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Anthony's book @ Koorong!!

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Anthony Venn-Brown
 
Joined in 2005
April 19, 2007, 08:35

Craig…thanks for writing such a thoughtful email. Some times when people take action with these things the tone of the correspondence is angry and aggressive. Which usually only reinforces the person belief that all homosexuals are nasty people. You have communicated in a way that is honest, factual and engaging.


For those reading this who dont know whats going on and would like to.

Sign up for newsletters here http://visitor.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1101277457148


here is what was in the recent newsletter that prompted Craig email to the management of Koorong. Dont forget to cc the rest of the the team when you send the email to Paul the managing director.


Koorong Withdraws ALOU


Koorong Bookshop, the leading Christian booksellers in Australia, originally stocked my book and taking orders on line. It was withdrawn from sale at the beginning of March. I’ve sent 3 emails (see below) to Paul Bootes, the General Manager, and have heard nothing back. The last one I sent I cc’d other managers at Koorong on the email. Nothing! Then I rang and left a message on his voice mail. Still nothing!


Don’t you think it’s rude to ignore someone who makes a polite inquiry. Certainly not the way a Christian businessperson should behave.


Koorong has more than 30 books on homosexuality.See the list here. Only one of those, ‘The New Testament and Homosexuality’ by Robin Scroggs, has a balanced view but Koorong’s website has an advisory warning for the potential buyer/reader.


The other 30 books are negative, presenting same sex oriented people as sick, perverted, mentally unwell, with a secret agenda to tear marriages apart, teach homosexuality in the schools so they can convert young people, eventually have sex with children and even marry their pets. At times homosexuality is likened to alcoholism and bestiality. In two words; sensationalist and fear-mongering.


Some of the titles include:

A Parent’s Guide To Preventing Homosexuality,

Reparative Therapy Of Male Homosexuality

Coming Out Of Homosexuality

Healing Homosexuality: Case Studies Of Reparative Therapy

Reparative Therapy Of Male Homosexuality

Homosexual Struggle

The Homosexual Agenda

A Guy Who Was Gay

The Gay Agenda

The Gay Gospel?,

Gay Rights Or Wrongs


Would YOU help make Koorong aware this is not acceptable in 2007? Email Koorong and suggest they have a more balanced book list available. Tell them how ‘A Life of Unlearning’ helped you. How it helps others. How important it is to present the other side of the story. Tell them how damaging their selection can be on young people who are in churches and are gay or lesbian. GLBT youth are six times more likely to suicide than heterosexual youth, probably even higher if you are a young person in a church that still believes homosexuals go to hell. Koorong’s book list is contributing to these deaths and also trapping people into years of torment, trying desperately to change, thinking God and others won’t accept them as they are.


Send an email to Paul Bootes [email protected] then cut and paste the management team below in the cc box.


[email protected];

[email protected];

[email protected];

[email protected];

[email protected]


Please forward this onto others who would like to take action and request Koorong to present a balanced book list using the forward link at the bottom of this newsletter.


thanks


A very grateful Anthony



Anthony Venn-Brown
 
Joined in 2005
April 19, 2007, 09:22

Another example of a good email. the tone is exceptional. Strong but not aggressive. Well done Paul



Hi Mr.Bootes,


I have heard some very disturbing information from an email I received from Anthony venn-brown regarding some book titles you are selling regarding sexual orientation.


I have worked with many suicidal youth and older fundamentalist Christians who have been at risk of self-harm as a result of some of the beliefs that these books may be perpetrating. I have also done much work with families who have lost their children as a result of suicide due to irrational beliefs regarding homosexuality.


In a time where the evidence is so clear regarding homosexuality being as not being a choice or lifestyle, I cannot believe that people are selling books that are so damaging, or at least that evidence based alternatives are sold.


I am writing this in complete ignorance of what you sell, and I hope and pray that the information I have received is not correct regarding not selling a balanced range of books on the subject of homosexuality. So I apologise in advance as I don’t have time to do research into the validity of the information in the email as I am about to go overseas for a couple of weeks.


Regards,

Paul Martin

Principal Psychologist

Centre for Human Potential

860 Brunswick St.

NEW FARM QLD 4005



Anthony Venn-Brown
 
Joined in 2005
April 25, 2007, 00:50

has anyone had a reply from Koorong?………or do we take it to the next level



job3811
 
Joined in 2007
April 25, 2007, 10:40

We should have a group of people going to the store and asking for the book over the counter.



Anthony Venn-Brown
 
Joined in 2005
April 25, 2007, 16:10

we’ll see how the emails from the consumers and public get handled. they might want to ignore me but I wouldn’t think they would ignore people who are or potentially are their customers.


But if they do that tehn we’ll have to take it to the next level.



Anthony Venn-Brown
 
Joined in 2005
April 26, 2007, 16:09

Dear Mr. Bootes,


My name is Adrian ……….., and I am both Christian and an avid bookworm who has had frequent occasion to make use of Koorong’s facilities.


I am also gay.


I was very disappointed to hear that Koorong has chosen to withdraw from sale Anthony Venn-Brown’s autobiography, A Life of Unlearning.

Both this book and its author are beacons of light for many of us who have struggled to reconcile our sexuality with our faith. A Life of Unlearning is an eloquent and humane testament to that process of reconciliation. Mr. Venn-Brown’s life story is one that many of us can relate to, and he tells his story in a way that is thought-provoking yet accessible.


