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Debra Faulkner: "All the stories you've been told are not true."

by Rhonda J Mangus | August 2, 2009 at 08:35 pm

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Debra Faulkner, mother to Bryce Faulkner, a 23 year old pre-med student who is said to have been forced into anti-gay counseling, told FOXNews.com "All the stories you've been told are not true."

The parents of Bryce Faulkner, a young man who was reported missing by friends and his boyfriend, say he is undergoing anti-gay counseling at his own will.

"He's fine," Debra Faulkner told FOXNews.com. "All the stories you've been told are not true."

However, a man who claims to be Bryce's boyfriend doubts the validity of Mrs. Faulkner's statement.

Travis Swanson says he and Faulkner are boyfriends and refuses to take down a website to help Bryce until he is told to do so by his alleged boyfriend. Now Bryce's parents are threatening to sue.

"[Bryce] got caught up with friends who were pulling him that way," Mrs. Faulkner said. "He just wants to take some time and figure out what he wants to do with his life."

Through a statement released by a family spokesperson, Bryce says he is seeking treatment on his own accord.

"Every decision that I've made has been based solely upon my beliefs and I have not been manipulated or coerced by anyone to do anything," Bryce Faulkner's statement read. He declined further comment.

Meanwhile, Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International, says roughly 250 local ministries affiliated with the Orlando-based organization continue to counsel people who are struggling with homosexuality. Chambers is aware of Faulkner's story, but as a matter of policy, he declined to confirm or deny whether Faulkner has attended Exodus' programs. (According to its Web site, Harvest Outreach Church in Pensacola, Fla., is an affiliate church to Exodus International.)

"We believe that [homosexuality] wasn't God's design," Chambers told FOXNews.com. "We have a decision to make when it comes to how we steward our sexuality."

Chambers, who is married with two children, says he continues to be "tempted" by homosexual urges, but said he's decided that it wasn't something that matched his faith.

"My life and my struggle is very common," he said. "But having lived both sides of this hotly contested debate, I don't want anything else."

Asked if he had any advice for the Faulkners, Chambers replied: "We meet with so many people who, as parents, are struggling with their children's decisions. Your number one goal is to stay in a relationship with your children, regardless if you agree with their decision or not. Tolerance is a two-way street."

Related story by this author:

Exodus International Holding Bryce Faulkner Hostage?

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Babel-Fish

at 04:47 on August 3rd, 2009

Please do not advertise as it lowers the tone of the site (Make money link)

how-stop-advertising-threads-or-least-cull-it

Uwe Paschen

at 07:23 on August 3rd, 2009

I do not agree with him, nor can I support his view. I know that many believe as he does and some even in a more extreme way. In some countries the debate has started "if we can reverse it or change it in early childhood, should we or not?" Would one of my kids tell me that they are Homo Sexual, I be fine with it and love them the same way. I just hope and wish for them to be happy and good human beings helping and be honest. The danger with people such as this Man is the same as with any extremist, may that be racist, Nationalist or Religious extremism. Maybe why we call it extremism. I think if I meet him It would be a waste of time since it would be unlikely that one can reason with him. He has convinced him self of being right and believes his cause to be greater then any thing earthly and Human. Some times I would love to have a machine that could for 24 hours or a month turn a White Man into a Black one or a Black one into a white one and a man into a woman, a Jew into a Muslim, a Christian into a Jew and vice versa. Just to force them all to see the other side and feel and understand, maybe that way we could finally evolve.

LCoastMom

at 01:51 on August 17th, 2009

Some times I would love to have a machine that could for 24 hours or a month turn a White Man into a Black one or a Black one into a white one and a man into a woman, a Jew into a Muslim, a Christian into a Jew and vice versa. Just to force them all to see the other side and feel and understand, maybe that way we could finally evolve.

Paschen While in theory I understand your sentiment, people who hate for the sake of hating would not benefit from such a machine. They would have to go into the experiment with an open mind and that won't happen. Those of us who have evolved already understand that the color of our skin, the accent in our voice, the GOD we pray to, while all maybe different on the surface our hearts are all the same.

Lulu Flan (not verified)

at 04:35 on August 17th, 2009

Paschen,I want to tell you the difference between hating and not being supportive of,because they are two totally different things.I personallu don't support being gay,not only because I'm a christian but because I believe its a choice.Now,I don't hate gays.I don't hate anyone because the bible says that's a sin.And I'm not sure if you will understand this,and I hope I can say it right.I hate the sin of being gay.But I do not hate the sinner.And I'm like that with all sins.
Anyway,God doesn't support being Gay in the bible therefore I don't support it.I hate the sin but love the sinner.And I encourage you to not be worldly for this world will give you nothing but hurt in return.
With love Lulu*