This past Monday, I told you the story of Bryce Faulkner, the 21 year-old Arkansas college student whose parents discovered his relationship with another man living in Wisconsin and gave him an ultimatum: if you choose him, you lose everything else. It has been 33 days since his boyfriend, Travis Swanson, has heard from him, and he wonders if he will ever hear from him again.
Minister Brett Harris, the head of Ergonomical Ministries, recently was in contact with Bryce’s mother, Debra Faulkner. Their conversation wasn’t very promising, and was also quite disturbing. The Faulkner family has discovered the Help Save Bryce website, and is threatening to sue for slander. Debra’s claim? That Bryce went running to his parents, begging for their help in freeing himself of his homosexuality. She also claims that Bryce wants nothing to do with Travis ever again. And, of course, there’s more.
Here is the message Harris sent to members of the Facebook group Friends of Bryce earlier this evening:
Since the Faulkners found out about the website, Bryce’s mother and I have been in communication. Back and forth with our emails. Ironically, Bryce has been absent from all communication. Not once has he made any statement about what has or has not been going on. Much less what he does or does not want. His mother wishes for me to beleive that Bryce just up and decided he didn’t want to have a relationship with Travis anymore and Travis is merely a spurned lover just wanting to vent his frustrations. She offered to have “three way” conversation between Travis, her and Bryce. Being Bryce is an adult and allegedly free, why the need for a three way phone call? She keeps harping on how Bryce is an adult and can make his own decisions, yet Bryce is remaining silent. She alleges the reporters have talked to Bryce and he has stated how silly the website is, yet we have found no reports of such. Have any of you?
Debra Faulkner is putting forth the assertion that Bryce is not in any facility and is “staying with family”. The Faulkners beleive this issue will just die down and fall to the way side. That all of you will simply become disinterested and go away. That Bryce will not have to eventually be man enough to speak out on his own behalf. She has called us “vipers” and says we are “hurting Bryce”. I have expressed my disagreement with this. That all we have been doing is showing our love and concern for Bryce and have extended only compassion. How does this “hurt” someone?
I have made it very clear to the Faulkners that I am not so easily intimidated and will not be taking down the website; no matter what litigation may be filed against me. I have further made it clear that the only way I will take down the website is for Bryce to meet with Travis, face to face, alone and tell him that he desires for the website to come down. Mrs. Faulkner assures me this will never happen.
So this is where it stands..the Faulkners deny he is in any facility or center and is walking around freely. That he does not want to have any contact with Travis (or apparently any of the thousands of us) and will never meet with him. However, none of these assertions come with any shred of evidence to its validity. So friends, as I told Mrs. Faulkner, we shall continue until such time that Bryce speaks out.
Since Monday, a video about Bryce’s story has also been created and posted to YouTube. The song used in the video is “So Close” by Jon McLaughlin. [You might want to consider having the tissues nearby...]
Hi Debra Faulkner!
This is Santa Claus. I wanted to know if it was okay for me and Mrs. Claus to stay with your family in your FantasyLand until Christmas.
Please send your rely c/o the Keebler Elves.
Sincerely,
Santa and the Mrs.
By: Auntie Mamie on 17 July 2009
at 23:26
How terribly disappointing. I fail to see how showing unconditional love and support for Bryce should he become free enough to see it’s there for him is in any way hurtful. I’m sorry, but those of us in the LGBT community are NOT trying to recruit new members or convert or kidnap them…..if it truly was a case of Bryce wanting to end a relationship, he would have needed to have a direct talk with his lover/companion…..and from the way he’s been described as kind and caring, I highly doubt he’d be so cold and unfeeling as to disappear and leave his boyfriend afraid for Bryce’s safety – all of his free will. Just doesn’t fly.
I wish both of them strength in getting through this. ((Hugs))
By: Delayne on 18 July 2009
at 01:26
I just want to thank everyone for their support and kind words of compassion. The out pouring of goodwill and concern have made me weep on more then one occasion. I will continue this fight for Bryces freedom from Emotion intimidation at the hands of conservative fundamentalists. For Bryce and for all the other Bryces out there.
Loving Thanks,
Rev. Brett A. Harris
By: Rev. Brett A. Harris on 18 July 2009
at 16:49
Someone using maryassociates@yahoo.com posted a blanket threat on my blog re: Bryce.
By: Nelson G. on 19 July 2009
at 18:23
LIAR u no lieing is against in the bible u lieing cow!
I didnt evan no the guy and i no this is a load of crap!
Can she not see what she is doing she is evil!
By: tom brain on 20 July 2009
at 07:16
ok im a preist i wil calm, but she serisley needs to learn that god does not care about sexuality!
By: tom brain on 20 July 2009
at 07:17
I think we need to hear Bryce soon or groups from Memphis and Little Rock should visit this little town. March in front of the house and were the work until we hear from him Face to Face.
By: Mark on 20 July 2009
at 18:14
Bryce if fine people…he just posted on his friend, Michael’s page and asked that everyone let this go…he’s getting his shit together on his own and does NOT need this attention…
By: Jody Robinson on 21 July 2009
at 00:33
^That is CRAP^
Do NOT let this Jody person convince you because Bryce did NOT post. It was very obviously Bryce’s mother. Jody- did you not ask her why Bryce hasn’t come forth? All it would take is one private conversation to make these outlets stop posting here. He would not have to talk to every person he knows about it.
But is obvious to both Michael AND myself that that was NOT Bryce on facebook.
And you better bet that we are doing EVERYTHING in our power to make sure everyone knows that Bryce is not on his facebook, but that his mother IS.
