On August 25, 2008, in Sacramento, California,

Steve Parelli (left in photo) and Jose Ortiz were married.

Go to wedding photos

 

 

 

 

 

Go to Global Gay-Gay Uganda (and scroll down) for comments on this book.  

 

See references in this book to gays being called "other sheep" and to The Children Are Free, a testimony to Other Sheep's presence in Uganda in 2007.

 

 

In a July 31 email to Steve Parelli, Dr. Edwin Mora, Ph. D, Professor at UBL (Universidad Biblica Latinoamericana, San Jose, Costa Rica), wrote:

 

"We are developing an intensive course called Health and Well-being: a Biblical, theological and pastoral perspective.  One of the topics of this course is Health and Sexual Diversity. ... We are using two readings in order that the students prepare themselves on the topic:  ... the second reading is your excellent article about the "ex-gay" movement.  Thank you very much for your article. 

 

In the course, there are students of Theology and Bible from many Latin American countries, Africa and Europe.  Thank you very much for leaving this article with us in your previous visit."

 

by Rev. John Maklokha and Steve Parelli, Niarobi, Kenya 

 

Excerpt "So, what is your message in a sentence or two," someone asked.  Already, and expectantly, what the Bible says was uppermost in their minds.  After all, this was a "Gospel ministers' seminar."
 
I replied, slowly and deliberately, "Just as Christians persecuted the Jews during Reformation times; just as Christian Englishmen enslaved the African; and just as Christian men subject women even today - and have used the Bible in every case to justify their discriminations, so today in Africa is the Bible being used to justify the abuse of another people-group - they are called homosexuals.  And if you will give me just another fifteen minutes, I will demonstrate to you how your Rwandan Bible has incorrectly infused the word 'homosexual' into five Old Testament texts. 

Bernal Esquival initiates contact with Guatemala LGBT group 

by Bernal Esquival, San Juan, Costa Rica, OS Central American Coordinator

 

Soon after the Rainbow Community was founded in Costa Rica, we started a fraternal relationship with some Panamanian brothers who founded a group called Emanuel. After that, we had a fruitful encounter with some partners from the MCC in Nicaragua.  Out of these fraternal relationships grew a desire to work with other Central American brothers who do not have the opportunity to engage in a spiritual community.   
 
When Thomas Hank spoke to me about the Other Sheep's intention of appointing me as the Central American Coordinator, the previous interest was put on hold.  I accepted the position, and I communicated with John Doner about my intention of visiting Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras to organize workshops on the Bible and homosexuality, to help raise awareness about the possible need of leaders who could start some groups in those countries.
 
Since the Other Sheep's resources are very limited, I prayed to God asking Him for an airplane ticket that would be no more than $100 because that expense would fall entirely to me.   My prayer was answered in less than one and a half months.  So I started working on contacting people from Guatemala.  This is how I became reacquainted with Jorge Osorio from Oasis, which is a successful organization that helps the Guatemalan GLBT community. Without knowing me well, he offered me a hall in his building. He also helped me call together some interested people and convince them that it was not a trap to hurt them, because the Guatemalan GLBT community is constantly persecuted and a victim of hate crimes.
 
Finally, on February 23, 2008, we organized a workshop on Gay Spirituality and Religion at Oasis.  Eleven people attended.  It was a total success, considering that they were brought together with only short notice in advance.
 
We handed out leaflets and material provided by Other Sheep. Our brotherhood ties were strengthened, and many supporting and solidarity commitments were made.

by the student (name withheld) as told to Steve Parelli, East Africa, July-August 2008 (exact place and date withheld) 

 

The noises coming from this mob of students was like a gang.  Everyone was screaming and saying we should all be beaten and killed and put out of the school.  Others were trying to protect the gays so that they would not be hit.  I was hit.  They hit me from my head to my waist.  They slapped me.  They hit my ears until they were numb.  They used sticks and slippers and their hands against my head.  They hit me with their fists.  People who were not close enough to hit me were throwing things.  They said we should be burned, that we couldn't live with them.  They asked how it is that others are attracted to girls but we are attracted to boys.
 
The teachers, who sleep in a separate quarter close to the dorms, heard the noise and came one after another.  About ten teachers eventually came.  We were separated from the mob of students who were attacking us.  The teachers told us that the main issue was that what we gays were doing was not right and that we needed to be beaten so that we would change because counseling won't help.  A male teacher who teaches [subject matter withheld] said we should be beaten thoroughly so that we will move in the right manner (be disciplined, etc., like straight people).  He said this to the seven of us who were there.  There were eight of us, but one was dissolved from the group who had convinced the teachers that he was not gay.  So, he was sent back.   Read the full account

 

 

 

VOLUNTEER HELP NEEDED.   If you would like to help in writing grant proposals to foundations for the support of the ministry of Other Sheep in places like East Africa and South America, please contact Steve Parelli, Executive Director, sparelli2002@yahoo.com.  

SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES SOUGHT.  Steve Parelli and Jose Ortiz live in the Bronx, New York.  They are available to speak to any interested group on their experiences in East Africa and Latin America and on several topics from an evaluation of the evangelical "ex-gay" movement to the Bible and homosexuality.  They have a PowerPoint presentation on East Africa and Other Sheep, and on The Bible and Homosexuality.

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