Gay activists laud ex-gay ministry’s separation from int’l group

LANSING — Gay rights advocates are lauding a split between the controversial Lansing-based ex-gay ministry Corduroy Stone and prominent ex-gay ministry group Exodus International.

“Exodus has removed their affiliation and the board of directors has dissolved. Now he’s just some guy,” said Patrick McAlvey, 24, who earlier this year told his story of dealing with Mike Jones and Corduroy Stone Ministries to the national organization Truth Wins Out.

“He’s not a mental health professional. He’s not a pastor,” McAlvey said of Jones, a retired Michigan State University employee. “He’s just some guy with made-up theories and outlandish techniques claiming he can help people change their sexual orientation. He is dangerous and I hope people steer clear of this predator.”

But why that affiliation has ceased is still a mystery. In an interview Tuesday night, Jones told Michigan Messenger that all he had to say on the matter was reflected on his group’s website. The notice on the website reads:

Corduroy Stone is no longer a referral ministry of Exodus International, but continues to offer a biblical response to the subject of homosexuality and heterosexuality. Corduroy Stone is available to anyone interested in exploring this perspective.

Jones declined to elaborate on the statement, saying that those who were interested could follow his website where he “might” add more information at a later date. He declined to discuss what, if any, role McAlvey’s video testimony and activism on the issue played in the severing of the relationship between his group and Exodus International, perhaps the best known of all the organizations promoting the idea that homosexuality can be “cured.”

The website has been a point of controversy for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community because it is hosted on Michigan State University Web servers. Activists contend the servers are paid for with tax dollars and should not be subsidizing the group’s activities.

The website came to the attention of activists in June 2007 when the American Family Association of Michigan hired a plane to fly a banner advertising a website which referred people to various ex-gay ministries in the state. At the time, MSU officials said the website would be removed from public servers, but in 2008, the website remained hosted on the MSU servers, and officials once again promised it would be removed.

But earlier this year, MSU officials reversed course and announced the website would stay on MSU servers and there was nothing the university could do about it.

The severed ties between Jones’ Corduroy Stone and Exodus International is a good thing, activists say.

“I think it severely damages his credibility. With that affiliation he had the veneer of a legitimate organization, but now he is a lone wolf,” said Wayne Besen, executive director of Truth Wins Out. “Whether or not he can continue to hurt people with counseling will be up to how creative he can be.”

Besen said he thinks the fact his group highlighted McAlvey’s story, which Besen called “fondle therapy,” will help steer people away from Jones’ ministry as well.

“There is enough information out there for people who engage in due diligence, that they will at least be aware of his history,” said Besen.

McAlvey alleges that when he was 19 he turned to Jones and Corduroy Stone in an attempt to rid himself of same-sex attractions. Instead, he said, he was asked about penis size, his personal grooming habits, forced into “cuddle” therapy and subjected to demeaning examinations of his body image where Jones would rate his appearance.

Earlier this summer, McAlvey, who ran the re-election campaign for Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, filed a criminal complaint against Jones with the Lansing Police Department. He said while the police were helpful, they told him there was nothing they could do about the case.

Besen said its time for lawmakers in Michigan to act.

“I do think that laws should be put in place to protect people from what is essentially consumer fraud. Let’s face it, what Patrick experienced — it was fondle therapy. [Jones] was taking on a medical authority role,” said Besen. “I think it’s in the best interest of the state to protect people from being harmed by these charlatans.”