In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 it states,“...neither the sexually immoral…nor men who have sex with men…will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Religion has coincided with the political and social sphere since its creation. Individuals use religion to lead not only their own lives but entire countries. Theocracies still exist in modern society and manage to thrive.
Countries such as Iran and Afghanistan flourish by suppressing minority groups for the benefit of instilling fear and shame. While the United States is not a theocracy, these themes still seem to resonate. Socially, being gay has been widely tolerated; however, in religious spaces, it has been infamously suppressed.
Exodus International was a Christian-based group that promoted conversion therapy for individuals in churches across the world. The group was created in 1976 and was later shut down in 2013 for various scandals involving its members.
During the group's 36 years of operation, they used “ex-gay” leaders to promote their harmful message, “freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ.”
Yvette Cantu Schneider was an anti-gay activist for Exodus who pushed conversion therapy on teens across the United States. Schneider originally joined Exodus to combat the AIDS crisis and deemed the LGBTQIA+ lifestyle harmful to the spread of the disease. As a former lesbian, she felt as though she was helping the community as a whole, however, that simply wasn’t the case.
She wasn’t just a part of a group; she was a part of an institution. She also worked for the Family Research Council, which is a non-profit organization that resides in Washington, D.C. and has major influence in politics.
The current president of the FRC is former Louisiana State Rep. Tony Perkins, who once had major influence in politics. With Perkins' vast amount of political connections, he’s able to spread Exodus’ harmful message long after the organization was permanently closed.
In 2015, the FRC honored Kim Davis with the “Cost of Discipleship" award at the Values Voter Summit after she refused to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple. The Values Voter Summit is held to honor Christian activists across the country, and during the event, various political leaders make appearances.
In 2019, President Donald Trump gave nearly a two-hour speech in which he stated, “But despite the delusions of the radical left, all of us here today know that our rights come from God Almighty, and they can never be taken away.” Trump would later address the “left” 17 separate times, condemning the group’s actions and beliefs in the process. He completely contradicts his logic of, “Our rights come from God Almighty, and they can never be taken away,” by systematically removing rights from LGBTQIA+ members.
In January 2025, Trump signed an executive order titled "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” which essentially declared there to be two genders, male and female. The order later explains that the gender you are given at birth is the gender you shall remain.
Hunter Schafer, a transgender actress, reported in February of the same year that she was shocked when she found that the gender on her passport had been changed from female to male. This change comes as a direct result of the previously explained executive order. The order is not simply about “defending women from gender ideology extremism,” it’s about suppressing individuals' voices and prohibiting them from choosing a label they are comfortable with.
On average, 712,990 LGBTQIA+ youths in the U.S. attempt suicide a year. This rate alone should allow perspective on how harmful the FRC’s message is, along with similar groups. Trump is simply creating a culture war to receive support from members of the Conservative Party. These ideas have trickled down into state governments as well.
In March 2025, Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law Senate Bill 1, also known as the Advanced Ohio Higher Education Act. This bill forced universities across the state of Ohio to close LGBTQIA+ centers, along with other centers such as Women's and Multicultural centers. Ohio University complied with SB1; however, religious organizations such as the Ohio University Bible Fellowship, the University Interfaith Association and United Campus Ministry are allowed to continue to operate.
This is an unfair system supported by Ohio lawmakers that puts religion over individuality and equality for minority groups in universities across the state.
According to psychologist Stephen Braren, “Social connection is a basic human need that is essential to our overall health and wellbeing. It is as important as food, water and shelter when it comes to laying the foundation for our ability to thrive and survive.”
By severing the connection between LGBTQIA+ individuals, you're severing their ability to thrive in a world that already has difficulty accepting them.
Adam Gerber is a freshman studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Adam about their column? Email them at ag967424@ohio.edu
