After37YearsofTryingtoChangePeople’sSexualOrientation,GroupIstoDisbandIRVINE,Calif.—For37years,ExodusInternationalwastheleadingbeaconofthe“exgay”movement,whichmaintainedthatgaymenandlesbianscouldchangetheirsexualorientationthroughprayerandpsychotherapy.Butontheopeningnightofthegroup’s38thannualconferencehere,HYPERLINK"http://exodusinternational.org/"ExodusInternationalannouncedthattheorganizationwoulddisband,amidgrowingskepticismamongitstopofficialsandboardmembersthatsexualattractionscanbechanged.Forthepastyear,thegroup’spresident,AlanChambers,hasbeenHYPERLINK"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/07/us/a-leaders-renunciation-of-ex-gay-tenets-causes-a-schism.html?pagewanted=all"increasinglyvocalinproclaimingthattherapycouldnotchangeaperson’ssexualorientation.InastatementpostedWednesdayonthegroup’sWebsite,hecitedarecentletterhehadwrittentogaymenandlesbians.“Iamsorryforthepainandhurtmanyofyouhaveexperienced,”hesaidintheletter.“Iamsorrythatsomeofyouspentyearsworkingthroughtheshameandguiltyoufeltwhenyourattractionsdidn’tchange.Iamsorrywepromotedsexualorientationchangeeffortsandreparativetheoriesaboutsexualorientationthatstigmatizedparents.”InaninterviewonThursdayonthecampusofConcordiaUniversityIrvine,Mr.ChamberssaidthathebelievedExodusInternationalhadhelpedmanyChristianswithsame-sexattractions,includinghimself.But,headded:“Anygoodwecoulddointhefuturewouldbegreatlyovershadowedbytherealstoriesoftraumaandrealstoriesofshame.Sowedecided,wecan’tdoanythingbutclosethisdown.Wecan’tjustchangeournameorchangeourmission.”TheclosingofExodusInternationalsignalsamajorupheavalfortheex-gaymovement,whichhasbeenthetargetofincreasingcriticism.Professionalassociationshavedenounceditsfocusonreparativetherapyto“cure”homosexualityasnotonlyineffectivebutpotentiallyharmful.Atthesametime,pollshaveshownarisingnumberofAmericansaremoreacceptingofhomosexualityandHYPERLINK"http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/05/14/us/americans-views-on-same-sex-marriage-poll.html"approvingofgaymarriage.Las