Truth Wins Out Claims Marcus Bachmann is Lying

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Truth Wins Out called Marcus Bachmann a liar for falsely telling the Minneapolis Star Tribune that his clinic was not anti-gay and had no "agenda or a philosophy of trying to change anyone."

His untruthful assertions contradict the evidence that clearly shows his clinic is disdainful towards LGBT people and practices a discredited and harmful brand of therapy designed to "cure" LGBT people.

"Marcus Bachmann is not telling the truth when he dishonestly claims that his clinic is not anti-gay," said Truth Wins Out's Executive Director Wayne Besen, responding to Bachmann's new statement in the Star Tribune. "Our investigation clearly shows that his clinic has great antipathy towards gay and lesbian people and his therapists work to convert clients from gay to straight."

"Marcus Bachmann is willfully and wantonly misrepresenting what I experienced during my five therapy sessions at his clinic," said John Becker, TWO's Director of Communications and Development, who led an undercover operation at Bachmann's clinic. "We urge Bachmann & Associates to stop misleading the public and commit to ending the harmful and discredited practice of 'ex-gay' therapy."

According to The Star Tribune article, Bachmann explained that he only offered "ex-gay" therapy at a client's request.

"Will I address it? Certainly we'll talk about it," Bachmann said. "Is it a remedy form that I typically would use? ... It is at the client's discretion...We don't have an agenda or a philosophy of trying to change someone.''

Bachmann said counselors at his clinics follow the wishes of patients and don't force any treatment. "This individual came to us under a false pretense,'' Bachmann said. "The truth of the matter is he specifically asked for help.''

"Bachmann & Associates was under no obligation to offer a quack therapy treatment that is rejected by every mainstream medical and mental health association in America," said TWO's Wayne Besen. "Taking a clients hard-earned money for a 'cure' that is not possible is unethical and a form of consumer fraud."

The notion that a counselor is required to harm a client just because he or she asks is patently absurd, asserts TWO. "If an African American asked a doctor for a skin bleaching, he or she could decline. If a physician is urged to help manage a model's anorexia, he or she could turn the model away and instead offer real medical help," Besen stated.

While Bachmann claims that his clinic is not anti-gay, nor invested in "ex-gay" therapy, his office sells a book written by a viciously homophobic minister named Janet Boynes who calls homosexuality a "dirty and shameful life." In her tome, Called Out: A Former Lesbian's Discovery of Freedom, she says:

"What are the effects of living a homosexual lifestyle? The list is long: Hurt. Despair. Frustration. Loneliness. Depression. Restlessness. Shame....Hollywood would have you believe gays and lesbians are happy, humorous, well adjusted people, but very rarely do they show the other side - the ugly side..."

"If Marcus Bachmann's clinic is not anti-gay, than why is he selling homophobic trash like Janet Boynes' hateful and deceptive book in his office?" asked Besen, who appeared on MSNBC to argue his case, as the story went viral in the national press.