Is Gothard Gay?

[TrueRebel1]

So this morning I was speaking with the headship about Doug Phillips resignation and then we started discussing the "secret sins" of various fundie leaders. He brought up Gothard (being raised in an ATI family himself). He said, without a doubt, that Gothard is gay. Now, he's met Gothard in person several times. Some of the girls from his church were interns for Gothard....and it was when they came back home that they told my husband that Gothard was absolutely gay. And this is from young people who, at the time of being in contact with Gothard, were indoctrinated to believe that no good Christian was possibly gay.

 

So, what's the consensus around here? It certainly makes a lot of sense if Gothard was indeed gay! I mean, the talk of handing over ATI to The Pecan Thief fits right in. And the accusations of him having inappropriate conduct with female interns? My husband says it was his "cover", or him trying to convince himself that he wasn't gay.

 

I guess I'm just surprised that hanging around FJ where you hear every rumor about a fundie being gay, that I don't remember hearing this about Gothard.

[formergothardite]

There have been so many accusations of him sexually molesting young teen girls that I would think he would be more bisexual. I wouldn't be surprised if he harassed guys too in the same way he does the girls where he can claim that his actions are innocent and they just misunderstood what he was doing.

I don't think Gothard is a virgin, though.

[Cone]

I think it takes a special kind of person to never be in a public relationship for 79 years... there are only 3 options:

A) Gay

B) Asexual

C) Creep who doesn't like adults

[Milly-Molly-Mandy]

Guys be careful before accusing anyone of sexual misconduct.

Mods, what's the guidelines here please?

[TrueRebel1]

Guys be careful before accusing anyone of sexual misconduct.

Mods, what's the guidelines here please?

I didn't mean to come across as accusing anyone. I think that this forum discusses the possible sexual orientation of numerous fundies; that doesn't seem to be out of the forum guidelines. As far as Gothard's interactions with his interns, it's public information that he has been accused of improper sexual behavior towards his interns.

[formergothardite]

Guys be careful before accusing anyone of sexual misconduct.

Mods, what's the guidelines here please?

That is why I said there was accusations of him sexually molesting young teen girls, not that he actually did it, though I wouldn't be surprised if those accusations were true, but at this moment they are just accusations.

He turned 18 a really long time ago so speculating if he is gay shouldn't be against any guidelines.

[Mela99]

I get the sense that he is more of a jilted lover than anything. I think some non-fundie girl broke his heart years ago and that's when he came up with all this crap.

[Cleopatra7]

I think it takes a special kind of person to never be in a public relationship for 79 years... there are only 3 options:

A) Gay

B) Asexual

C) Creep who doesn't like adults

Based on the many rumors of his improprieties with young girls, I think Gothard is probably straight. If he has all of those young girls around him, he has no need to get married or be in a long-term relationship because he can take his pick. It's a sick kind of genius. Gothard could also have a woman on the side that we may never know about. If this is the case, perhaps he thinks that he needs to appear to be single to his followers, so all the women can fantasize about him or something like that, like how John Lennon's first marriage was kept under wraps.

[Rainytown]

Oh, my. As my former pastor would say, let us reason together*...

I'm sure Mr. Gothard believes others think his lack of relationships makes him more like Christ. To say he's bizarre is an understatement. He has had no relationships that we're aware of, but he's an expert on dating, engagement, marriage and how to raise one's children. It's beyond ridiculous.

His sexual orientation is none of my business. At the same time, Mr. Gothard and his followers might want to think hard on the following. There is no such thing as a "coverup" anymore. What you do in secret WILL be found out, and typically in the most public of ways. When that happens, the current furor over Doug (is a tool) will look like an afternoon in the park.

*fundie speak for "let me tell you how you should believe"

[NurseNell]

Guys be careful before accusing anyone of sexual misconduct.

Mods, what's the guidelines here please?

Good grief, no one is posting anything new. How long have you been reading here? No guidelines were broken.

[ILoveJellybeans]

Nope, there are many first hand accounts on Recovering Grace about him flirting inappropriately with underage girls.

[miffy]

I think he is another jimmy saville

[gustava]

Pedophiles target age/gender. Say young teen/females. That is all.

