HETEROSEXUALS VICTIMIZED BY HOMOSEXUALS

By Regina Griggs, Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX )
Heterophobia is on the rise -- just witness the latest episode by homosexual D.C. council member Jim Graham. Last week Washington Metro board director and practicing Catholic Robert J. Smith appeared on a local cable show as the Republican pointman to discuss gay marriage. Smith commented that as a Roman Catholic he believed homosexual behavior to be "deviant" in comparison to heterosexual behavior.

"As an openly gay elected official," Graham demanded Smith's resignation from the transit authority board. Smith refused, explaining that his remarks had nothing to do with his job and were made in public outside of his job. He also reiterated his support for Metro's non-discrimination policy and his respect for differing views on homosexuality. Nonetheless, Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich Jr. bowed to Graham and fired Smith because the governor wants "inclusiveness" and "tolerance."

In the past, Graham has made intolerant and non-inclusive comments about ex-gays and Catholics, yet unlike Smith, Graham still has his job. For example, in 2003, when he was a chair of the Metro Board, Graham remarked that he found PFOX's subway advertisements urging tolerance for ex-gays to be "offensive" and "deplorable." What if those same remarks had been made about gays? Do you think Graham would still have his job?

To ensure that PFOX's ex-gay ads would no longer appear in the subway systems of our nation's capitol, Graham and the Metro Board eliminated free non-profit ad space which had enabled PFOX and other non-profits to place ads. Nonetheless, Graham proposed an amendment to extend the deadline for free ad space so that two gay activist organizations could take advantage of the free space.

In addition to his anti-ex-gay comments, Jim Graham has also made anti-Catholic remarks in his official role as a D.C. councilmember. In 2000, when the D.C. City Council rejected a "conscience clause" to exempt Catholic organizations from being forced to purchase health insurance employee plans that covered artificial birth control, Graham lashed out at the Pope and the Washington Archdiocese for practicing the Catholic religion.

In a now infamous session of the D.C. council meeting, Graham remarked that he had "spent years fighting church dogma" and reportedly called the Roman Catholic church a "homophobic church." Catholic Bishop William Lori said he viewed the session as "evidence of anti-Catholic bigotry."

We know we're in trouble when homosexual politicians advocate tolerance and inclusion for their own but cannot respect the views of heterosexuals. Let's remember that heterosexuals, including ex- gays, are also worthy of respect.

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Regina Griggs is Executive Director of Parents and Friends of Ex- Gays & Gays (PFOX), a non-profit organization serving families and the ex-gay community. Mrs. Griggs has been interviewed by numerous television, radio and print outlets, including TIME Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and the Washington Times. Media contact: 804-453-4737