TO: Ex-Gay Watch (via e-mail)
CC: Focus on the Family (via e-mail)
RE: Focus on the Family broadcast, 3/22/05
It’s somewhat odd that today on FNIF, Alan Chambers is whining about discrimination by a private corporation, Magellan Health Services, saying quote, “people are trying to tell others what to do,” and “everyone should have the right to self-determination.” This obviously reeks of hypocrisy: Exodus and FOTF are consistently telling happy and healthy gay Americans exactly what they should do and of course promoting discrimination against them, such as recently with Procter & Gamble.
It is odd they’re crying against discrimination, when they’re so fast to defend the right of private companies to discriminate.
Odd, too, they’re complaining about self-determination when they try to tell self-determined gay Americans how (not) to live their lives.
Daniel Steven Gonzales
Long Beach, California
FNIF broadcast (scroll to 5:40):
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Very good points, Mike.
Hey, that one’s all me 😛
My bad, Dan. I saw that Mike posted it, but didn’t notice your name at the bottom. Very good points to you, then!
Yes…self determination is a double edged sword that cuts both ways. A person who feels he might have the potential to alter his sexual orientation, and thus enters therapy should be respected, especially if he is self determined.
By the same token, gays who are happy being gay and are productive individuals also deserve a nod.
A person who feels he might have the potential to alter his sexual orientation and thus enter therapy should be respected if he is an adult. Afterwards, the gay community and our allies will be there to support him as he picks up the pieces of a mind washed with craziness. However, the ex-gay agenda being pushed savagely upon unsuspecting gay youth is immoral and irresponsible.
Well, the latest rant about this comes from Regina Griggs, who heads PFOX, claiming this decision to remove Throckmorton is akin to discrimination against “ex-homosexuals.” From today’s Agape Press headlines:
“She contends Magellan should not receive Medicaid or other federal funds while it continues its discrimination against the ex-homosexual community. Individuals struggling with unwanted same-sex attractions have the right “to seek counseling and be represented at all levels of society,” Griggs asserts, “especially health-care advisory councils.” The fact that Magellan officials would “disregard their clients in such a manner,” she adds, brings into question the company’s ability to operate as a health-care provider. PFOX is asking Magellan Health to immediately reinstate Dr. Throckmorton and also to place former homosexuals in advisory positions at the company.”
Doesn’t Ms Griggs realize that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, even if it could be proven against Magellen, would be completely legal at the federal level, thanks to years of anti-gay groups’ lobbying efforts?
I guess that’s what is called karma.
There has been an exceptionally consistent pattern to portray ex-gays as a victimized and oppressed class. This assertion appearing in many different publications is evidence of a very concerted and coordinated effort. Talk about chutzpah!
There has been an exceptionally consistent pattern to portray ex-gays as a victimized and oppressed class.
True. But ex-gays are indistinguishable from straight people. In what way have straight people been victimized or oppressed?
This entire silliness is BS, and you and everyone here knows it.
Raj,
Re: “But ex-gays are indistinguishable from straight people. In what way have straight people been victimized or oppressed? This entire silliness is BS, and you and everyone here knows it.”
Relax Raj, of course I know it. Please re-read my post.
In following up on CPT Doom’s posting about the latest tactic claiming some sort of victimhood status for ex-gays and their allies, I said that “there has been an exceptionally consistent pattern to PORTRAY ex-gays as a victimized and oppressed class” (emphasis added this time).
I observed that this line of attack appears to be a “very concerted and coordinated effort.” In other words, we will see more of this in the future. I also used the word “chutzpah” to describe this assertion.
Jim Burroway | March 30, 2005 11:17 AM
Sorry, I wasn’t trying to take exception to your post, or to suggest that you believed differently. I just used it as a springboard for another thought.
I wonder, though. Just how to the “ex-gay” people believe they are discriminating against them, and who is supposedly doing the discriminating? As far as I can tell, “ex-gay” people are indistinguishable from straight people. And unless someone tells the world that they are “ex-gay” or that they used to be gay, nobody would know–except, possibly, for the friends and associates that they had, and presumably left behind, when they became ex-gay.
So, who is doing the “discrimination”?
Raj,
Re: “So, who is doing the “discrimination”?
I guess I am. I dunno. 🙂
No, it doesn’t make sense. Anyway, I don’t think it is really about how ex-gay people “believe” anybody is really discriminating against them. They generally have the same political view as others who claim that minorities cite discrimination merely as a tactic. They may mistakenly believe that this “tactic” has been somehow successful and now they are trying to emulate it to advance their own agenda. At any rate, I’m sure we’ll see much more of this in the months to come.
And while “ex-gays” often talk privately among themselves that their own congregations don’t understand/accept/support them in their struggle against their orientation, I don’t think we’ll hear quite so much about this kind of discrimination.
I am a failed product of Exodus. One thing others don’t think about is the women and children that are left behind after being used to convert Gays. Too bad the ministries are not responsible for the anguish suffered. After having a beautiful daughter, and discovering (always somehow knowing yet hoping)that there was no changing…being humiliated in court by a prejudice Judge during the divorce, the anger and hostility of 16years of bitterness from my x-wife and loss of comunication from my daughter over all of the hostility…not to mention the financial burden…I have recovered but my “family” hasn’t.
Glenn