Announcement

New Creation Association’s Announcement and Press Release

On 17 June 2011, Dr. K.W. Hong was invited by the Social Welfare Department to give a talk on “Giving Guidance to Same Sex Attracted Youth” to the social workers from all districts. That afternoon, gay rights activists protested outside the Lady Trench Training Centre, and made false accusations against Dr. Hong, our Association and the Social Welfare Department. (Please kindly refer to the press release of the gay rights activists)

Our Association denies all the accusations made by the gay rights activists, which are groundless, and would like to make the following clarifications:

The counseling services provided by our Association, including the one-on-one counseling and Self-Help Group services, never adopt “Reparative or Conversion Therapy. Our Association is not a “mental health clinic.” “Bend Straight Therapy” strategies, like “exorcism, electric shock, hypnosis or cold showers” as alleged by the gay rights activists have never been included in our services.
Our Association truly respects the decision of homosexuals as to whether they want to change or not. We support those who are perplexed by their same sex attraction or who wish to give up their lifestyle of homosexuality, with holistic care and guidance. Giving up a lifestyle of homosexuality does not necessarily require “changing one’s sexual orientation”. It means that an individual no longer pursues the emotional satisfaction derived from homosexual relationships. We help them restore or further develop other relationships such as family, friends, or heterosexual relationships, in order to fulfill their desires for love and acceptance and to experience joy in their lives.
Our Association conducts Self-Help Groups with activities like book-reading, talks on homosexuality and personal growth, and weekend retreats. The objectives are to enhance self image and develop interpersonal skills. Our Association regards each group member as a unique individual. By sharing one’s own life story, and listening to the feedback of others, members gain better self-understanding and support in the newly developed friendships. (Please kindly refer to the sharing written by the members of Self-Help Groups)
Our Association also conducts Self-Help Groups for the family members of the homosexuals, where the parents can share their feelings related to their homosexual children, relieve their sense of guilt and shame, learn from one another and find support. Parents learn to refrain from blame shifting or self-blaming, and not to over-react to their children’s same sex attraction. Also, through attending talks on homosexuality and parenting skills, parents gain a deeper understanding of their children, learn to maintain sincere communication with them, walk with them in their paths of struggles and eventually restore a family of love and harmony. In the past, many couples also showed improvement in the relationship with their spouses after joining the groups. Hence, allegations that our Association’s “interventions” alienate relationships between homosexual children and their parents, and cause harm to their families, are groundless.(Please kindly refer to the sharing written by the parents and family members.)
The Social Welfare Department invited Dr. K.W. Hong, not our Association, as the speaker for the talk on “Giving Guidance to Same Sex Attracted Youth”. He was invited not because of his position as the Chairman of our Association, but in his own capacity as a specialist in psychiatry. (Please kindly refer to the invitation letter from the Social Welfare Department to Dr. K.W. Hong) Therefore, our Association did not respond to the mass media’s comments on the content of the talk delivered that afternoon.

Lastly, we sincerely urge the involved gay rights activists to respect the personal decisions and feelings of others, and not to invent some new terms and impose them on us. We object to the unfair and false accusations directed at our Association and members through the use of “Bend Straight Therapies”! Those individuals who are perplexed by their same sex attraction or who wish to give up their homosexuality are the true minority among the gay community. Their rights should definitely be protected. They have the right to choose their paths based on their own beliefs. This right of choice must be respected and they should not be discriminated by others.

Sharing from the members of Self-Help Groups

By joining the Support Group, I realized that I do have the right to choose, not like the claim by homosexual organizations that “they have no choice”. I also learned to respect homosexuals’ choice to stay in their sexual orientation. At the same time, we should also respect the right of those who hope to learn more about themselves and to change. Thus, if any homosexuals need help, I believe that the New Creation Association is providing them with one more option to know more about themselves/one more way out.　　~ By Ch
I am furious with the outside accusation of the New Creation Association of organizing “Bend Straight Classes” and of Dr. Hong and the Association of discriminating against homosexuals. Why do an organization which help the homosexuals and a doctor who devotes so much of his time and effort receive such misunderstandings and attacks? Being a homosexual myself, I have never been labeled as “possessed by ghost” in the Association. I have never been told to “take a cold shower to suppress my same-sex desire” neither. I really don’t understand why such ridiculous and false claims prevail. I don’t agree with the actions of the homosexual groups and I don’t think that they represent me neither. I do have wisdom and the right to choose, I do have the right to choose for myself another option and I do have the right to seek counseling from the Association. Why do they block me from those rights and claim themselves to be striving for the rights of homosexuals? Their attacks are meant for their own benefits and they sacrifice the interest of some homosexuals. They trampled my human right and their behavior made me rage.　　~By Ju
Through participating in the Support Group, I learned the importance of having supportive counterparts and encouragements. I found the gay activists’/outside claim that the New Creation Association conducts “From Gay to Straight Classes” an absurdity. As an adult, I know what I need and pursue. I participated in the service of the Association because it suits my needs and not because it “straighten” me. Also, the Association adopts a policy of “voluntary participation” and dissects homosexuality from multiple perspectives. I never found it to have an element of compulsoriness.　　~By Te
If on the Earth Village, 10 out of 100 are homosexuals. They are named “minority”. But what if among the 10, some want to change from the homosexual life styles, and they suddenly become unqualified for being the “minority”. I am the minority of the minority, I hope that you (Gay Groups) don’t “discriminate” me, this “minority” who voluntarily want to change his sexual orientation.
I have experienced the homosexual life styles and I understand the way you (Gay Groups); are being discriminated, your space being suppressed and your freedom of speech being limited. I have a few homosexual friends and I respect their identity as homosexuals and they respect my decision to change. We treat each other with mutual-respect. I thought you are a group of people who want to help my homosexual friends and strive for their rights. But somehow you turn and attack your alike. I was once your service target but why do you strangle my choice to change? I was once involved in gay organization and I found New Creation Association suit me more, it represents my voice. I hope you to understand that homosexuals have different needs and don’t think that what you are striving for and the life styles that you advocate represent all of us. Also, please do not think that you, the “majority of the minority” do have the right to suppress our voice. If so, you are acting like what you are fighting against-heterosexual hegemony.
I urge you to respect homosexuals who want to change their orientations, the same way you want others to respect you. Do not think that you “the majority of the minority” do have the right to exclude our needs. We also want our voice to be heard by the government. At this moment, I am sorry that you do not represent us. The New Creation Association exists with an absolute value, it represents the minority that you have not considered.　　~ By RF

