The Facts:
- Born 1963
- Claims to be an Ex-Gay
- Believer of Conversion Therapy
- Former leader and founder of Focus on the Family’s Love One Out conference
The Culprit:
The Story:
Paulk grew up in Columbus, Ohio. He attended Fort Hayes High School for the Performing Arts, and he majored in music and voice. To pay for his next venture, college, Paulk worked as a male escort and a drag queen under the alias of Candy.
What is important is that he decided, for whatever reason, to be untrue to who he was and undergo conversion therapy. After such time he began to work for Focus on the Family. At this time he identified as heterosexual and married a woman, who also is an ex-gay.
Paulk and his new wife together wrote the book Love One Out, which deals with helping people who have “unwanted same-sex attractions” overcome their desires.
On September 19, 2000, Paulk was spotted at Mr. P’s, a Washington D.C. gay bar. There were photographs taken of his presence in the bar and he was even confronted by Wayne Besen of the Human Rights Campaign and Truth Wins Out. When confronted by Besen the man denied the fact that he was John Paulk.
Later when Besen confronted Paulk with pictures, he admitted to having been in the bar, but said he didn’t know it was a gay bar and just stopped to use the restroom. However, eyewitnesses said the Paulk had stayed for over an hour, flirted with other men and when asked identified as gay.
Interesting, though, to see what his own people, the other leaders of Exodus, which promotes the “freedom from homosexuality,” had a different take on the situation. From the website Tibit, an open letter from Exodus:
Mr. Paulk was in Washington for a job-related business meeting. While walking in the DuPont Circle neighborhood, he entered a business establishment to use the restroom and immediately realized that it was a gay bar. Instead of leaving, Paulk used the bathroom and then sat down to engage another married man in conversation. He was confronted about 30 minutes later by gay activists who recognized him. As he attempted to leave the establishment, several photographs were taken.
It is interesting, however, that it directly negates what John Paulk himself said of the situation. Remember, he didn’t realize it was a gay bar. I then have to ask, what other married man is spending time in a gay bar?
My real question comes in here though, if photographs were taken and people saw him and confronted him why did he lie about it?
Today John Paulk is living in Portland, Oregon with his wife and children. Together they started a  catering company in 2005, and John sometimes appears on cooking segments for the Portland television. He is also regularly appears on Christian Talk Radio, “Food Talk with Chef John.”