The Secret Gay Preacher - The Ted Haggard story

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Ray William Johnson: True Story Podcast 6 min 2 speakers 6 chapters transcribed

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Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.

What surprising secret did Ted Haggard have?

Narrator 0:27

So one day, this guy, his name's Ted, Ted decides he really wants to smash. With men. So Ted gets on the internet and he comes across a website where you can rent the services of a male escort. And he sees an ad for this beefcake. His name is Mike Jones. So Ted, he goes to a payphone, he hits up Mike Jones and they agree to meet.

How did Ted Haggard's secret life begin?

Narrator 0:50

And soon enough, Ted is on his way to Mike's place and they end up smashing. And when it's over, he pays Mike $200. Sounds like a good deal. Here's the problem with all that. Ted isn't just some regular guy. Ted is actually married. To a woman. A woman who doesn't know he's out hooking up with male escorts. Ted is also a well-known Christian pastor of a megachurch.

What roles did Ted Haggard hold in the religious community?

Narrator 1:18

He's also president of the National Evangelicals Association and Time Magazine profiled him as one of the most influential religious leaders in America. He even talks regularly with President George W. Bush. So he's a very influential guy. Not to mention, Ted is also known to preach plenty of anti-gay rhetoric.

What controversial views did Ted Haggard share?

1:38

One person enjoys sex with a sheep. Another person enjoys sex with a man. Is that where we want to be?

Narrator 1:44

Now, at this point, Ted could just confess to his wife or change his view on homosexuality. But that's not what Ted's gonna do. Because he really wants to smash with men. So instead he starts secretly hiring Mike Jones once a month for his escort services. While Mike Jones has no idea that Ted's the leader of a well-known anti-gay megachurch.

How did Mike Jones discover Ted Haggard's true identity?

Narrator 2:08

And three years go by and Ted and Mike Jones are still meeting up at Mike's house once a month and secretly hooking up. But then, one morning, Mike's just lying around, he's watching the History Channel, and there's a show on where they're interviewing people about the Antichrist. And Ted appears on screen for a minute as a religious expert. And Mike sees him and he's like, oh hey, that's the guy I smash with every month. Und dann, am nächsten Morgen, geht Mike Jones zum Gym. Und er arbeitet. Und ich glaube, eine der TVs da ist auf einem christlichen TV-Kanal gesetzt. Und da, auf dem Bildschirm, sieht er Ted wieder. Er spricht zu einer ganzen Megachurch. Und Mike sieht es und er ist so, wer ist dieser Kerl?

What was Mike Jones's reaction to Ted Haggard's public persona?

Narrator 2:52

So he gets curious and he goes home and he starts looking Ted up. And he sees not only how powerful and influential of a man Ted is, but he also starts reading about some of Ted's anti-LGBTQ stances on things. And he sees how openly opposed to same-sex marriage Ted is. And this pisses Mike Jones right off. Because, you know, those are his people. So he comes up with a plan to do something about it. And for the next few months, Mike just waits. And he starts collecting evidence against Ted. Like voicemails and proof of payments that Ted had sent him. Stuff like that. Und dann, ein Tag, wenn die Zeit richtig ist, geht er auf ein lokales Radio-Show und bam, er verurteilt alles. Und er expositiert den Scheiß aus Ted.

Narrator 3:40

Er spricht über die Meetups und den Intercourse. Er spricht über die Methode, die Ted machen würde. Weil Ted appelliert, dass Ted Methode machen würde, als er mit Mike verbunden war. Und diese Geschichte ist so skandalös, dass es die News schießt und es wie Wildfire fängt. Jeder spricht darüber. Und armer Ted, die Karriere, die er für sich gebaut hat, fängt an zu schmerzen. Also macht er das Einzige, was er weiß, wie er es tut. Er negiert es. Und er gibt ein paar Statements an die Presse, wie, Gay what? Mike who? Und die lokalen Kirchenleute und seine Follower, sie glauben ihm alle und sie unterstützen ihn immer noch. Aber ziemlich schnell geht Mike Jones zurück auf die Radio. Und er beginnt, all das Beweis, das er gegen Ted gekauft hat, zu drücken.