Contact: Regina Griggs, Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays

Parents Concerned Over Obama’s ‘Safe Schools Czar’

Washington, D.C., Oct. 8 – “Gay activist Kevin Jennings’ appointment as President Obama’s ‘Safe Schools Czar’ is yet another questionable selection. Only this time, they’re endangering our children,” said Regina Griggs, executive director of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX).

“As a founder of the Gay/Lesbian/Straight Education Network, Jennings encouraged impressionable youth in our nation’s public high schools to identify as ‘gay’ or ‘transgender’ at an early age,” said Griggs. “Yet many youth are distressed by unwanted same-sex attraction and want information about the possibility of change. Jennings opposes ex-gay equal access to public schools like our PFOX teen brochures that offer ex-gay resources and encourage students to wait until full maturity before declaring themselves ‘gay’ or ‘transgender.’”

“I wish ex-gay resources like those available through PFOX had been around to help me when I was in high school,” said Christopher Doyle, a former homosexual and PFOX board member. “As a youth, I was very confused and would have appreciated support for my unwanted same-sex attractions. All I heard, even from some teachers, was that I was born gay. But as an adult, I discovered there is no scientific evidence to support this claim.”

“While Jennings promotes tolerance for boys and girls to identify as ‘gay’ or cross-dress at school, he is intolerant of former homosexuals and their message of hope and change,” remarked Griggs. “As a national public official, will Kevin Jennings now work on behalf of all Americans, including the ex-gay community? Or will Jennings continue to deny ex-gay organizations a voice in our public schools while he supports full access by gay and transgender organizations?”

“Jennings’ blatant disregard for parental rights and children's well being has surfaced before,” said Griggs. “Jennings admits that a 15 year-old student once came to him and confessed that he was having sex with an older man he met in a bus station restroom. Shockingly, rather than notify the boy’s parents or school administrators, Jennings' only response as a teacher was, ‘I hope you knew to use a condom.’

“Our children deserve better,” said Griggs. “We encourage the Secretary of Education to reappoint another Safe Schools Czar capable of protecting all students.”

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Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX) distributes educational literature on unwanted same-sex attractions and teaches tolerance for former homosexuals. They can be reached at http://pfox.org/about_us.html