Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays promotes job discrimination against homosexuals. A past webmaster promoted the killing of gay people and arson against gay-tolerant churches. PFOX-guided discussion boards periodically protest the availability of gay-tolerant messages in public venues, and encourage parents to believe their gay children are possessed by demons.
This month the organization renewed its 2002 pro-ex-gay ad campaign in Washington, D.C., subway stations.
Naturally, some people are upset. A city councilman is seeking a means for the transit system to reject ads deemed untruthful — but deemed untrue by whom?
PFOX executive director Regina Griggs sees truth in a 2001 study of ex-gay political activists by Dr. Robert Spitzer; gay equality organizations see the same study as proof that almost no one can change from gay to straight. Who decides what’s true? And is it appropriate for the city’s transit system expected to subsidize a war of back-and-forth political ads?
The local chapter of the gay-tolerant group PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) has adopted a pro-free-speech position. According to The Washington Blade:
[Local PFLAG executive director Rhonda Buckner] said she wasn’t upset with Metro for allowing the ads to run, because PFLAG was also preparing to launch its own ad campaign to run in the system, possibly by next spring.“I hate that [the PFOX ads] are there, but if PFOX couldn’t do it, we couldn’t either,” Buckner said. “And I want our ads out there.”
it simply amazes me how little time we have on this earth and we are so quick to judge without even trying to understand the real problem. I have been severly ill for 5 years and no I am not HIV+. I have however been on both sides of the fence and unerstand the problem better than anyone else. I have no malice or ill well against anyone. But, unfortunately I have hurt a great deal of peope. I guess what I am saying why do we have to be so hateful toward each other, please do not tell me about choices or being born that way. Beacuse i don’t really know , but i do know alot of good people are getting hurt and very few people are actually getitng help! ! ! Look at you the AIDS statistics its getting worse not better people who have AIDS are some of the most intellengent poeople you ever would want to meet, and they do not have a death wish. Yes its important who we are but bashing each other only makes hate and distrust and the winner in this battle of he said they said in the end will be the loser. I feel sorry for John Paulk and Micheal Johnston not because of their mistakes but because people on both sides of the fence did not understnad or even try to understnd. People get tired and ask for help in many ways but unfortunately we look at the surface and not at the hurting individual underneath. I know this will probably not be well recieved but guess what I am writting this more for myself than anyone else. I am tired of seeing my friends hurting and everyone says they care but when you are alone dying and no one around you it seems as if the batle has been lost and the hatred has only become stronger. I sincerely hope that what I have said helps someone and that both sides takes a momment out to search themselves and decide if this is the best answer to a problem of solving a gigantic problem. Personally, I believe that they will just go hating and fighting each other and we all know who the loser will be.
Chazz,
Thanks for writing. I agree with you that the culture war helps no one, and it hurts a lot of people who are struggling and seeking help.
Ex-Gay Watch tries to assert that both gays and ex-gays are entitled to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. I think discrimination is wrong, no matter who is being discriminated against.
John Paulk was publicly humiliated because he had joined the culture war and allowed himself to be used by Focus on the Family to promote discrimination and prejudice. Michael Johnston was publicly condemned because, for years, he said the most disgusting and hateful things about same-sex-attracted people when those things, actually, were true of Michael Johnston, not gays. In other words, he promoted prejudice and discrimination that greatly hurt innocent people. And some of those innocent people got extremely mad at him.
I am not interested in promoting fighting and hatred — I already work two other jobs and have no time left for waging a culture war. If you know of ex-gay advocates who do not promote discrimination or prejudice, then I would love for them to participate at Ex-Gay Watch. I wish they would serve as role models to the culture warriors, and preach a “live and let live” attitude.
I was very surprized to see such a quick response from my commnets. Yes, I am so what Christian, but I also am an individual that just don’t get it anymore. I agree that their just isn’t enough time in the day for us to battle on all the issues but surely some day soon someone has to wake and smell the coffee. We all all here for a reason in life and condeming one another is only going to make matters worse. So yes I will be on line when I can because I see no one stepping up to the plate. And before anyone says oh no not another liberal. I have been there and done that and now I own the T shirt concession. All I want is to maybe show that a little love is still in the world and we have to come to grips with our issues discuss them and hopefully and I said hopefully come to reason with each other on these issues. Gay issues and ex gay issues have been around for years, but since this is election year it seems as if everyone wants to bring to the forefront. That is great but lets do it the right way that will actually make a difference and help the ones out their that are truly the victims on both sides