Exodus International - President of Exodus International Responds to Dawson McAllister

Orlando, FL- Recent events involving youth leader Dawson McAllister, Clear Channel Communications and Exodus International have been spotlighted in numerous blogs and publications over the past few days. While Exodus is no stranger to controversy, we are usually reluctant to make public statements critical of other organizations or leaders, particularly those for whom we have high personal regard. But the very public nature of this situation leaves us no choice but to clarify our feelings and position on the matter.

On Sunday April 11th, a 22-year old gay blogger named Greg Kimball called into McAllister's syndicated radio talk show Dawson McAllister Live, posing as a 16-year old seeking advice about his homosexuality. The show's representative referred him to Exodus. Kimball, apparently outraged, went public with his discovery, resulting in a number of complaints to Clear Channel. Subsequently, Dawson was informed by Clear Channel that he would need to remove Exodus' name from his referral list. Left with a choice between losing favor with Clear Channel, by maintaining a relationship with Exodus, or maintaining media visibility by severing our ties, he chose the latter.

Our esteem for Dawson is not in question here. I met Dawson when I was 19 and it was through his personal referral that I found Exodus International. Dawson McAllister was the catalyst for my journey, which eventually led me to direct the organization he's now unwilling to officially associate with. It's troubling to see any Christian-led organization allowing itself to be guided by the demands of pro-gay advocates. While Exodus is the group being marginalized in this case, it's the freedom to express a traditional viewpoint of sexuality that's really at stake, raising the obvious question: Who's Next? We wonder what other Biblical truths are up for negotiation when on-air visibility is at stake.

View the letter in its entirety at the Exodus Blog