Group Turns Against Ex-Gays

Many times on this blog I have asserted that there is no significant discrimination against "ex-gay" members of society, that is, straight people who used to be gay. You might have doubts about your daughter marrying someone like that, but nobody cares what somebody used to be. People do not like obnoxiousness, they do not like someone to tell them how to be, they do not like people who think they are better than them, people in general do not like PFOX. That's different. It's okay not to like loudmouth bigots.

As far as I know, this is the first time that a group has issued a virulently anti-ex-gay public statement. A national group has put out a press release that questions whether certain political leaders are ex-gays, with the argument that this would make them unqualified for public office.

Peter L Barbera is often known as Porno Pete for his habit of attending gay events and collecting as much erotic and pornographic literature as he can. He is one of the religious right's rock stars. He is also the founder of the organization Republicans for Family Values.

From that group's website:

Republicans For Family Values
www.rffv.org

Contact: Peter LaBarbera: 630-717-7631; rffv@comcast.net

CHICAGO, Ill. — Peter LaBarbera, founder of Republicans For Family Values (www.rffv.org), urged potential Supreme Court pick Elena Kagan , Republican Reps. David Dreier and Patrick McHenry, and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist — each the subject of wide speculation that they practice(d) homosexuality — to answer the question: ‘Are (or were) you a practicing homosexual?’ RFFV to Elena Kagan, Reps. Dreier, McHenry and Gov. Crist: Answer the Question: ‘Are You Homosexual?’

There's more. Click to read if you're interested.

It is interesting that Republicans for Family Values have chosen to widen their net in this way. Typically the religious right has embraced ex-gays as proof that you can change your sexual orientation, if you're gay (not much said about changing the other direction).

Now it looks like they are realizing, like everybody else, that your sexual orientation is most likely going to stay whatever it already is. Pretending you are some way doesn't make you that way, you can walk around on tippy-toes but you aren't really tall. The Republicans for Family Values want to discriminate against gay people, and they understand that that includes those who claim to be "ex-gay."

I will be interested to see how PFOX reacts to this news. They should be excited, now that somebody has actually issued an anti-ex-gay statement. They should oppose this with all their might. You think they will? Me either.

Hat tip to Box Turtle Bulletin for catching this one.