Former Anti-Gay Conversion Therapy Leader Charged in Underage Sex Sting

ORLANDO, Fla. — A former Christian minister who once led efforts to "cure" LGBTQ+ individuals through conversion therapy has been arrested on charges of soliciting a minor for sex. Authorities allege that 54-year-old Alan Chambers, founder of the now-defunct Exodus International, sent explicit messages and attempted to meet an undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old boy in person.

Chambers was apprehended during a traffic stop on May 19 after law enforcement conducted an undercover operation targeting him earlier this year. According to arrest reports, Chambers initiated contact with the agent on Snapchat before moving their conversation to Telegram and text messages. During these exchanges, he allegedly shared nude photos and discussed meeting in person at his Winter Park office.

Chambers gained notoriety as the leader of Exodus International, a Christian organization that promoted conversion therapy until its closure in 2013. In a public statement on the group's website, Chambers had previously renounced the practice, apologizing for "years of undue suffering and judgment" inflicted on LGBTQ+ individuals by the organization and broader religious communities.

He now faces charges including solicitation of a minor via computer, transmission of harmful material to minors, and unlawful use of two-way communication devices. Chambers was released on $15,000 bond—$5,000 for each charge—and is restricted from contacting minors, though he may continue business-related online activity.