Cured ‘Ex-Gay' caught misbehaving; banned from gym; Disturbing criminal record

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wed., June 24, 2009 Contact: Wayne Besen Phone: 917-691-5118 E-Mail: wbesen@truthwinsout.org 'Ex-Gay' Activist Supposedly 'Cured' From AIDS and Homosexuality, Banned From Gym and Charged After Lewd Incident Occurs NEW YORK - A new report by the website, "Ex-Gay Watch", has cast a dark cloud of skepticism over "ex-gay" activist Matthew Manning's tale of being "delivered" from homosexuality and AIDS. According to the report, Manning has been repeatedly dragged into court for allegations of inappropriate behavior and was even banned from a popular gym after improper sexual advances were made on a 22-year-old heterosexual male. Manning, a frequent television guest and the founder of Lighthouse World Evangelism Inc., based in Santa Rosa, California, has yet to comment on the allegations made in the investigative report. "The 'ex-gay' myth is one of the largest frauds ever foisted on the American consumer," said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. "We call on Manning to immediately close down his snake oil shop. We also urge those in the media who promoted his fake miracle to apologize and update their audience on the sordid facts that have been revealed." According to an older version of Manning's website: "Matthew was delivered from homosexuality in 1989 and miraculously healed from HIV/AIDS in 1994. Matthew's experience not only enables him to minister effectively to those seeking deliverance from homosexuality, but to all people seeking to know Jesus Christ in a deeper way." VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kba3dGOeD0I Ex-Gay Watch discovered that Manning found his way into the courthouse three times, all for activity that contradicted his testimony as an "ex-gay" born again Christian. On September 2, 2005, a complaint was filed with the Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma, accusing Manning of one count of violating CA Penal Code 243.4(e)(1), which states: "Any person who touches an intimate part of another person, if the touching is against the will of the person touched, and is for the specific purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification, or sexual abuse, is guilty of misdemeanor sexual battery, punishable by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding six months, or by both that fine and imprisonment." Manning pleaded "no contest" to a lesser charge. Still, as a result of this incident, Manning was ordered to stay away from the 22-year-old victim for one year, and also ordered to stay away from one of the 24 Hour Fitness locations in Santa Rosa for the same length of time. There were also two other incidents, one in 2000 and another in 1998, according to Ex-Gay Watch. Manning first burst on the scene several years ago when he claimed, while in the studio audience of the Roseanne Show, that God delivered him from AIDS and homosexuality. Actress Sharon Stone was also in the audience and mocked him as a modern miracle who defied logic and modern medicine. Since then, he has appeared on several Christian broadcasts, including at least five episodes of The Joni Show and Pat Robertson's 700 Club. Exodus President Alan Chambers, lauded Manning's story on the Joni Show as "amazing" and "unbelievable". "It just goes to show you how 'ex-gay' activists continue to dupe gullible people and promote fake miracles to gain new followers," said Besen. For more information on this very detailed story, please visit our friends at "Ex-Gay Watch." Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that counters anti-gay propaganda, exposes the "ex-gay" myth and educates America about gay life. For more information, visit TruthWinsOut.org.