Is This Odd Clip of an Ex-Gay Preacher Really 'a Gay Demon Exorcism'?

Exorcisms are known as religious events undertaken to remove demonic spirits from the individuals they are said to inflict. While there's certainly a fair bit of debate surrounding the procedure, the situation becomes increasingly controversial when it is done in an effort to "cure" someone of same-sex attraction.

The practice of performing "homosexual exorcisms," one that is certainly not mainstream, is not entirely uncommon either. Many media outlets have covered the often-times Pentecostal phenomenon and videos of the efforts are sometimes shared on YouTube (Details magazine did an interesting piece on the practice back in 2010).

Consider the Rev. Bob Larson, a preacher who claims to have performed thousands of exorcisms over the past three decades (he's also trained a troop of young women to do the same). Last month, Gawker posted a video of Larson performing a gay exorcism on a man who was allegedly possessed.

The clip, which is disturbing (and Gawker argues is also "exciting" and "hilarious") provides a lens into the practice (caution: disturbing):

Manifested Glory Ministries, a ministry in Bridgeport, Connecticut, also found itself in hot water in 2009 after a 20-minute clip showing a 16-year-old boy being purportedly exorcised went viral. The video showed the boy convulsing on the ground, with the statements being uttered around him clearly showing that some sort of demon-letting-out ceremony was underway.

"Rip it from his throat!" one woman yelled. "Come on, you homosexual demon! You homosexual spirit, we call you out right now! Loose your grip, Lucifer!"

A portion of the clip is below:

Now another incident is making headlines after Gawker reported that Prophet Tejanni Campbell, an ex-gay preacher, performed an exorcism at a California church. While there are certainly some intriguing activities going on during his sermon, TheBlaze is not entirely sure that an exorcism is occurring. Needless to say, Campbell's story is interesting.

According to a bio published on Facebook, the Los Angeles native was "delivered from a life of molestation, homosexuality and emotional abuse." Campbell believes that he is on a mission to "minister to the sexually abused and confused." Today, the preacher is married and has six children.

A video that was posted on YouTube on November 8 shows Campbell performing what Gawker dubbed "a gay demon exorcism." While the video was recently posted, it's unclear when, exactly, it was filmed. In its title, the clip purports to show "a homosexual set free," however this may merely be a reference to Campbell (who considers himself a "homosexual set free").

Regardless of whether the opening scenes constitute an exorcism (we called the church that hosted the event and we're waiting for a reply), later on in the video, Campbell is interviewed by Bishop Ernest Johnson, a California faith leader, and asked how gays can best be ministered to and relieved of their same-sex attraction.

Photo Credit: YouTube

"We draw them with love," he responded. "We let them know that [if] God did it for me, he can do it for you...there's nothing to hard for God."

The preacher said that God is all-powerful and that he can deliver and save people from anything. Additionally, Campbell spoke against "casting" gays aside and encouraged believers to show love to the homosexual community. Despite these words, there's no doubt that critics will be horrified by the ongoing use of these tactics.

As for his own evolution, Campbell credits the Lord, saying, "My change came when God just snatched me out."

Watch the purported exorcism and his subsequent interview, below (interview begins around 11:00):

What do you think? Is the event going on in the opening scene an exorcism -- or something else? Let us know in the comments section.

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Related:

• Meet the Teen Exorcists Who Claim They’re Battling Real-Life Demons