Anthony was a leader in the Assemblies of God and high profile preacher in Australia’s mega-churches, such as Hillsong. For 22 years he tried desperately to change his homosexuality through psychiatric treatment, exorcisms, and ‘ex-gay’ programs. Although a husband and father for 16 years, eventually he had to admit that nothing had changed. In 1991 faced the toughest decision of his life. Be true to himself and lose everything he held dear; or live a lie.
Anthony’s autobiography, ‘A Life of Unlearning’ has been a bestseller, sold out twice and was recently released in its third edition. He has appeared on national television shows such as ‘60 Minutes’, ‘Channel 7’s Sunrise’, ‘The Morning Show’, ‘Mornings with Kerri Anne’, the ABC’s ‘Hungry Beast’, documentaries and is called upon regularly by the media for comment.
He is also the co-founder of Freedom2b. Under Anthony’s six year leadership, Freedom2b has become Australia’s foremost organisation for LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex) people from Christian backgrounds.
Anthony is now the founder and CEO of Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International (ABBI). ABBI is committed to overcoming the unnecessary suffering caused by ignorance and misinformation about sexual orientation by providing education, resources and creating dialogues with churches, leaders, denominations and Christian organisations.
In recognition of his national and global impact, Anthony Venn-Brown was twice voted one of The 25 Most Influential Gay and Lesbian Australians (2007 & 2009), and in 2012 was awarded Life Membership for Outstanding Service by the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association In 2015 Anthony was the winner of the ACON Health and Wellbeing Award for over 20 years of providing leadership and support for LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex) people of faith and for working to bring ex-gay/reparative/conversion therapy practices and organisations to an end in Australia.
Anthony’s journey from high profile, ‘straight’ Christian preacher, resolving the perceived conflict between his faith and sexuality and now an ambassador for the LGBT community has given him unique insights which he shares at conferences, workshops, seminars and through his writing.