In fact, A Life of Unlearning provides a much-needed counterbalance to the plethora of books — many of which you continue to stock on your shelves — that uniformly, unquestioningly presuppose the immorality of gay people. Such books can have a terrible impact on people, damaging their self-esteem and causing them to view their sexuality and faith as incompatible. They not only encourage people of faith to militate against gays and lesbians, but also encourage gays and lesbians to give up their faith. These books place particular pressure on the families of gay people. When I first came out to my parents, I was heartbroken to observe the dearth of clear-sighted, balanced books to which they could refer for guidance — books that did not simply inveigh against my existence, or express the hopeless wish that I could give up an involuntary part of my being, but rather encourage my parents to accept me as they and God made me.


A Life of Unlearning now offers my and other families that guidance.


The New Covenant, I respectfully note, underlines the power of conscience to instruct us in our individual lives. “I shall put my laws in their minds, I shall put my laws in their hearts.” All I ask is that you consider your customers’ ability to make up our own minds and hearts about the subject of homosexuality, by balancing the range of gay-themed books you put on your bookshelves. We all deserve to know God’s love.


Adrian



Anthony Venn-Brown
 
Joined in 2005
April 26, 2007, 16:11

Dear Paul,

I write to urge you to put the book ‘A Life of Unlearning’ by Anthony Venn-Brown back on your bookshelves.


I am the pastor of Metropolitan Community Church Brisbane. My name is Rev Anne James. My partner Rev Iris Saggers and I use Koorong bookshop often to get suitable music and books for use in our ministry at MCC Brisbane. Many of our congregation also use Koorong bookshop to get books and music they require.


By only presenting one point of view on homosexuality (eg a negative ‘anti-gay’ stance) you are alienating a large number of potential and actual clients who are both gay and Christian.


I grieve for young gay and lesbian people who might shop in your bookstore and find nothing positive about themselves as gay or lesbian. I deal every day with the damage that is done by the sort of stance you are taking. When young gay persons present with depression and /or are suicidal – it is not their being gay or lesbian that is causing this but the vilification they have experienced.


Anthony Venn-Brown’s book ‘A Life of Unlearning’ has given fresh hope to many people with whom I have had dealings, and has certainly been instrumental in preventing suicides.


Gay and lesbian people come from every walk of life and every strata of society. Many grow up in ‘good Christian homes’ with ‘good Christian parents’ – they are not damaged or sick or depraved, they are simply part of the wonderful diversity of God’s good creation.


I venture to suggest that should you continue to ban Anthony’s book from your bookshelves then you have some responsibility for the depression and suicide of young people who have been given a negative self image only from the books available to them in your bookstore. This will be especially true for young regional and rural gay persons who have access to very little information other than that which stores such as yours provide.


I trust you will consider what I have said very carefully.

Yours sincerely

Anne M W James – pastor MCC Brisbane



Anthony Venn-Brown
 
Joined in 2005
April 26, 2007, 16:12

Dear Paul, 

 

I have heard from Anthony about the withdrawal of his book. I am disappointed. If truth is truth then let people read and come to their own conclusions. He has apparently left messages to which there has been no response. If so this is disappointing and I hope it is explainable as an oversight and not a deliberate action. I think that higher standards of business ethics and practice are demanded of Christian businesses than of others. 

 

Yours sincerely 

 

Robert



Anthony Venn-Brown
 
Joined in 2005
April 26, 2007, 16:14

Dear Paul


I have recently learned that A Life of Unlearning by Anthony Venn Brown has been withdrawn from Koorong’s distribution list. I find this extremely disappointing, for a number of reasons. As a heterosexual female, ‘born and bred’ in the conservative Christian church, I believe that the message of this book must be heard. I am fully aware of how confronting Anthony’s story is, especially to conservative christians who, like myself, have been taught that homosexuality is a sin, but I also believe that christians deserve the opportunity to hear an alternative view. If a person goes into Koorong looking for a christian book on homosexuality, I believe they should be at least offered a balance of texts on the subject.


Whether or not one believes that homosexuality is an abomination, as the Bible may be seen to purport, Anthony’s story serves to remind us all that there is a person behind the label, and that Christians have a mandate from Jesus to love their neighbour, no matter how ‘despised and rejected’ he may be. I have personally witnessed the despair, self-loathing and depression of Christian friends who have told me (in confidence, and with great trepidation) that they are gay. They need to know that they are acceptable to God, despite what the church may tell them. Please allow Anthony Venn-Brown’s message of hope to be offered by Koorong, alongside the other titles on your shelves which present opposing views.


Kind regards

Sharon

Perth, WA



Anthony Venn-Brown
 
Joined in 2005
April 26, 2007, 16:16

Dear Paul


I am saddened to hear my friend Anthony Venn Brown has been ignored in his attempts to contact you on a reasonable matter. I know other author’s who have their books in Koorong who do not go ignored. I ask you give him the same courtesy as you do them. I have been using Koorong for many years and this has disapointed me.


I also do not understand why “Life of Unlearning” has been removed.

This book has helped so many people, including myself, and helped me find God’s love again. Koorong was always known to give an unbiased selection of books regarding different biblical issues. Having 30 titles with the one view on homosexuality, is not healthy, I have read a few of these books and I was depressed and willing to end this life because of it. I am not asking you to support justifying homosexuality, but I believe anthony’s book gives a refreshing and honest and raw approach to it, leaving the reader to decide for themselves.


Regards


Lloyd


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