Virulently anti-gay organization Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays (PFOX) were jubilant earlier this week as they announced that Executive Director Regina Griggs had received a ‘certificate of appreciation’ from the District of Columbia:
The certificate, signed by D.C. mayor Adrian Fenty, recognizes Griggs for her “dedication, commitment, and outstanding contributions as Executive Director of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays.”
“Regina’s award is well-deserved,” said Greg Quinlan, President of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays. PFOX presented the award to Griggs last week in honor of her ten years of volunteer service to parents and the ex-gay community.
“Regina has served as executive director without pay. Instead, she prefers that donations be used to develop resources for families and teens, to promote unconditional love for all regardless of sexual orientation, and to seek equal access and protection for the ex-gay community,” said Quinlan. “Her dedication is unparalleled.”
PFOX has been instrumental in ensuring civil rights to all District of Columbia residents. PFOX’s lawsuit against the D.C. Office of Human Rights last year resulted in ex-gays being recognized as a protected class under D.C.’s Human Rights Act. The Office of Human Rights had refused to extend the sexual orientation non-discrimination law to former homosexuals. The court held that the Human Rights Act does not require immutable characteristics for sexual orientation status so that ex-gays are entitled to the same legal protections that gays currently enjoy.
Truth Wins Out immediately called on Washington DC Mayor Adrian Fenty to explain why he handed out an award to a hate group that smears gays and lesbians and promotes “junk science.”
The Mayor’s Office was quick to revoke the certificate,* blaming it on a “staff level error” and apologizing for honoring a group that “runs contrary to the Mayor’s vision of a more open and inclusive city.”
Quite right, too.
For more on PFOX, see Ex-Gay Watch’s previous coverage of the groups extreme activities here.
*Correction: As of 05/01/10, Mayor Fenty has yet to officially revoke the certificate, though he has apologized and admitted it was issued in error.
Over the next few days readers may notice some issues with our site. We are making some changes and fixes that are long overdue. Since we all have have regular jobs to attend to, these tasks aren’t always given the attention they should be.
If you see a different theme displayed or a function is broken for a bit, we probably know about it, but you can always send a note to david@exgaywatch.com if you wish.
Thank you for your patience.
It took about six months to provoke Exodus International into responding to allegations that its organization’s words and actions had been fueling homophobia in Uganda.
After witnessing Exodus’s inexcusable inaction on the anti-gay bill that would effectively see all Uganda’s “practicing” homosexuals and their supporters executed, Ex-Gay Watch (justifiably) wondered what exactly it would take to spur Exodus into immediate, urgent action.
We found our answer. Number of days it takes Exodus to respond to the threat to tens of thousands of homosexual and heterosexual lives? 180. Number of days it takes Exodus to respond to a radio show dropping its services? Approximately seven – and there was outrage.
Earlier this month, Christian radio host Dawson McAllister received disapproval from the LGBT community after a gay blogger went undercover and discovered that Hopeline, the teenage advice line operated in conjunction with McAllister’s weekly radio show, was referring young gay people to Exodus International.
McAllister responded to the outcry by severing his links with Exodus. After all, recommending an ex-gay, anti-gay organization was even against the policy of McAllister’s own network, Clear Channel.
But Exodus President Alan Chambers was so grieved, he did something he admits he hardly ever does – he publicly denounced McAllister’s actions in an official statement: Read more…
-The Maine Family Policy Council declares that Jerry Falwell was right to blame 9/11 on gays.
-Sonoma County, CA officials circumvent a gay couple’s legal arrangements to separate them and make financial decisions for them.
-Australian Olympic medalist Daniel Kowalski comes out of the closet.
-The city of Casper, WY states that it cannot force a resident to take down an anti-gay sign.
-The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America removes the last barriers to full inclusion of GLBT individuals in its congregations.
-The Family Research Council ramps up its scare tactics in opposition to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
-The Assemblies of God General Superintendent removes his name from the Covenant for Civility due to the presence of gay-affirming signatories.
-The US Senate confirms Judge Marisa Demeo, a lesbian, to the DC Superior Court.
-Three teenage girls are arrested for trying to push a lesbian classmate off a cliff.
-Miami University students rally in support of a gay classmate who was the victim of a violent attack.
-Finland and Liechtenstein join the list of nations considering marriage equality.
Obviously from a few years back, but crystal clear even today.
