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Loading ...‘Ex-gays’ sue DC human rights office
10.14.2008 1:22pm EDT
(Washington) A national organization that claims homosexuality is a matter of choice and that gays can be “cured” has filed a lawsuit against the Washington DC Office of Human Rights, accusing it of failing to protect “ex-gays.”
The DC Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays, or PFOX, says in its suit that the Office of Human Rights does not recognize “ex-gays.”
The suit asks the DC Superior Court to direct the Office to include former homosexuals under the sexual orientation law.
“The ex-gay community is the most bullied and maligned group in America, yet they are not protected by sexual orientation non-discrimination laws,” said Regina Griggs, PFOX executive director, in a statement.
“Shouldn’t ex-gays enjoy the same legal protections that gays enjoy?” asked Griggs in the statement.
“Former homosexuals and their friends have been fired from their jobs, repeatedly ridiculed, assaulted, and intimidated. This harassment is most often perpetrated by the same groups who demand protection under sexual orientation laws but work to deny ex-gays the same respect.”
Griggs also said that the group wants protections for “ex-gays” in federal legislation – specifically the Employment Non-Discrimination Act known as ENDA.
“PFOX is especially concerned because Presidential candidate Barack Obama has failed to answer PFOX’s Aug. 25th letter asking if ex-gays will be included in sexual orientation legislation which Obama says he will sign into law as President,” said Griggs.
ENDA has passed the House but has yet to be taken up by the Senate. It would outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, credit and housing.
“Former homosexuals should have the right to be out, open and safe in society,” said Griggs. “On his website, Senator Obama says he supports gay and transgender rights because he supports civil rights for all persons, but does that include ex-gays? Americans need to know where Obama stands on the issue of ex-gay inclusion because his pledge to pass homosexual and transgender legislation as President will affect all of us. We urge Senator Obama to end his silence.”
If they are “ex-gay” wouldn’t that mean they are “straight” now. Do straights need protection at their jobs? Besides “ex-gays” can’t work around gays, we’re a bad influence.
Giving ex-gays the same rights as gays would be like someone quitting their job but still getting paid. This ISN’T a choice, and those people that think they’re cured need serious psychological help because there’s something wrong with them. Maybe I am being just as big a bigot as some people are to me, but whatever that’s my opinion
What a gang of mutts. Don’t they realize
that in human rights laws where sexual
orientation is a protected category, such
orientation would also include straight
people? That is in the unlikely event that a gang of bat wielding gays ever came into some redneck area and singled
out some victims. That would even include folks saying they’re former gays, but now living straight and proud
for Jesus.
These people are such a pathetic lot.
Sounds like your agreeing with a lot of the religious rights arguemnt agisnt using such terms as “orientation?” Please, don’t include normal poeple in these ridiculous un scientific word games. To be oriented to have sex with same sexed people is not orientation, it’s choice.
And if it were to used to cover a heteros choice, what does that say for your new idea of what homophobia means? Sounds like you need ot study up on yoru agenda a bit?
The word sexual orientation doesn’t just cover gay people. Sexual orientation can mean heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual. So straight and bi people would also be covered under any law protecting sexual orientation. So the so called “ex-gays” that have “changed” to being “straight” will already be protected even when they “change” to being “straight.”
Personally, I don’t understand how their “rights” are violated. If they are no longer “gay”, I think they are “straight” and as such their rights are already protected. So what is the problem?
this is a fascinating article, and i think the ex-gays are sincere in their quest (for the rights, not necessarily for giving up homosexuality) and should be protected. it’s not necessarily the goal of “ex gays” to become “straight” as a lot of the comments argue. many of this end up as ex-gay, taking it on as an identity itself — for a wonderful study of this phenomena see Tanya Erzen’s Straight to Jesus
Is this for real? If your an EX gay, wouldnt that make you straight? What next Straight Pride Month? Straight History Month? Civil Rights for Straights so they can live their lives free from discrimination?
IMO there is no such thing as an”ex gay”. To me it’s just gay people who are forced back into the closet. Oh,you can pretend,to be looked at as “normal” to society,but you’re just lying to yourself.
How sad.
This has to be the dumbest article I’ve read in months. Of course Obama isn’t going to respond to this. It would be like recognizing the Flat Earth Society. I’m so confused at “ex-gay” being out at work, or whatever nonsense they said, that I can’t even think gay right now.
RIGHT!!! Ex-gays, hiding behind their religiosity and devoted, mostly Christian, congregations… who are most often the perpetrators of anti-gay hate crimes… are now crying they’re victims of abuse?
What a load of crap!!!
Try: http://www.gender.org/remember/
Or: http://www.gender.org/remember/day/
There have been 22 transgender murders this year. These are murders where facts in evidence show the murderers all attacked their victims because they were transgendered.
Tell me again how you poor babies are suffering?
Get real!!! I went through 2 so-called reparative therapy in patient programs. I was more suicidal after the treatment than before.
I’m an EX ex-gay and proud to live out loud and proud.
No the “ex-gays” do not want the same protections as gays because they chose their sexual orientation unlike everyone else on the planet.
They chose to be gay and now they decided to be straight and they have to live with their choice. That is asking for special treatment if I ever heard of it.
HaHaHaHa!
That’s the best laugh I’ve had all day! If they’re ex-gay then wouldn’t that make them straight? Why would they need protection?
“Shouldn’t ex-gays enjoy the same legal protections that gays enjoy?” asked Griggs in the statement.
If that were not a loaded question. Maybe Griggs has forgotten, but gays are denied a variety of the same protections and privileges that are afforded most everyone else in this country and world.
I must be missing something here. If gays require protection, and a person who claims to be an “ex-gay” is no longer gay, what exactly does her or she need to be protected from. Either you are gay, or you are bi or you are straight. But what does being ex-gay actually mean, and why does this group need to be protected?