Courageous Ex-Gay Witness Fights Back Against SPLC's Mischaracterization of JONAH in Dramatic Trial
The second full week of the trial pitting the $340 million dollar Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) against the small non-profit group, Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing (JONAH), ended with a bang last week in Jersey City, N.J.
While lawyers for the SPLC and liberal gay activist "experts" have testified about why they view any efforts at sexual orientation change effort (SOCE) therapy as "harmful," it has been revealed on the witness stand that they have little to no knowledge about the actual practice or efficacy of SOCE therapy. In fact, one witnesses for the SPLC included a so-called "cult-expert" who described the entire "ex-gay" community as a "cult" with JONAH's co-director, Arthur Goldberg, as the "cult leader."
Indeed, the past two weeks have included some of the most bizarre mischaracterizations and intentional misrepresentations by the SPLC. JONAH is a non-profit charity, which provides free information and referrals, yet the SPLC has attempted to blur the distinctions between the non-profit charity and many other organizations—referring to these third parties as part of the JONAH program and then misrepresenting them to create bizarre caricatures.
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This blurring of lines was convenient for the SPLC at first, but now as the tables are turning and these other organizations and programs are explained in their proper context, the SPLC had to concede: "They (third-party organizations) are not a party to this case." In one exchange, Judge Peter Bariso replied: "If they are not a part of this case, why have we been hearing about them every single day for the last two weeks?"
It's a classic bait and switch tactic of the left. Accuse JONAH of doing harm to its clients by throwing every single accusation possible toward them, including insinuating that they run "weekend in the woods" retreats that are similar to the "conversion therapy camps" that were reported in 2013 when transgender activist Brielle Goldani testified at a New Jersey Senate hearing that she was electroshocked and tortured. Her story was later revealed as a hoax taken directly out of a 1999 movie starring drag queen RuPaul called "But I'm a Cheerleader." Then, after it's revealed that these weekends are not really JONAH's counseling, the other side changes its tune to describe all efforts to help men with unwanted same-sex attractions (SSA) as a "cult" to implicate the defendants.
The "weekend in the woods" camps the plaintiffs continue to reference are actually part of Journey Into Manhood (JIM), a 48-hour experiential healing retreat for men with unwanted SSA. JONAH endorses and refers their clients to voluntarily attend the retreat, but is in no way affiliated. Yet, the SPLC continues to attempt to confuse the jury by referencing experiences the plaintiffs (JONAH's former clients) had at the JIM retreats with the counseling of JONAH, all the while distorting the intent and processes of JIM in order to make the small, Jewish non-profit look bad.
But the tide began to turn and the truth began to emerge as fact witnesses from diverse faiths and denominations began to take the stand during the second week of testimony to explain the help they received from JONAH and the other organizations that help clients with unwanted SSA. In fact, if JONAH is indeed a cult, we have witnessed what must be the most diverse "cult" ever!
For example, evangelical therapist Thaddeus Heffner took the stand, followed by Jeff Bennion, a leader of the Latter Day Saints' ministry "North Star," both of who described their own journeys out of homosexuality and the benefits they received from the very therapies the SPLC has spent two weeks distorting. A few minutes later, Preston Dahlgreen took the stand and explained his journey to be faithful to his Mormon convictions and the joy his family life has brought him.
But the bombshell occurred Thursday, when Jeremy Schwab, founder of the Christian online support group Joel 2:25, took the stand and explained how reparative therapy with Dr. Joseph Nicolosi led him to JONAH and then to the JIM program, and how this healing actually led him back into his Catholic faith and away from the active gay lifestyle.
Here is part of Thursday's exchange with Jeremy Schwab and the SPLC's lead attorney, David Dinielli:
MR. DINIELLI: "And so you know, don't you, that this is a fraud case? It's about particular misrepresentations that we say the defendants said to my clients. You know that?"
MR. SCHWAB: "That's not correct. The purpose of this case is to shut down JONAH and all ministries similar to JONAH. That is what is on your website, that's what you have been promoting for the past two years."
MR. DINIELLI: "Move to strike."
Mr. DINIELLI: "Do you know that the Complaint in this case?"
MR. SCHWAB: "That's the purpose of—yeah, that's the guise you're using."
JUDGE BARISO: "Stop!"
MR. DINIELLI: "Do you know that the—
JUDGE BARISO: "Stop. One person speaks at a time so the jury can understand."
MR. DINIELLI: "And so if JONAH is found to be engaged in consumer fraud in this case, that would be really big deal for Joel 2:25?"
MR. SCHWAB: "Yes, it would, but we would continue to fight until we're sued as well, and I know we are on your list."
Mr. DINIELLI: "I'm going to move to strike that, your Honor. It was non-responsive."
JUDGE BARISO: "Yes. It was a yes-or-no question. Sustained."
MR. SCHWAB: "Okay… I mean, it's on your website, so..."
MR DINIELLI: "I move to strike that as also non-responsive."
JUDGE BARISO: "The jury is to disregard the Mr. Schwab's non-responsive answers. The question calls for a yes-or-no answer, and the answer is 'yes.'"
At every opportunity, the SPLC has desperately tried to scandalize the work of JONAH by throwing irrelevant accusations and mischaracterizations to the jury, but all of the defense witnesses addressed them in stride. It appears that the more the SPLC tries to personally attack these men of courage and their families, the more the jury and even Judge Bariso are losing patience. While the Judge and the SPLC have told the jury that this trial is only about getting a refund, the truth is that this trial is intended to shut down JONAH and all similar ministries. This should be a warning bell for all religious non-profits. Be careful what you believe, how you practice your faith and how you witness to others. A big, liberal bully might sue you.
