaging Black/Gay/Trans/Queer facilitator and performer based in Philadelphia. Having been doing work as an educator since their first job as an assistant instructor, while still a freshman in high school, Mason has been conducting trainings on various topics for over 10 years. Combining multiple learning styles, a social work model and the sheer sense of joy invoked from sharing information Mason believes that in order for an audience to internalize the information you are presenting, they must understand how it affects them and the networks they are a part of personally. Holding a B.A. in Multicultural Relations from Arcadia University, Mason is currently serving as the Education Specialist for The Bryson Institute of The Attic Youth Center. To date, Mason has trained thousands of providers and community members on various issues concerning LGBTQIA youth in spaces such as church communities, elementary schools, domestic violence shelters, medical agencies, juvenile justice organizations, foster care programs and others as part of a quickly growing list of expertise.

Amanda Lee Genaro is a 25 year old, Hard-of-hearing, bisexual, sober woman from Indiana. A respected Bi activist, she currently resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Amanda Lee had her first run in with Soulforce during the first Equality Ride in 2006 when they came to demonstrate at North Central University. After the  Ride visited Amanda Lee came out, and was expelled from North Central, just two months before graduation. Amanda Lee participated in the 2010 Equality Ride, where she led the stop at Southwest Baptist University, and also a direct action at the Assemblies of God headquarters in Springfield, MO resulting in a first-ever meeting between Soulforce and the Assemblies of God leadership. Amanda Lee works to raise awareness around issues of Bi-phobia and Ableism (among other topics), serving on multiple committees and panels in both Indiana and Minnesota. 

Jallen Rix, Ed.D. ACS, is Associate Professor at The Institute for Advanced Studies of Human Sexuality in San Francisco. He is a Board Certified Sexologist by the American College of Sexologist. He teaches and maintains a private practice in San Francisco and Palm Springs. Growing up as a Southern Baptist, he was taught that spirituality was heavenly but sexuality was from the devil. While obtaining a B.A. in creative arts and a minor in theology, he also went to great lengths attempting to change his sexuality from gay to straight in an ex-gay ministry — to no avail. Jallen’s first book, Ex-Gay No Way: Survival and Recovery from Religious Abusewas just published by Findhorn Press and it tells of his journey out of sexually oppressive religion and reparative therapy to find heath wholeness and happiness as a gay man.

Sponsored in part by

COIL Foundation