[NurseNell]

Pedophiles target age/gender. Say young teen/females. That is all.

Strictly speaking pedophiles target children, those who've not entered puberty. There's another term, that I can't remember, used for those who target teenagers. The media tends to use pedophile to refer to anyone who's attracted to those 18 and under but they are using it incorrectly.

[alysee]

Strictly speaking pedophiles target children, those who've not entered puberty. There's another term, that I can't remember, used for those who target teenagers. The media tends to use pedophile to refer to anyone who's attracted to those 18 and under but they are using it incorrectly.

Ephebophilia?

[treemom]

Pedophiles often target both male and female. Nurse Nell is right,

[jaynie]

Strictly speaking pedophiles target children, those who've not entered puberty. There's another term, that I can't remember, used for those who target teenagers. The media tends to use pedophile to refer to anyone who's attracted to those 18 and under but they are using it incorrectly.

I think that might have been what gustava meant, although it's not clear. Mostly I'm chiming in here to say the word you're looking for is ephebophilia. Wikipedia says that in sexual ethics it applies to girls 14-16 and boys 14-19, though whether that's because puberty is more drawn out in males, or for skeevier societal reasons, I'm not sure.

[Milly-Molly-Mandy]

Good grief, no one is posting anything new. How long have you been reading here? No guidelines were broken.

Well that's rather harsh of you NurseNell. All I said was be careful with your wording. Not that anyone had said anything that wasn't appropriate but just to be careful no one stepped the boundaries. My husband, brother & father are all lawyers so maybe I have just been bought up to be extra cautious.

And I have been on FJ for at least 4 years. But even if I had been on here 4 days I stand by my comment of being careful with that sort of thing.

[Ampak]

Regardless of his orientation, I think it's clear he's a giant pervy McPervert. I can almost guarantee he's got a pile of the world's raunchiest porn hidden somewhere in his house. I'm watching all the seminars I can during my free one month trial of EI and he seems really obsessed with women's cycles. It's creepy as fk.

[SPHASH]

Pedophiles target age/gender. Say young teen/females. That is all.

I've always believed Jerry Sandusky is a pedophile who happens to be gay. No reports of him going after females.

[NurseNell]

I've always believed Jerry Sandusky is a pedophile who happens to be gay. No reports of him going after females.

He didn't go after children though, he was into mid to late teenagers, making him an ephebophile.

[bionicmlle]

NurseNell - thanks for providing the clarification. It's a pet peeve of mine, too. The distinction of pedophile is important. Additionally, the term pedophile makes no differentiation between male vs. female attraction (homosexual vs. heterosexual attraction), just a paraphilia which involves prepubertal "partners," considered a non consenting (un-consent-able) partner in our culture, obviously.

[No Cure for Stupid]

Pedophiles are those who go after prepubescent children. Most pedophiles target a certain sex, but there are some who are open to either sex. Hebephiles are those who go after children in the early stages of puberty, approximately 11-14. Ephebophiles are those who go after pubescent teenagers in the latter stages of puberty, approximately 14-18. Although, it depends on the age of consent which can be anywhere from 16 to 18.

Honestly, I don't understand why fundies follow Gothard, period. How can someone unmarried and without children tell people to marry and have children. The hypocrisy is high on this one.

[miffy]

Pedophiles are those who go after prepubescent children. Most pedophiles target a certain sex, but there are some who are open to either sex. Hebephiles are those who go after children in the early stages of puberty, approximately 11-14. Ephebophiles are those who go after pubescent teenagers in the latter stages of puberty, approximately 14-18. Although, it depends on the age of consent which can be anywhere from 16 to 18.

Honestly, I don't understand why fundies follow Gothard, period. How can someone unmarried and without children tell people to marry and have children. The hypocrisy is high on this one.

I don't understand it either. At least Doug The Tool can speak from experience.

[uber frau]

Honestly, I don't understand why fundies follow Gothard, period. How can someone unmarried and without children tell people to marry and have children. The hypocrisy is high on this one.

Because he's channeling God. He doesn't need any experience. (He likes to portray himself as a modern day Paul, from what I've heard. Which makes the Pecan Thief's choice of "Paul William" for his firstborn even more interesting IMO).