By: Jill on 21 July 2009
at 01:14
I was reading many articles about this and immediatly decided that I wanted to be a part of helping locate Bryce. I tried calling his home phone number but it seems to be a fax number? Also I have seen on some sights where it says that some people believe he is at LoveInAction. On the webisite it states that a person who goes to this treatment place cannot have contact with anyone for two to three weeks and maybe even more depending upon their situation. Could it possibly be one of the reasons no one has heard from him?
By: Jenn on 23 July 2009
at 17:42
Ok so he may be there. I called and asked to speak with him and they guy that answered got all tongue tied. I then stated that Bryce had just called me and that this was the number left to return his call. He asked what my name was and said that he cannot confirm or deny names of residental people there. I told him I was confused because I had just talked to Bryce and this is the number he gave me. He put me on hold and then came back and refered me to Bryce’s family. It could just be that this guy was just doing his regular duties.. but it seemed VERY VERY fishy. I totally caught this guy of guard and he had no idea what to say…
By: Jenn on 23 July 2009
at 17:49
Jenn: Are you talking about the facility he’s at? What’s the number???? We should all be calling non-stop!
By: John K. on 25 July 2009
at 00:19
Ok, I am talking about Love in Action
901) 751-2468. This is located in Memphis, which is close to his home town. Also, I called again and another man answered. When I asked for Bryce he asked what my name was. I said “Kim.” He once again stated ” I cannot confirm if he is here.” I then said, well he just called me. And the guy said, “oh, he did?” Then he goes ok, can you tell me what number showed up on your caller id? VERY FISHY!!!!!!!!!! I say keep on calling…
By: Jenn on 27 July 2009
at 11:16
Memphis is not real close to El Dorado…it’s 4 or 5 hours via mapquest, but takes a lot longer cause the road from El Dorado to Little Rock is two lane and takes forever…I don’t think he’s there…
By: Jody on 27 July 2009
at 12:11
Thanks Jenn…I just saw your post on the guestbook of the Help Save Bryce site.
I thought the one he was thought to be at was in Pensacola, Florida though. In any event, any lead will be good. The one you called probably at least knows where he’s at since they referred you to his parents (did they actually give you their information or just say “talk to his parents?)
Are you on facebook Jenn? If so, you should join the group Coalition for the Abolition of Homosexual Reform Tactics. It replaced the previous group specific to Bryce which was taken down, although this group is pretty mush still Bryce-specific.
I’m very serious about doing everything reasonably possible to help find him. I take the bar exam in New Jersey tomorrow through Thursday, and then I am free for at least the next month. You are one of the few people I see actually taking action, so I’d love to chat with you privately on facebook if possible.
By: John K. on 27 July 2009
at 12:31
John,
They didn’t give me any of his parents information, they just said that I needed to speak to his family. I could be WAY off, but at least its a start. I don’t have a facebook account ( I am still in the myspace world). However, I am converting over to facebook. I will make an account sometime this week. I am with you on trying everything to locate him. Good luck on the bar exam!
By: Jenn on 27 July 2009
at 15:53
Thanks Jenn, I’m gonna need the luck on the exam. This has had me totally distracted since I read about it last week.
I’m also on myspace as well…
/dkeat80433
By: John K. on 27 July 2009
at 16:18
I am one of bryces good friends. We have been thru a lot together I know him well. I knew him before he came out and my opinion of him has not changed one bit. Here is the problem though, i dont think this is what he wants. I dont believe he wants his personal life thrown all over the internet for the whole world to see. While its in a way too late for that at least it could be minimized. I promise you he doesnt want to be some poster child for the gay community about how religion is oppressive or something like that. He doesnt need your help finding him. He is a grown man with a college degree, he wasnt forced into anything. Please do not disrespect my good friend by making him seem helpless without his parents. Where ever he is at the moment it is because of his own choosing.
By: Anonymous on 2 August 2009
at 16:38
Anonymous:
I spoke to someone today who attended a college that employs a lot of the methods used by these ex-gay camps on their regular college students. She told me she spent a year in school there. Her family is EXTREMELY fundamentalist Christian, and so is she. She disagrees with homosexuality and believes it’s a sin. Her father said the school was “hazardous to your health,” and they brought up the words “cult” and “brainwashing” of their own accord. And this was just the school. I can only imagine the added measure of control employed by the ex-gay camps. There is NO communication unless they want you to have it. I don’t care how strong and independent a person you are, if you are in an emotionally confused state, which Bryce undoubtedly is, as is EVERY gay person who comes out and is rejected by their family, then it is very easy for people like this to gain control over you. This is no commentary on Bryce’s intellect or strength of character, but he is a human being, and these are inhuman things that go on.
Your friend Bryce is in trouble, and you should do whatever you can to help him get out of that place.
By: John K. on 4 August 2009
at 22:01
This whole situation has been taken out of context.
By: Anonymous on 23 August 2009
at 19:56
I have been out of the loop. I am just now learning about this. How horrible. Any updates? Has he been found. Wishing the best for him and his friends. Its a shame that parents are so brainwashed by backwards thinking that they feel they have to do the same to their kids.
By: Brandon on 11 October 2009
at 19:00
Bryce has called Travis, left him a voice mail and said he is “sorry” he led Travis astray and would pray for him. Then he threatened him with harassment charges if he did not take down the website. Then the Faulkner’s got a police officer in Travis’s hometown to call and threaten him with harassment charges if he did not take down the website. The website is mine. I created it, I maintain it and i pay for it I know my constitutional rights and am not so easily intimidated. The website has not been taken down and regretfully, nothing further has been heard from or about him.
By: Rev. Brett Harris on 12 October 2009
at 11:23