The National Parent-Teacher Association has agreed for a second year to feature a pro-homosexual group [PFLAG] at its annual convention while rejecting a group [PFOX] that contends homosexuality is not an inborn and immutable trait.
Begins the AgapePress today; Gee that doesn’t sound like a loaded article or anything. This story is a couple days old so if anyone wants to do any analysis or research on this one drop us a line.
Regan,
There seem to be no sound data supporting your own viewpoint. Nothing is known or proven unless you take the time to prove it; there are no unrealistic expectations, no unfair burdens, no “shame and guilt,” because you’ve made no effort to detail any of them.
Like AgapePress and PFOX, you make sweeping generalizations based on vague and subjective opinions.
Because you label groups rather than describing and quoting specific incidents, I suspect that a lot of readers have little idea what you are talking about.
Serious question. Other than a post office box, a web site (which costs peanuts) and a couple of people who were hired to pontificate, is there really anything to PFOX?
Kudos to you Mike for being fair and for willing to lay down the law when needed. You are not as bad some people think…
I would like to build on Raj’s question, and I hope there is someone out there that can answer these questions.
What percentage of PFOX is actually made up of the parents of ex-gays?
Since it is not entirely clear whether or not PFOX is an organization with actual members, the percentage of parents of exgays remains unknown. It could be quite simply that PFOX is yet another right wing front group with no membership. Just a deep pocketed funding source. Until we know just what PFOX is, and who other than Regina Griggs and this Cohen person are members, no one can say.
All that seems apparent at the present is that this is a group of devotely orthodox Christians deeply indebted to the Korean Messiah, Rev moon. Which is a statement of sorts.
I’ll respond to my own question.
The likelihood is that, other than a PO Box, a web site, and a couple of people, there is absolutely nothing to PFOX. It apparently was started a few years ago by a self-described ex-gay man Anthony F….(don’t recall the whole name). Supposedly in response to PFLAG (Parents and friends of lesbians and gays), but I suspect that it was just to get him a money-making gig.
Tony apparently went blotto, and this “Regina” person took over.
But it’s fairly evident to any sentient being that the PFOX operation was supposed to be a response to PFLAG.
It’s also worthy to note that Regina Griggs has an unrepentant, out, gay son.
Seems to me PFOX is her outlet to slap back at her son (and the rest of us) for not living up to her standards.
A couple of quick observations about PFOX:
1. With 10% of the US population in Southern California, you would expect a significant presence for any national group. PFOX has two telephone numbers and no addresses or contact people. The los angeles contant number is actually an out-of-state number. How sad is that?
2. Their statement of purpose actually refers you to another group PATH (positive alternatives to Homosexuality). https://www.pathinfo.org/ This does suggest that PFOX is not an independant stand-alone organization. PATH appears to be a change ministry.
3. It’s worth noticing that they are very selective about who deserves respect: “Individuals who have transitioned out of a former homosexual identity and lifestyle, or who choose to pursue alternatives to homosexuality, deserve compassion and respect.” Their message appears not to be “we deserve respect too” but rather “ONLY we deserve respect”.
PFOX looks like they are going to the National PTA without invitation. Classy folk.
https://www.pfox.org/asp/newsman/templates/newstemplate.asp?articleid=225&zoneid=2
Based on their press release, it looks like PFOX’s membership must be up in the double digits now. So I guess that means there are about the same number of Friends of Ex-Gays as there are actual ex-gays themselves (although some, like Greg Quinlan, seem to be both ex-gay and a friend to themself).
PFOX betrays their true motive, however, with this quote from their press release:
“*Working for Safe Schools for All Students – Legislative Approaches – Misty Cole, State Director for Bully Police, has been invited to present the perspective of her organization that policies and laws to stop bullying should not include definitions of victim groups or categories of students. She will discuss current legislative efforts to support all students and not just some classes of students. Appropriate legislators will be invited to attend.”
PFOX doesn’t give a fig about students, or parents or teachers for that matter. Their true concern is advancing a legislative agenda.
Our good buddy George Archibald has written another article about PFOX not getting to peddle their opinion at the NPTA.
In it is the following quote:
“A major theme of this year’s PTA meeting is anti-bullying and both the homosexual advocacy group Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and the rejected group, Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX) have programs on the topic.”
Oh really?
