When the Ex-Gays Come Knocking?

Knock, knock.

Who's there?

Ex-Gay.

Ex-Gay who?

Hmmm. Well this is not a "Knock, Knock" joke. It's for real and serious.

More and more colleges and universities are having PFOX and other ex-gay groups contact them. The groups want to put "ex-gay propaganda" in the LGBT & ally resource center/office. Campuses without LGBT centers are also being challenged to have this information on campus in other venues like health centers, diversity offices, etc. As pointed out repeatedly, there is no scientific evidence that shows "ex-gay reparative treatments" to work; however, the harms associated are well documented.

At the American Psychological Association’s annual meeting, August 10, 2006, the organization released the following statement: “For over three decades the consensus of the mental health community has been that homosexuality is not an illness and therefore not in need of a cure. The APA’s concern about the positions espoused by NARTH and so-called conversation therapy is that they are not supported by the science. There is simply no sufficiently scientifically sound evidence that sexual orientation can be changed. Our further concern is that the positions espoused by NARTH and Focus on the Family create an environment in which prejudice and discrimination can flourish."

The fact is that these groups are trying to create lawsuits as a way to litigate and intimidate colleges to compromise on LGBT-inclusive programs, policies and practices that value LGBT and ally people, as PFOX and others have done repeatedly in the past. There is a national anti-LGBT movement among groups like PFOX and they are well-organized and well-funded. BEWARE. But don't buckle. There is no reason for a campus to bow to the requests for this anti-gay propoganda being available in a LGBT resource center/office.

Where to get HELP?

A recent post on a national listserve discussed these issues in detail. TruthWinsOut.org is a non-profit organization that counters right wing propaganda, exposes the “ex-gay” myth and educates America about gay life. If “ex-gay” groups have contacted you, TruthWinsOut.org can help.

1. KNOW THE LAW: The first thing to do is read and get copies of their publication "Ex-Gay & The Law", a new booklet by Truth
Wins Out and Lambda Legal. The booklet offers legal advice to those who may have been harmed by these groups.

Go Online: http://www.truthwinsout.org/opinion/countering-pfox-in-the-schools/

Download: http://www.truthwinsout.org/pressreleases/ex-gay-and-the-law/

2. DON'T ALLOW DISTRIBUTION: No college/unviersity, public or private, is obligated to carry PFOX's material - so don't be intimidated by their threats and legal maneuvers.

3.LEGAL ADVICE & SUPPORT: Seek legal advice from TruthWinsOut.org. and Lambda Legal. Any college/university that has been contacted by ex-gay organizations should contact TruthWinsOut.org immediately. It is important for them to know the magnitude of these requests and the strategy behind what campuses are being contacted and what they are saying. If your campus has received emails, letters, or any material, please send to: Truth Wins Out, PO Box 25491, Brooklyn, NY 11202 or email Campus Pride (info@campuspride.org) and we will forward it for you.

Together we are strong if we are UNITED. Communication among colleges and universities is imperative to win over these legal tactics and stop PFOX and others from targeting colleges and universities. Please help spread the word.