In a report last month on opposition to marriage equality legislation in Maryland, the Washington Post sought comment from a niche sexual identity:  "Greg Quinlan, president of a national group called Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays, was among those at Friday's hearing who asked lawmakers to slow down the process," the Post reported. "'I urge you to slow down. I urge you to stop,' said Quinlan, who described himself as an 'ex-gay.'"

PFOX took issue with the quotation-mark treatment surrounding the sexual identity, which describes people who previously identified as gay but now identify as . . . previously gay. PFOX member Christopher Doyle wrote into the Post complaining that the paper had "singled out" ex-gays in "a way not applied to gays":

"When Greg Quinlan, president of the board of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays, identifed himself in the Feb. 26 Metro article . . . you put quotation marks around 'ex-gay,'" Doyle wrote. "But there were no quotation marks in references to gay members of the House of Delegates."

He continued: "Putting 'ex-gay' in quotes suggested that such a sexual orientation is not valid, not recognized or both. But thousands of former homosexuals collectively identify themselves as such. The D.C. Superior Court ruled in 2009 that ex-gays are a protected sexual orientation class in the District."

The objection is classic PFOX, which has labored to establish this newfangled sexual orientation, then situate it as "more oppressed" than being gay. The organization has systematically targeted any organization that recognizes gay groups. School curriculum teaches kids about LGBT? It's got to teach them about the "X," too. National conference accept an exhibit by PFLAG? PFOX wants its own booth. Media outlet describes gay people without quotation marks? It needs to free ex-gays from the oppressive punctuation. PFOX ostensibly seeks equal protection for people who used to consider themselves gay, but the PFOX's politics make clear that it's really looking to strip gay people of their civil rights. In Maryland, for example, ex-gays can freely marry. So why is PFOX objecting to gays claiming the same right?

PFOX is technically correct that the the D.C. Human Rights Act affords "former homosexuals" the same rights it does gays, bisexuals, and heterosexuals, because D.C. law protects sexual orientation either by "preference or practice"—like people who previously "practiced" gayness, and now "prefer" to practice heterosexuality. But the act doesn't protect "ex-gays" by name, and has no bearing on the public recognition of the term. Even if "thousands" of people identify as ex-gay—and I can find absolutely no support for that figure—is that niche group really visible enough to be readily "recognized" by readers of the Washington Post? Everyone knows what "gay" is. Not everyone knows what "ex-gay" means. And as long as that's the case, PFOX will maintain its strategically advantageous outsider position. Better to annoy the gays with.

Read the original article here.

Contact:  Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays, PFOX

804-453-4737 -- PFOX@pfox.org

Pepsi Urged to Follow Example of Coca-Cola and Stop Hiding Corporate Donations

Plano TX – A non-profit organization is urging PepsiCo to follow the lead of the Coca Cola Company by revealing the full amount of its corporate donations.  “Unlike Coca Cola, Pepsi refuses to divulge the exact amount of money it donates to various groups,” said Greg Quinlan, President of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX).

“This secrecy by PepsiCo can lead to misuse of corporate funds,” said Quinlan.  “PepsiCo says it gave ‘over $100,000’ last year to Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), but refuses to specify the exact amount.  Yet PepsiCo is the leading corporate sponsor of PFLAG.”

“Americans are concerned because PepsiCo may be giving away hundreds of thousands of dollars to help fund anti-religious activities by PFLAG,” said Quinlan.  “PFLAG’s religious guidebook instructs members to issue press releases and picket against religious events they disagree with in order ‘to remind people that there is more than one faith message.’”

“PFLAG’s religious manual approves of gay affirming churches while urging members to protest against religious conferences which feature ex-gay speakers,” said Quinlan.  “PFLAG even directs members on how to create picket signs for these protests.”

“My church welcomes the ex-gay community,” said Quinlan.  “Why does Pepsi fund groups like PFLAG that disrupt Christian events which support former homosexuals like me?  Why is Pepsi funding bigotry against ex-gays and promoting anti-Christian messages?”

“The Coca Cola Company lists the exact amounts of its corporate donations.  Pepsi should do the same.  Why is PepsiCo hiding this information?”

PFOX is urging PepsiCo stockholders to vote for a shareholder proposal that would require Pepsi to divulge its standards for donating over $75 million in corporate assets annually to controversial groups.

“The PepsiCo Charitable Contributions Shareholder Proposal asks Pepsi to fully divulge its funding and account for how the company’s charitable contributions are actually used, a reasonable request,” said Quinlan.

PepsiCo manufactures Pepsi-Cola and Gatorade drinks, Frito-Lay snacks, Tropicana juices, and Quaker foods.

###

Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX) leads the nation in providing outreach, education, and public awareness in support of families and the ex-gay community. To learn more, visit http://pfox.org/about_us.html

PepsiCo Shareholders Urged to Vote for Charitable Contributions Report

Plano TX – Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX) is calling on all PepsiCo shareholders to vote for Shareholder Proposal No. 4 – the Charitable Contributions Report.  PepsiCo manufactures Pepsi-Cola and Gatorade drinks, Frito-Lay snacks, Tropicana juices, and Quaker foods.

The proposal asks PepsiCo to divulge its standards for donating over $75 million in corporate assets to controversial groups.

PepsiCo, Inc. is the leading corporate sponsor of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Inc. (PFLAG).  PFLAG’s latest publication, a religious guidebook, incorrectly labels ex-gay conferences as “anti-gay” and urges PFLAG members to protest against religious conferences which feature ex-gay speakers.

The faith guidebook instructs members to hold press conferences and issue press releases against religious ex-gay events ‘to remind people that there is more than one faith message.’  See PFLAG Faith Field Guide, pp. 9 -11, at

http://pflag.dreamhosters.com/hosted-files/CIS/faith_field_guide_final.pdf

“Why does PepsiCo fund organizations like PFLAG which issue religious publications urging readers to undermine other religions with which PFLAG disagrees?” asked Regina Griggs, executive director of PFOX.  “Is this the best use of PepsiCo funding?”

“In response to a similar proposal last year, PepsiCo claimed that it is ‘committed to diversity and inclusion without imposition of personal judgment.’  So why does PepsiCo continue to fund organizations which hate the ex-gay community?”

“The PepsiCo Shareholder Proposal No. 4 asks PepsiCo to divulge its standards for funding and account for how the Company’s charitable contributions are actually used, a reasonable request,” said Griggs.  “PepsiCo’s actions adversely affect its public image, goodwill, and stock value.”

##

Support PFOX’s proposal at https://www.moxyvote.com/support/pfox

Listen to PFOX’s speech at last year’s PepsiCo shareholder meeting at http://www.pfox.org/Speech_PepsiCo_Shareholder_Meeting.html

Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX) leads the nation in providing outreach, education, and public awareness in support of families and the ex-gay community. They can be reached at http://pfox.org/about_us.html