Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays
Encyclopedia
Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX) is a non-profit organization providing outreach, education, and public awareness in support of the "ex-gay
" community. PFOX maintains that homosexuality
is not a product of biological determination, in contradiction to the consensus of major mental health organizations. The president of PFOX is Greg Quinlan. Richard Cohen is a past president.
", was the president of PFOX for a period of time. After Cohen was interviewed by Jason Jones
on the March 19, 2007, episode of The Daily Show
, PFOX systematically removed all references to Cohen from their website.
Greg Quinlan is described by PFOX as a "former homosexual" who came out at the age of 23. He founded the Dayton branch of the Human Rights Campaign Fund and worked as a fundraiser for the organization. He has stated that he "departed from homosexuality" in 1993, and went on to found the Pro-Family Network, an organization describes itself as advocates for conservative values, including traditional marriage.
PFOX is a signatory organization of Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality
(PATH), which is "a non-profit coalition of organizations that help people with unwanted same-sex attractions (SSA) realize their personal goals for change -- whether by developing their innate heterosexual potential or by embracing a lifestyle as a single, non-sexually active man or woman." As a member, PFOX has adopted PATH's statement of principles. PFOX tends to support conservative views and is supported by the Family Research Council
.
is a political identity. PFOX does not provide nor render therapeutic services.
and information about HIV
/AIDS
" on the basis that "the standards are not age-appropriate and would undermine abstinence-only messages." PFOX opposed legislation to protect transgender
people from discrimination
stating their concern it gave "male cross-dressers access to women's restrooms".
On October 16, 2008, PFOX sued the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights for failing to protect "former homosexuals" under its sexual orientation anti-discrimination law. This was after the OHR stood with the National Education Association (NEA) in its refusal to provide public accommodations to "ex-gays". The court ruled in favour of the NEA, and also stated that "ex-gays" are a protected class that must be recognized under sexual orientation non-discrimination laws.
In 2004, the National Association of Mental Health declined PFOX's application for booth space at their annual convention. In 2005, PFOX was barred from presenting a workshop at the National Parent Teacher Association (NPTA) Convention. They have also been denied participation at events held by the National Mental Health Association, and the American Association of University Women
. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
(PFLAG), which participated in 2004 and 2005 at the NPTA convention, has responded to PFOX:
Ex-gay
The ex-gay movement consists of people and organizations that seek to get people to refrain from entering or pursuing same-sex relationships, to eliminate homosexual desires, to develop heterosexual desires, or to enter into a heterosexual relationship...
" community. PFOX maintains that homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
is not a product of biological determination, in contradiction to the consensus of major mental health organizations. The president of PFOX is Greg Quinlan. Richard Cohen is a past president.
Background
PFOX, founded in 1998, is headquartered in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Richard Cohen, who describes himself as "ex-gayEx-gay
The ex-gay movement consists of people and organizations that seek to get people to refrain from entering or pursuing same-sex relationships, to eliminate homosexual desires, to develop heterosexual desires, or to enter into a heterosexual relationship...
", was the president of PFOX for a period of time. After Cohen was interviewed by Jason Jones
Jason Jones (actor)
Jason Jones is a Canadian actor and comedian who is a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.-Life and career:Jones was born in Hamilton, Ontario. He attended Ryerson Theatre School in Toronto...
on the March 19, 2007, episode of The Daily Show
The Daily Show
The Daily Show , is an American late night satirical television program airing each Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central. The half-hour long show premiered on July 21, 1996, and was hosted by Craig Kilborn until December 1998...
, PFOX systematically removed all references to Cohen from their website.
Greg Quinlan is described by PFOX as a "former homosexual" who came out at the age of 23. He founded the Dayton branch of the Human Rights Campaign Fund and worked as a fundraiser for the organization. He has stated that he "departed from homosexuality" in 1993, and went on to found the Pro-Family Network, an organization describes itself as advocates for conservative values, including traditional marriage.
PFOX is a signatory organization of Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality
Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality
Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality is a coalition of groups that want to help "people with unwanted same-sex attractions realize their personal goals for change -- whether by developing their innate heterosexual potential or by embracing a lifestyle as a single, non-sexually active man or...
(PATH), which is "a non-profit coalition of organizations that help people with unwanted same-sex attractions (SSA) realize their personal goals for change -- whether by developing their innate heterosexual potential or by embracing a lifestyle as a single, non-sexually active man or woman." As a member, PFOX has adopted PATH's statement of principles. PFOX tends to support conservative views and is supported by the Family Research Council
Family Research Council
The Family Research Council is a conservative or right-wing Christian group and lobbying organization formed in the United States in 1981 by James Dobson. It was fully incorporated in 1983...
.
Positions
The PFOX website states: "We must seek the facts and love our children unconditionally without having to affirm their homosexual behavior." PFOX also advocates acceptance of people who identify as "ex-gay". The group is known for promoting views that transsexual people are biologically appropriate at birth. Their proposed solution is opposed to the widely accepted method of sexual reassignment surgery. They propose counseling to deal with the problem. They also believe being gayGay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
is a political identity. PFOX does not provide nor render therapeutic services.
Activities
In December, 2007, when the Washington, D.C., State Board of Education approved new health and physical education guidelines, PFOX voiced opposition to the "grade-specific sex educationSex education
Sex education refers to formal programs of instruction on a wide range of issues relating to human sexuality, including human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, abstinence, contraception, and...
and information about HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
" on the basis that "the standards are not age-appropriate and would undermine abstinence-only messages." PFOX opposed legislation to protect transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
people from discrimination
Discrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
stating their concern it gave "male cross-dressers access to women's restrooms".
On October 16, 2008, PFOX sued the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights for failing to protect "former homosexuals" under its sexual orientation anti-discrimination law. This was after the OHR stood with the National Education Association (NEA) in its refusal to provide public accommodations to "ex-gays". The court ruled in favour of the NEA, and also stated that "ex-gays" are a protected class that must be recognized under sexual orientation non-discrimination laws.
Criticism
Many of PFOX's views on the developmental causes of homosexuality and gender identity are in the minority of popular opinion. Their statement that thousands of people become "ex-gay" each year has been called into question and ex-gays are often seen, realistically, as a very small group.In 2004, the National Association of Mental Health declined PFOX's application for booth space at their annual convention. In 2005, PFOX was barred from presenting a workshop at the National Parent Teacher Association (NPTA) Convention. They have also been denied participation at events held by the National Mental Health Association, and the American Association of University Women
American Association of University Women
The American Association of University Women advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. It was founded in 1882 by Ellen Swallow Richards and Marion Talbot...
. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays is a socio-political group of family members and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Its mission statement describes the goals of PFLAG as promoting health and well being of LGBT persons as well as actively supporting...
(PFLAG), which participated in 2004 and 2005 at the NPTA convention, has responded to PFOX:
- PFLAG and others also find the basic premise of PFOX’s rationale confusing. If someone is not gay or bisexual, they are heterosexual. "Since this is the case," says PFLAG’s executive director Jody Huckaby, "PFOX should have no concerns."