1. The PFOX website lists no such program
2. The education news section of the PFOX website does not mention PFOX’s anti-bullying program
3. There is a reference to Throckmorton and to bully-police (an anti-anti-bullying program) but these organizations claim to be separate from PFOX
Since George has come on here before to chastise us for our lifestyle choices, I thought maybe he might show up again. Perhaps, George, you can let us know if the PFOX anti-bullying program exists outside your and Regina Grigg’s imagination.
Because, George, if they don’t have an anti-bullying program then I’m sure you can see why some readers may think that you are not fulfilling the obligations of a legitimate reporter. It can seem (if indeed they don’t actually have such a program) that you are lying to advance a political agenda. I hope that isn’t the case.
Oh, and incidentally, “we don’t need any anti-bullying programs” and “let’s just not say who you shouldn’t bully” are not programs, they are opinions.
Also, to claim that PFLAG Executive Director Ron Schlitter said that he’s doing everthing to promote tolerance for the homosexual lifestyle is simply a lie. I’m absolutely certain that Ron Schlitter said nothing at all about “the homosexual lifestyle” and that you simply put words in his mouth. So, George, it seems that again you are writing things that – though they support your agenda – aren’t true.
OK
to be fair Bully Police are not necessarily anti-anti-bullying. However, some chapters do adopt an anti-gay approach in which they refuse to support such notions as allowing gay students to have someone they can approach or talk to, limiting the taunting use of “fag” in the classroom, etc.
Nice spotting TimothyGeorge obviously still does not understand — and perhaps does not care to understand — that PFOX’s message is bullying, of itself. Contrary to Grigg’s claim, they push “reparative therapy” at every opportunity. Their site is full of it. I don’t doubt the materials they wish to present are also. Leaving aside that RT is condemned by all the professional bodies, rejected as a suitable “lifestyle choice” by the overwhelming majority of gay men and women, and has no scientific foundation; the very message that “you can change, if you choose” is a way of bullying people.[Note to self: we need billborads declaring “You can mind your own business, if you choose.”]Anyway…George Archibald, Wash.Times, May 10Mr. Schlittler said the National PTA solicited PFLAG’s involvement last year at its convention in Anaheim, Calif., because of the group’s campaign to ‘end rampant anti-gay bullying’ in schools. … “This year, we received an invitation to apply again,” Mr. Schlittler said. “We’re doing the entire full-on, everything.”
George Archibald, Wash.Times, June 24The National PTA invited PFLAG last year as an exhibitor and workshop presenter against bullying in schools at its convention in Anaheim, Calif. “This year, we received an invitation to apply again,” said PFLAG Executive Director Ron Schlitter. “We’re doing the entire full-on, everything” to promote tolerance for the homosexual lifestyle.I think Mr. Archibald’s intentions are clear. This is a clearly misleading bend of an earlier quote, with Archibald dropping a full-stop and adding in his own words. I’ll leave it to you to read both and see why the latter reads quite differently with those edits.And Archibald still hasn’t produced any evidence that PFOX has an alternate program. What exactly would be an alternate to an anti-bullying program anyway? A pro-bullying one? Because that is exactly what a “you can change” viewpoint would be used for.I don’t supposed the XGW founders will permit me to deem someone a maggot, a disgrace to journalism, or a scoundrel. So I shall not.
Regards the Bully Police approach — it doesn’t work. It’s a nice idea, but fails in reality.As with workplace anti-discrimination programs, you cannot simply say “Don’t discriminate” and not spell out who. Without that, the message is lost because prejudiced people often do not regard their actions as negative or discriminatory. You’ve got to tell both the potential bigot AND the potential victim that this message applies to you.I would be interested to know though — would Bully Police regard it as bullying to tell every young person that gay men and women can change their sexuality if they want to?
For all who are interested in this coverage of the 2005 National PTA Convention, Columbus, Ohio, June 24-27:
May 10, Page A4
PTA conference disallows equal access for ex-gays
https://www.washtimes.com/national/20050509-094332-3782r.htm
June 24, Page A9
PTA snubs former-gays group for workshop
https://www.washtimes.com/national/20050624-120910-4671r.htm
June 25, Page A4
Spellings avoids PTA ties to pro-gay advocacy group
https://www.washtimes.com/national/20050624-105738-9141r.htm
June 27, Page A3
At PTA gathering, no tolerance for ex-gays’ signs
https://www.washtimes.com/national/20050627-124858-2190r.htm
June 28, Page A6
Pro-gay group seeks support at PTA convention
Student safety cited as concern
https://www.washtimes.com/national/20050627-095402-2903r.htm