PETITION CLOSED

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Urge Michigan Department of Corrections to Eliminate Affiliation with "Ex-Gay Ministry"
  1. Signatures
    437 out of 500
    Petitioning
    1. Michigan Department of Corrections (John Cordell)
  2. Created By
    Michael Jones
    Boston, MA
About this Petition Petition Letter

UPDATE: Victory! After a five-month review process, not to mention hundreds of emails from Change.org members, the Michigan Department of Corrections announced that they would not allow ex-gay ministry organization Corduroy Stone to have access to Michigan prisoners any longer. This is great news, and means that prisoners in Michigan will no longer receive propaganda from conversion therapy groups like Corduroy Stone. For more information on this victory, see this post on Change.org.

An "ex-gay ministry" based in Lansing, Michigan -- Corduroy Stone -- currently holds a volunteer affiliation with the Michigan Department of Corrections. Ex-gay ministries have been roundly condemned by psychological and mental health experts, with medical professionals loudly and clearly debunking the tactics that such programs use to "treat" their clients.

But Corduroy Stone takes the controversy surrounding ex-gay ministries to an even deeper level. Their director has been accused of asking clients graphic sexual details, engaging clients in "cuddle" therapy, and requiring clients to disclose what type of underwear they purchase. And that not only crosses the line when it comes to the definition of therapy, it crosses the line over what types of programs should be allowed inside America's prisons.

Send the Michigan Department of Corrections a message that ex-gay therapy programs like Corduroy Stone do not belong inside state prisons. They are harmful to prisoners, and harmful to public health.

Recent Signatures

End the Affiliation with Ex-Gay Ministry Program Corduroy Stone

Dear Mr. Cordell

In recent weeks, a Michigan-based program known as "Corduroy Stone" has come under increasing scrutiny for controversial tactics they use as part of their work as an "ex-gay ministry." Recent revelations show that the organization's director has asked clients very graphic sexual details -- from what kind of underwear his clients purchase to what type of men they find sexually attractive. The program's director has even asked clients graphic questions about their anatomy, and at least in one occasion asked that a client undergo "cuddle" therapy.

Corduroy Stone's tactics have become so offensive that other religious organizations have distanced themselves from the program, or have cut affiliations entirely. Yet, in the wake of revelations about Corduroy Stone, the Michigan Department of Corrections still maintains a link with the organization under a volunteer partnership. According to Corduroy Stone's own Web site, the organization "is an outreach volunteer organization within the Michigan Department of Corrections." An organization like this should, simply put, not be allowed inside Michigan's prisons.

This week you indicated that the Michigan Department of Corrections would look into the affiliation with Corduroy Stone. I urge you to stop looking, and start acting. Please end the volunteer affiliation with Corduroy Stone. Ex-gay ministries like Corduroy Stone have no business inside America's prisons. They are psychologically dangerous, and have been denounced by health professionals many times over.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to action from the Michigan Department of Corrections in ending its relationship with Corduroy Stone.

[Your name]

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