CHANGED Movement Hosts Capitol Event to Share Testimonies
Last week, former LGBT-identifying Christians gathered at the California Capitol in Sacramento to speak out against what they view as cultural and legislative restrictions on people leaving the LGBT lifestyle. The two-day “Speak Out” event, led by the CHANGED Movement and the California Family Council, culminated with personal testimonies on the Capitol steps. Organizers aimed to challenge the belief that sexual and gender identities are unchangeable.
Elizabeth Woning, co-founder of CHANGED, emphasized that the goal was to counter the narrative that personal change isn’t possible. Woning, once a lesbian and now married to a man, said, “I hope this event accomplishes a pushback against the belief that people don’t change.”
A Response to California’s Legislative History
The event marked the seventh anniversary of CHANGED’s 2018 protest against AB 2943. That proposed bill would have categorized efforts to reduce same-sex attraction or gender expression as consumer fraud. Though the bill was ultimately withdrawn, its content has shaped similar legislation elsewhere, including bans on what critics label “conversion therapy.”
Opponents of AB 2943, including CHANGED and legal advocacy groups such as Liberty Counsel, argued that the measure threatened First Amendment rights. They feared the bill’s vague language could restrict religious counseling and even criminalize selling books that discourage LGBT identity, including religious texts.
Supporters See Healing; Critics Warn of Harm
Ken Williams, CHANGED’s other co-founder and a pastor, shared how Christian counseling helped him overcome suicidal thoughts related to his same-sex attraction. “It was legal for me to get help that aligned with my faith convictions,” he said. Today, such therapy is banned for minors in 23 states, including California.
Supporters argue that people deserve access to faith-based counseling that aligns with their values. Critics say that such practices amount to harmful and discredited conversion therapy. Mental health organizations and LGBT advocates warn that these methods can lead to increased depression and suicide risk.
Woning concluded that this year’s event was not only a memorial to past legislative efforts but also a call to safeguard speech freedoms in California.
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Former LGBTQ Christians Hold Event to Protest California Government Censorship
Image: Pamela Reynoso
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