Rating: 
Summary: An invaluable resource for the GLBT movement
Review: Since 2000 author Wayne Besen's life has been consumed with researching, writing and publicizing his explosive - and eminently readable - exposé "Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth."Besen left his post as Associate Communications Director for the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest GLBT rights organization, to work on the book because he felt uniquely qualified to challenge the ex-gay movement. During his five-year stint with HRC he repeatedly squared off against the nation's most prominent ex-gay leaders on such programs as "NBC Nightly News," "CNN's Talk Back Live," "The Roseanne Show" and "The O'Reilly Factor." As part of his exhaustive research for "Anything But Straight" Besen made numerous undercover visits to ex-gay meetings, attended ex-gay and right-wing conferences and interviewed many of the movement's most powerful proponents. In the book he reveals many of the ex-gay movement's dubious conversion methods - which include having gay men pepper their speech with "heterosexual" words like "dude" and teaching lesbians to apply make-up. It all seems laughable until the author reminds us just how much clout these ministries have to influence government and society - particularly now with the debate over same-sex marriage raging. Bottom line: "Anything But Straight" is an invaluable resource for debunking the specious claims of the ex-gay movement.
Rating: 
Summary: a one sided attempt to refute proven facts
Review: This book is an attempt to stifle ministries aiming to encourage gays and lesbians to become straight. It claims that "Ex gays" do not exist and are noting but lies.
The book only gives evidence to support the author's views but conveniently leaves out material on the thousands of former gays and lesbians (including celebrities) who have renounced their homosexuality.
Actress Anne Heche is probably the most famous former lesbian today. She ended a 3 year relationship with Ellen DeGeneres and she is now married (to a man) and has a son.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Book
Review: This was simply the best book I ever read. Tremendous, funny, accurate stats and well researched. Don't start it if you have to get up early the next day. I had to go to work with bags under my eyes from reading it cover to cover. And it really shows what hypocrites ad frauds the Right wing and ex-gay ministires truly are!!!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Missed the boat.......but not by much
Review: While I applaud the efforts of Wayne Besen to reveal the hatred of the religious right and their unholy alliance with quack psychology, there are a few things about this book that bothered me. 1)I appreciate the author's attempt to make the book readable to the lay pubic, especially those who are most vulnerable, but at times his varied tone is almost jarring. In the middle of serious passages he suddenly introduces levity in a rather clumsy manner. 2)Having exposed the horrors of the ex-gay movement, he spends he last part of the book suggesting how they might tailor their message and be more effective. WHY? 3)The last concern is more a function of personal experience. Besen minimizes the role of the Mormon church in reparative efforts. While most people consider the mormon church a cult far outside the Christian and political mainstreams, there are several things that make them an important player in the ex-gay movement. The mormon church is extremely homophobic, very well organized, and very well funded. They have used both financial and human resources to fight human rights for gays and lesbians every time they could. They are the only player in the ex-gay movement that has it's own social service organization. LDS Social Services provides therapy to members of the mormon church in need of therapy. While the therapists may be licensed by the state, they are controlled by the church. The Association of Mormon Counselors and Psychotherapists (AMCAP) is almost larger than NARTH and they are much more open about mixing religion with science. In mormonism, they have the revealed truth and any contradiction must be wrong. BYU is controlled by the mormon church and has several accredited training programs for various types of therapists. The clear message is that reparative therapy is the "RIGHT" thing. Mormons with issues of homosexuality (or as THEY call it "sruggling with same sex attraction") are going to be referred to a therapist with a shared mindset and commitment to homophobia. And lastly, toward the very end of the book, Besen discusses the mormon church's change of policy towards "blacks" as evidence that the attitude towards gays may some day change. The REAL reason there was a change was that the practicality of denying priesthood to any male with "negro blood" became impossibe in places like Brazil. The church was growing in Brazil but too many of the male converts were interracial. Changing policies towards gay and lesbians would require not just a change of policy but a change of doctrine and is not very likely. When an author reveals his misunderstanding and naivete, it calls into question other things he has said.
Rating: 
Summary: Balance problems
Review: While the book is an interesting read, I find it to be more on the level of an editorial or opinion than solid research. Everytime I try to research pro-gay theology or the "pro-gay side", I end up getting turned off by the inflammatory language. Most of these books seem to be written by gay individuals who have a lot of anger (understandably) at being discriminated against etc. The problem is that anger often clouds good research and writing. I would love to read some solid pro-gay research in the realm of theology and ex-gay ministry that can be taken seriously. One example (among many) in the book that discount it is such statements like: (refering to Joseph Nicolosi) "Nicolosi's practice has afforded him and his wife and son a lavish lifestyle that includes a $300,000 ranch style home with a pool in an upscale suburban Los Angeles neighborhood." A $300,000 home that happens to have a pool is lavish? Perhaps Besen is unfamiliar with the cost of housing in California. $300,000 doesn't buy much of anything in this state. Other problems include choices of adjectives to demonize those he disagrees with. I was hoping for some objective scholarship, but the book is pretty much propaganda using the basic elements of demonization familiar to all sides of the debate. It makes for entertaining reading though.
Rating:
Summary: A great book of huge importance to all Gays and Lesbians!
Review: WOW!!!! The author has hit a grand slam with this book! I have been waiting a very long time for someone to write a book about reparative therapy and the con people who run these organizations. Besen has exposed these people and the damage they do to thousands of people every year. I hope every Gay person who is being dragged to these seminars will make their parents or friends read this book first and then let them make an intelligent decision about these radical right wing zealot organizations who are not their to help you but their to take your money and your soul. This book is a great read, very factual, very informative, and very funnny. I could not put this book down!!!!.
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