Gay Rights Groups Condemn Gov. Palin's Church; Palin's Position on the Issue Sought

Kentucky Equality Federation, Kentucky Equality PAC, Marriage Equality USA, and Marriage Equality Kentucky today condemned the Wasilla Bible Church, where Republican Presidential Nominee John McCain's running mate, Governor Sarah Palin has prayed for about six years.

Governor Sarah Palin's church is promoting a conference that promises to convert gays into heterosexuals through the power of prayer. "You'll be encouraged by the power of God's love and His desire to transform the lives of those impacted by homosexuality," according to the insert in the bulletin of the Wasilla Bible Church.

Early in Palin's tenure as Governor of Alaska, she supported a bill to overrule a court decision to block state benefits for gay partners of public employees. Palin reversed her position and vetoed the bill after the state attorney general said it was unconstitutional.

The American Psychological Association in its Resolution on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation, which is also endorsed by the National Association of School Psychologists, states: The American Psychological Association opposes portrayals of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth and adults as mentally ill due to their sexual orientation and supports the dissemination of accurate information about sexual orientation, and mental health, and appropriate interventions in order to counteract bias that is based in ignorance or unfounded beliefs about sexual orientation.

Jordan Palmer, representative for the joint condemnation stated, "Homosexuality is not unique in its status as an issue some people use to justify their hatred and/or repression of others. Unfortunately, for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender ("LGBT") people, some of the people who treat them the worst are their closest friends, family members, and churches upon learning of their sexuality. This double jeopardy situation leads many LGBT to the brink of despair."

Palmer also stated, "You cannot change someone's born sexual identity; we call on Governor Palin to clearly identity her position on her churches activities."