John Paulk

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John Paulk (b. 1963) is a former leader of Focus on the Family's Love Won Out conference and former chairman of the board for Exodus International North America. His claimed shedding of homosexuality is also the subject of his autobiography Not Afraid to Change.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Involvement with Focus on the Family 3 Controversy 4 After Focus on the Family 5 References 6 See also 7 External links

[edit] Biography

A former resident of Columbus, Ohio, area, Paulk attended Fort Hayes High School for the Performing Arts and The Ohio State University where he majored in music/voice. During the time he was in college, Paulk was a male escort and a drag queen who performed under the stage name of "Candy". Paulk also worked as a scheduler for an escort service, taking calls from clients in his apartment on his personal telephone line. During the late 1980's, Paulk managed Cocolat, a San Francisco patisserie owned by Alice Medrich^[1] Later Paulk worked as a TWA flight attendant.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Involvement with Focus on the Family

Following his conversion to Christianity, Paulk made claims to have shed his homosexual desires through a combination of counseling, groups, prayer, and Bible reading and allegedly became a heterosexual. Paulk married a woman, Anne, who also identified as ex-gay.^[2][3] With Anne, Paulk co-wrote Love Won Out. They have three children together.

Paulk became active in Focus on the Family (FoF). He also was elected chairman of the board of Exodus International North America (ENA). As an employee of FoF, Paulk toured the United States where he spoke of his conversions in what had been named the Love Won Out conferences. Paulk and his wife became the faces promoting Exodus ministries in major daily newspaper full page ads. Paulk and his wife appeared on the cover of Newsweek (August 1998) when the publication covered Exodus and the ex-gay movement.

[edit] Controversy

In September 2000, Paulk was found and photographed in a Washington, D.C., gay bar, and accused by opponents of flirting with male patrons at the bar.^[4]

Paulk's public figure fame was noted as follows: "[He] had been the most famous success story of the Christian ex-gay movement... [with appearances cited on] ... " "60 Minutes", "Oprah", and the cover of Newsweek Magazine" in October 2002 by the Washington Post, a mainstream USA newspaper.^[5]

Paulk, a self-described former "drag queen and homosexual prostitute", became active in Focus on the Family, was manager of Focus on the Family's Homosexuality and Gender Division,^[5] and was the elected Chairman of the board of Exodus International North America in August 1995 for a first three-year term. Paulk was re-elected for a second three-year term in 1998 (the incident occurred during the second three-year term).^[6]

Paulk and his wife Anne (nee Edward), a self-described "former lesbian^{[citation needed]}", became high-profile public figures for their work with Exodus and as examples of "ex-gays" from their program. They appeared on the cover of Newsweek magazine in 1998. The cover prompted a response of "Unbalanced Cover" from the Gay And Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) organization.^[7] Also, Nancy McDonald, National President of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), in a PFLAG Action Alert, called the Newsweek cover, "...ongoing advertising campaign by a coalition of extremist, anti-gay groups". She further urged letters to be written to the editors of Newsweek containing the text, "I was appalled by your cover story on sexual 'conversion'."^[8] Authoress Carol Thorpe Tully, noted ironically, "...the lead cover of Newsweek pictured John and Anne Paulk, the ex-gays who are active with Exodus ministries… (The terrorist attack on two U.S. embassies in Africa, where more than 250 were killed, was relegated to a 2 [inch square] insert on the cover.)"^[9]

Also in 1998, Paulk's personal life story (written with the help of Tony Marco) entitled Not Afraid to Change was published by Winepress Publishing. In the book, Paulk told of his "gay origins" while a student at Ohio State University, his career as a prostitute and his habit of lying, all of which he claims were eliminated when he "gave his life to Christ." The book enjoyed success with Christian readers and leaders who held the book as a testament to the power of Jesus Christ in helping turn around lives.^{[citation needed]}

On September 19, 2000 while on a speaking tour, Paulk was identified drinking and flirting at Mr. P's, a Washington, D.C. gay bar, giving his name as "John Clint," one he had used in his days as a hustler in Ohio. A patron recognized him and contacted Wayne Besen, an employee of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay political action organization. When Besen arrived at the bar forty minutes later and confronted "John Clint", he denied that he was in fact John Paulk. Upon exiting the bar, Paulk's picture was taken as documentation that he had been in the bar. When confronted by Besen about the incident and the photographs, Paulk admitted being in the bar, but stated that he didn’t know it was a gay bar and had simply stopped in for a moment to use the restroom. However, eyewitnesses reported that Paulk stayed for more than an hour, flirted with other men, and when questioned about his sexuality, said he was gay.^[4][10]

Paulk was called back to Focus on the Family headquarters and was questioned by Dr. James Dobson. At first Paulk reportedly evaded a direct answer about the incident; however he later confessed that he had been in the bar for the purpose of flirting. Paulk was placed on probation, and was chaperoned on future speaking engagements to ensure that he had "support" in the event that he needed it. Dobson also removed Paulk from the Board Chair position of Exodus International. He remained on the board under probationary status only and was not allowed to attend meetings or vote.^{[citation needed]}

An Exodus press release soon followed:

"John's actions represent a serious lapse in sound judgment. His decision to enter a gay establishment for any reason opens him up to all kinds of speculation by both other Exodus leaders and also the gay community."^[11]

In a September 2001 interview with the Charlotte World newspaper, Paulk stated:

"People wanted me to speak everywhere. I felt like a doll that someone would wind-up and say come give your testimony, come speak here, come fly here, come fly there. ... I started squeezing God out of my life. ... So a year ago I wanted to escape. I wanted to escape my life. I wanted to escape everything. My reputation. I wanted off the treadmill and I thought I wanted to go back to a gay bar. Well, of course, because God loves me he is not going to let me go out on a leash too long and I was discovered in there."^[12]

The incident received national headlines in newspapers and news magazines and raised questions about the program and its choice in leadership.^{[citation needed]} Paulk remained in his position as manager of the Homosexuality and Gender Department until choosing to leave that position in 2003.^[13]

[edit] After Focus on the Family

Paulk left Exodus International in 2003 and lives in Portland, Oregon in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and family. He currently runs a personal chef and catering business in Portland.

"Since 2005, Chef John has been a regular guest on The Georgene Rice Show, 93.9 FM KPDQ, in a segment called "Food Talk with Chef John". He has also judged local and statewide food competitions."

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Reparative therapy

[edit] External links

• Another Way Out John Paulk's alleged story of transformation from homosexual to heterosexual
• After the Fall, The Advocate Online
• Christianity Today Web Site
• "John Paulk Eyes New Ministry Opportunity"
• Wayne Beson's site