Hat Tip: loveisanorientation.com
This video clip has been attributed to AmericaBlog’s John Aravosis.
In a move that again calls into question the Obama administration’s promises of transparency, both the media and the public were ordered out of Lafayette Park park today. This was the scene of another demonstration against DADT, the second such action in the past two months. This time Lt. Dan Choi was joined by five others, including former XGW writer Autumn Sandeen (currently with Pam’s House Blend). All handcuffed themselves to the White House gates, a frequent scene of protest.
What makes this particular demonstration even more remarkable is that police closed the park which provides access and ordered all the public and official media from the area. As can be seen in the video above, the officer constantly barks to all there to “backup, park’s closed.” The media there are stunned, as we understand this is an extremely rare thing to do.
We almost never remark on politics at XGW, but this affects all readers from all sides. We must find out why this stance was taken, and hold the White House responsible for explaining their motives clearly and candidly.
Hat Tip: Carlos Miller
Update 9:05 pm: There are contradictory reports of why this was done and who ordered it.
The volume is very low, we have enhanced the audio track only here:
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You heard correctly. Among other things, Lafferty, alongside Matt Barber, is actually trying to claim that ENDA will allow hypothetical VA employees with acrotomophilia to freely molest returning amputee veterans.
This clip is from an event called “The Awakening” sponsored by the Freedom Federation and held at Liberty University this past weekend. Matt Barber, listed as Associate Dean for Career and Professional Development at Liberty, is seated next to Andrea Lafferty of the Traditional Values Coalition. This particular breakout session, labeled “LGBT Agenda” was held at Liberty University School of Law and it’s dean, Matt Staver, is heavily involved.
In what appears to be the same “ends justifies the means” free-for-all that took place prior to the recent passing of the long debated hate crimes bill, no lie is too absurd to be told in an effort to prevent passing of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). All the better if it is told in the most egregious way as to elicit an emotional response of disgust.
There is no reason to yet again go into the explanation of how ENDA does not cover paraphilias. The question I would like to ask of all current and future Liberty University students is, how much more of this will you tolerate? Do you really want your education to be forever tainted by Liberty’s sponsorship of such awful things? Their employment of malcontented opportunists like Matt Barber? Are there no legitimate apologists left for your views?
If someone has a genuine argument against the bill, one grounded in facts that can be debated in a civil way, go for it. That’s the process. But resorting to deception under the banner of faith, how much lower can they go? How low will you let them go?
Former head of the Human Genome Project and current director of the venerable National Institutes of Health, Dr. Francis Collins has once again sent a strong message warning that passages of his book have been twisted to fit an anti-gay agenda.
Statement from NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., in Response to the American College of Pediatricians
Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.
Director
April 15, 2010
“It is disturbing for me to see special interest groups distort my scientific observations to make a point against homosexuality. The American College of Pediatricians pulled language out of context from a book I wrote in 2006 to support an ideology that can cause unnecessary anguish and encourage prejudice. The information they present is misleading and incorrect, and it is particularly troubling that they are distributing it in a way that will confuse school children and their parents.”
The latest charge comes as a result of a letter sent out by the American College of Pediatricians (ACPED) to all school superintendents in the US. Not to be confused with the actual American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), ACPED was formed in the 90s by a few who believe homosexuality is a disorder (a view not held by the AAP). If these names seem confusing, you will understand what as been happening.
Anti-gay organizations will reference statements issued by ACPED, presumably in the hope that the average reader will think they are coming from the real 60,000 strong AAP. Just such an instance occurred on CNN last week when ex-gay guru Richard Cohen gave non sequitur responses including a blurb about the aforementioned letter to school superintendents. Read more…
A Boston radio show offering advice to young people has disassociated itself from Exodus International after complaints that it was promoting the ex-gay message.
Twenty-two-year-old activist Greg Kimball posed as a 16-year-old to phone HopeLine, a youth advice line run by Dawson McAllister Live, a Christian show broadcast weekly on 160 radio stations across the US. Kimball told the representative that he was questioning his sexuality and thought he might be gay, and says he was told in return that his lack of a religious upbringing was to blame. He could be “cured,” however, by embracing God.
Kimball phoned back the show and spoke to a different representative, who referred him to Exodus International and Living Hope Ministries.
Now Towleroad reports that Clear Channel, the show’s producers, have cut ties to Exodus in response to the concerns: Read more…
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