Having been in the gay circle for more than ten years, I thought I could not change. After joining the “New Creation”, I found my way out. I was not looked down upon, nor was I treated as demon-possessed. Under the love and care of the support group, I gradually left the unpleasant experiences of my childhood, and accepted my sexual identity. I am becoming closer to God’s expectations of me. My life is becoming brighter, and I am closer to my dreams.　　~By R
I am a member of the first cell group of the New Creation. Through participating in the activities of New Creation in the past few years, I have changed a great deal. I have never been forced to join the cell group. I joined because I wasn’t happy with the way I lived. We never advocate that homosexuality is caused by possession by evil spirits and that the person needs deliverance by exorcists. Many gay activist organizations purport that the assistance offered by New Creation to us who want change our sexual orientation is actually discrimination against homosexuals. In my opinion, however, most of these gay activist organizations are actually discriminating us, and are depriving us of the chance to speak. Your assertion is assuming all those who have homosexual inclination have always liked the way they have lived. But the reality is “You are truly discriminating us, who are striving to live in ways that we think are better for us. You are clamping down on our right to speak.” In New Creation, we are not convicted as mentally ill. Some people believe that homosexuals have many mental problems and that a lot of these problems are caused by pressure from social discrimination. However, this is not true.　　~By K
I was once a homosexual and would like to choose to change my sexual identity and get married with a woman. However, no associations who claimed they protect “homosexuals” provide assistance for me to change until I met New Creation Association. If I did not get assistance from New Creation Association, my rights to control my future life would have been totally deprived. 　　~By Yan
I know automatically they’re making up stories or charging Dr. Hong and the organization with false accusations…just to force their way in. Their behavior is totally barbaric, which makes me furious & annoyed according to their attitude & behaviors.　　~By wong

Sharing from the parents and family members

I am one of the members of the Parents’ Support Group and have been in the group for 5 years. I really want to thank the Association. I and some other parents came to the Association with a broken heart, knowing that our children are homosexuals. In the group, I learn how to get along with my kid based on faith and love. I also treat her partner with love since she is not local and she likes to stay in our house at times. They both love me. So the service provided by the Association surely enhances my family relationships, including the relationships with my husband and my daughter, while no alienation as claimed by the activists. I really thank the Association.　　 (Mrs. W of Island East)
After getting the “out of the closet” news of my son, I went everywhere looking for help like a mad woman. I found a few organizations dealing with youth and family problems and the social workers unanimously respond, “Madam, according to figures, certain percent of homosexuals are born that way, it is better for you to accept…” Every time I left the organization, I felt nobody understood me and no one knew how hurt I was. I started to have emotional problems and cried uncontrollably. I took sick leaves very often during that time. I consulted a Psychiatrist. I admitted that I came to the New Creation Association to look for ways to get along with my son, but I found that I am being understood. We have a group of partners and we have the same beliefs and our lives continue to grow. Regarding my family relationship, my son hasn’t had dinner with us since 2005. But we had dinner together during the Easter of 2010, after 5 years’ waiting. I can see the improvement of my family relationships during my time being the volunteer with the Association.　　(Ms. J from Sham Shui)
My brother is a gay. Our family accepts him without discrimination. But he has no sense of security in the circle, full of fear, hurt and loneliness in various “come and go” relationships. It seems that the circle cannot provide people with real joy. I don’t understand why people would repel an organization which provides another option (or hope) to those in need? I support the existence of the Association.　　(A Sister from the South District)

Updated on June 26, 2011