PFOX and a meritless suit
by Matt | October 14th, 2008 |
Updated 6:00 p.m. EST, 10/14/2008
The first thing I thought… “They’re kidding right?”
Evidently, twisting the Grace and Love of God in order to inflict pain and shame on gay and lesbian youth isn’t the only think ex-gay advocates like Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX) is good at. It seems they’ve also got a knack for twisting the law.
In a press release titled, “Human Rights Office Sued for Refusing to Protect Former Homosexuals,” PFOX claims that the Washington, D.C. Office of Human Rights fails “to protect former homosexuals under its sexual orientation anti-discrimination law.”
Said PFOX Executive Director Regina Griggs, “The ex-gay community is the most bullied and maligned group in America, yet they are not protected by sexual orientation non-discrimination laws.”
Far be it from to know just how a group of “former homosexuals,” whom the majority of the powerful religious right fully embrace and support, can be called “the most bullied and maligned group in America.”
PFOX claims that “[t]he Office of Human Rights maintains that homosexuals, bisexuals, transgenders, and cross-dressers qualify for protection under this Act, but ex-gays do not. PFOX’s lawsuit asks the DC Superior Court to direct the Office to include former homosexuals under the sexual orientation law.”
“Shouldn’t ex-gays enjoy the same legal protections that gays enjoy?” asked Griggs. “Former homosexuals and their friends have been fired from their jobs, repeatedly ridiculed, assaulted, and intimidated. This harassment is most often perpetrated by the same groups who demand protection under sexual orientation laws but work to deny ex-gays the same respect.”
Umm… “Sexual Orientation” applies evenly and equally. This seems like nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt by PFOX to get attention during the last few days of the campaign season, especially given their linkage of Obama to the mess:
PFOX is especially concerned because Presidential candidate Barack Obama has failed to answer PFOX’s August 25th letter asking if ex-gays will be included in sexual orientation legislation which Obama says he will sign into law as President.
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which Obama pledges to pass, will outlaw discrimination based on “sexual orientation,” “gender identity,” and “gender expression.” ENDA would apply to private employers, the Federal Government, all State governments, and all local governments in all 50 states.
“This far-reaching law which Obama plans to pass as President will grant rights to homosexuals, transgenders, and cross-dressers, but what about ex-gays?” asked Griggs.
“Like Senator Obama, we believe in change. But others do not. When ex-gay gospel singer Donnie McClurkin sang at an Obama fundraiser last year, gay groups demanded that Obama remove McClurkin from the program. On CNN Prime News, former Human Rights Campaign spokesperson Wayne Besen insisted that Obama should fire McClurkin just for being ex-gay.”
“Former homosexuals should have the right to be out, open and safe in society,” Griggs continued. “On his website, Senator Obama says he supports gay and transgender rights because he supports civil rights for all persons, but does that include ex-gays? Americans need to know where Obama stands on the issue of ex-gay inclusion because his pledge to pass homosexual and transgender legislation as President will affect all of us. We urge Senator Obama to end his silence.”
Ex-Gays are, by many of their own definitions, “heterosexual.” They are, indeed, protected by laws that include “sexual orientation.” And, even if a great many believe, as the president of Exodus International does, that the “opposite of homosexuality is not heterosexuality, it is holiness,” then they are also protected by anti-discrimination laws that protect on the basis of a person’s religious belief.
There’s no excuse for discrimination against any person, and there’s no excuse for treating anyone with ill-will or harm — that’s why I’ve always said I’ll respect the personal choices and life stories of those who seek to become ex-gay, so long as they respect my personal journey with Christ and the reasons why I am who I am today (unfortunately, very few ex-gays and ex-gay supporters can return the favor).
But, the (dis)merits of this so-called lawsuit are so many, they’re hard to ignore.
Without surprise, the PFOX press release includes no real examples of individuals adversely affected by the alleged refusal to uphold the law by the Office of Human Rights. In most other legitimate press releases of this type, you’d see at least one case served up as an example, or as a justification for the validity of a lawsuit. PFOX offers none.
If ex-gays are being discriminated against due only to their status as “former homosexuals,” then the full force of the law should be used to penalize those employers and other responsible parties breaking the law. However, if PFOX can offer no valid cases to prove their claims, the judicial system should throw their suit out like an old bag of potatoes.
UPDATE — This just in:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tue., October 14, 2008Contact: Wayne Besen
Phone: 917-691-5118
E-Mail: wbesen@truthwinsout.org
Web: www.TruthWinsOut.orgTruth Wins Out Comments On PFOX Lawsuit Against Washington DC Office of Human Rights
NEW YORK - Truth Wins Out (TWO) today called on Parents and Friends of ‘Ex-Gays’ (PFOX) to drop its frivolous lawsuit against the Washington, DC Office of Human Rights. PFOX claimed it launched its suit because so-called “ex-gays” are not protected under its sexual orientation anti-discrimination law.
“The ex-gay community is the most bullied and maligned group in America, yet they are not protected by sexual orientation non-discrimination laws,” said Regina Griggs, PFOX executive director.
“If so-called ‘ex-gays’ are now heterosexual, they are covered under the basis of sexual orientation,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “This nonsensical lawsuit is frivolous and a desperate, grandstanding attempt for free media attention. PFOX should apologize for clogging up the court system with a loony lawsuit that will ultimately be dismissed.”
TWO also disputes that so-called “ex-gays” suffer discrimination. PFOX has never offered any evidence and has long invented or greatly exaggerated potential cases. PFOX is a political organization that sells the idea that people can “pray away the gay.” It was founded by lawyer Roy Cohn’s ex-boyfriend, Anthony Falzarono, and bankrolled by the Family Research Council. It was later run by therapist Richard Cohen, who was banned for life by the American Counseling Association. The current leader is Regina Griggs, who has an openly gay son.
Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that counters right wing propaganda, exposes the “ex-gay” myth and educates America about gay life. For more information, visit www.TruthWinsOut.org.
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3 Responses to “PFOX and a meritless suit”
PFOX is just full of outrageous lies. Do they really, really believe that ex-gays are the most bullied and maligned group in America? I’d love to see their data to cover that aspect. My lawyer friends are just waiting to eat these liars up in court.
By juanito on Oct 15, 2008
does ex-gay mean they are now str8 and if so why would they need special protection, they now have every law on their side, just for being str8
By sickntired on Oct 15, 2008
And this coming from Griggs, who not long ago mentioned how offensive it is that gay citizens have high jacked the civil rights movement for their own agenda.
The layers and layers and unending layers of hypocrisy, and contradiction and illogic are MIND BOGGLING!
Hi Matt!
By Regan DuCasse on Oct 29, 2008