Aggrieved-relatives group PFOX complains to the religious-right media that its exgay billboard in Richmond, Va., has been vandalized.
But a closer look at the billboard finds faded streaks of red ink. The billboard is mostly unharmed. (Hat tip: John Aravosis.)
Whether this is a case of vandalism or poor workmanship and rainy weather, PFOX executive director Regina Griggs claims to be able to read the vandals’ minds. She boasts of the red ink as proof that exgays are persecuted and that "gay activists" are uncomfortable with the "truth" that any gay person can become heterosexual. Griggs’ absolutism about sexual orientation — her notion that if one person can "change" to any degree, then anyone can become heterosexual — is, in effect, a repudiation of her own family experience: Her gay son has been unable to make the "change" that she markets to others.
If I were Griggs, I’d be working with local pro-tolerance activists to track down the specific vandals and discourage both gay and antigay vandalism.
Instead, Griggs seems to be content with her victimhood.
Who cares if their sign is vandalized or not. To be honest, I’d rather see F****T written in bold red on that PFOX sign.
Xeno, personally, I don’t see any point in becoming as violent and profane as Fred Phelps.
I’m a bit taken aback. Why is a group that supposedly is pontificating in favor of tolerance for “ex-gays,” doing ads that are nothing more than the so-genannte “ex-gay” message?
It should be obvious. They have no interest in “ex-gay.” Their only interest–a commercial one at that, is to bash gay people.
“Xeno, personally, I don’t see any point in becoming as violent and profane as Fred Phelps.”
You’re right, there isn’t much point for us of becoming as such and I didn’t intend that we’d commit acts of vandalism. What I really meant is that I’d like to see ex-gays experience the same kind of persecution that we as queers do regardless of their statement of ‘change.’ I know a lot of homophobes that laugh at the concept of being ‘ex-gay’ and would impetuously bash ex-gays just because they sound and look queer. Having their ad vandalized with homophobic slurs is more likely to get reality biting them in the arse once more.
Looks to me like somebody shot red paint balls at it. Probably some bored 10-year old kid with nothing better to do. If somebody were intending to deface the sign because of its content I think they would have done a better job. This looks more like what my friends and I used to do when we were 10 years old– shoot at road signs with our BB guns.
Personally I think Regina Griggs sent her little lapdog DL Foster out there with a paintball gun so she could put out a “poor me” press release and get more attention for herself.
Does anyone know if her still gay son (as far as I know) is hot?
only in America people can be so narrow minded. Ban the bible!
No, digital, don’t ban the Bible.
Ban ignorance.
People supporting any political or religious movement should require their activists to graduate from accredited four-year colleges and to demonstrate a capacity for logical thinking.