Anthony Venn-Brown Quotes

Australia, Author
March 13, 1951

Anthony Venn-Brown is a former Australian evangelist in the Assemblies of God and an author whose book, A Life of Unlearning describes his experience in Australia’s first ex-gay program. He is also the Co-founder and previous Convenor of Freedom 2b which is a network for GLBTIQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer) people from Pentecostal, Charismatic and Evangelical backgrounds. He is also the founder and CEO of Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International (ABBI).

Also known as Evangelist

Homophobia and the closet are allies. Like an unhealthy co-dependent relationship they need each other to survive. One plays the victim living in fear and shame while the other plays the persecutor policing what is ‘normal’. The only way to dismantle homophobia is for every gay man and lesbian in the world to come out and live authentic lives. Once they realise how normal we are and see themselves in us….the controversy is over.

Anthony Venn-Brown
- Allies
- Closet
- Homophobia
When you finally embrace the gift of your sexual orientation it IS the end; the end of shame, fear and oppression. You leave the darkness of the closet and begin a life of honesty, authenticity and freedom.

Anthony Venn-Brown

The closet does have a benefit. It provides safety. Which at times is important. But remember, as long as you are in there, two other things will be too. Fear and shame.

Anthony Venn-Brown
- Fear
- Shame
- Closet
My morality and faith are choices. My sexual orientation however isn't.

Anthony Venn-Brown
In life we either become bitter or better'. And the only person who determines that outcome is ourselves.

Anthony Venn-Brown
When we choose to live authentically we chip away at others prisons of pretend and create an opportunity for them to walk out of darkness into freedom.

Anthony Venn-Brown
- Live
- Freedom
- Darkness
Every single courageous act of coming out chips away at the curse of homophobia. Most importantly it's destroyed within yourself, and that act creates the potential for its destruction where it exists in friends, family and society.

Anthony Venn-Brown
The enemy is not individuals, churches, 'ex-gay' organisations or political parties; the enemy is ignorance. Change is created by focusing our energies on overcoming the latter instead of attacking the former.

Anthony Venn-Brown
- Enemy
- Ignorance
- Energies

It's better to live one day on this planet being true to yourself than an entire lifetime which is a lie.

Anthony Venn-Brown
- Live
- True
- Lie
Outing someone is like ripping a butterfly from its cocoon. You can damage them for life and rob them of THEIR life changing experience of liberation. For a successful emergence THEY have to struggle through the cocoon of fear and shame. THEN they can fly.

Anthony Venn-Brown