WASHINGTON, DC, May 20, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The National Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) has refused an ex-gay group’s request to exhibit at its annual convention while welcoming a gay activist organization and inviting it to present a workshop. Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX.org) has had its application to exhibit rejected because it supports former homosexuals. The National PTA, however, sought the attendance of Parents, Families and Friends of Gays (PFLAG), a pro-gay advocacy group which believes in same sex marriage.
Comprising 6 million members, the National PTA is the largest volunteer child advocacy organization in the United States. One of its purposes is “to be inclusive in its efforts to represent and assist all who nurture and educate children.”
“As we indicated on the application, our purpose at the National PTA exhibit is to distribute educational publications promoting inclusive school environments for ex-gay students and educators,” said Regina Griggs, PFOX’s executive director. “We fit right in because one of the themes of this year’s National PTA convention is diversity. Ex gays are people, too. And it’s about time the National PTA recognized that fact of life,” she added.
“We submitted exhibit materials for the National PTA’s review that included a booklet for students and teachers on how to address homophobia in the public schools from an ex-gay perspective,” said Griggs. “We also included an information sheet from the NEA Ex-Gay Educators Caucus outlining the goals sought by ex-gay teachers for diversity, tolerance and inclusion for all, including both ex-gays and gays,” said Griggs. “Who could be opposed to that?”
According to the National PTA, PFLAG will present a workshop that “raises awareness about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students, their families, and the issues pertaining to them in the school environment. Participants will receive a ‘how-to’ guide for improving the school environment for LGBT students.”
The National PTA has also allowed “It’s Elementary,” the gay affirming video for schoolchildren, to exhibit at its conference for the last three years.
Earlier this month, PFOX won a decision against the Montgomery County (MD) School Board, halting the implementation of a sex ed curriculum which would have promoted gay religious organizations over ex-gay ministries and traditional religions. The Judge, in writing his decision, criticized the curriculum “viewpoint discrimination” by excluding ex-gay material. The School Board had also approved materials published by gay advocacy groups that positively portray homosexuality while making negative references to ex-gays.
“The National PTA is discriminating against a class of students and that is just wrong,” Griggs said.
To express concerns to the PTA:
National PTA
541 N FAIRBANKS CT
STE 1300
CHICAGO IL 60611-3396
Phone: 312-670-6782
Toll-Free: 800-307-4PTA (4782)
Fax: 312-670-6783
[email protected]
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