'Ex-Gays' Say Their Books Kept Out of Libraries, Cry Censorship

Religious opponents of gays and lesbians say that with prayer and counseling, it's possible to "convert" to heterosexuality. But credible mental health professionals broadly reject such claims, and worry that so-called "reparative" or "conversion" therapies could be damaging, rather than beneficial.

"Ex-gays" also claim that books on the subject of such "reparative" therapies are conspicuously missing from libraries in public schools; the reason, they say, is due to censorship of their message that gays and lesbians can choose to become straight.

An Oct. 22 Fox News item reported that a support groups for individuals who claim to have been converted to heterosexuality--the Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX)--claim that books advocating for the "curing" of gays are being systematically excluded from book collections at school libraries.

Such putative censorship has led to suits and threatened legal action against schools for not carrying "ex-gay" titles. Two years ago, a Maryland school district was warned by The Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal group representing PFOX, to accept leaflets and books from the group or face a suit based on a claim of violations of the group's Constitutional guarantees.

Anti-gay religious Web site LifeSiteNews said in a July 8, 2007 article that "a radical pro-homosexual sex-ed curriculum" was being favored over PFOX's materials, and quoted ADF attorney Jeremy Tedesco as charging that, "The school is not only engaging in unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination, but clearly it has also displayed an obvious desire to indoctrinate students with a radical, pro-homosexual agenda."

One book refused space on school library shelves, the Fox News article said, is My Genes Made Me Do It!: A Scientific Look at Sexual Orientation, a title from 1999 by Neil E. Whitehead and Briar Whitehead, who posit that while there may be some biological basis to homosexuality--as scientists now believe--that in itself is not enough to account for why some men and women experience an innate and powerful attraction to others of the same gender.

The book's scientific accuracy in light of more recent biological findings has been questioned (for example, as pointed out by one Amazon.com reviewer of the book, the book's contention that identical twins of differing sexual orientations proves that sexuality is not a matter of genetics, because identical twins have identical genes, has been found to be incorrect: identical twins do not necessarily have identical genes, even though they do develop from identical chromosomes). Still, PFOX members say, materials that espouse their point of view should not be barred.

The Fox News story points out that books describing gay teens' coming of age are readily available in school libraries, including some that contain explicit material. But while books that speak to gay teens are embraced by school libraries, "ex-gay" books are regarded with skepticism, the article noted; based on the cautions voiced by mental health professionals, some libraries fear that such books will lead to harm. As a result, the article said, PFOX has found it to be an uphill struggle to get their message heard via school library holdings.

The group's executive director, Regina Griggs, insists that PFOX isn't out to force anyone into coercive or damaging forms of therapy. Griggs says that all PFOX wants is for gays and lesbians to know that they may have a choice. But schools--even universities--aren't interested. "We offered... books to Montgomery County, Maryland, and Arlington and Fairfax Counties in Virginia," Griggs said. "We e-mailed all publicly funded universities nationwide that have a GLBTQ center." The result: "Our offer to donate ex-gay books and brochures, we were rejected by all."

Griggs resorted to an appeal to the American Library Association, which monitors challenged and banned books and draws attention to book banning with an annual "Banned Books Week." Griggs was hoping that the ALA's Banned Book Week might make mention of the "ex-gay" titles, but there, too, she says, she was stymied. "We would have appreciated even a statement from the ALA's director of intellectual freedom, Debra Caldwell-Stone, that ex-gay books are included in their diversity policy - instead, she said that the policy 'speaks for itself,'" Griggs told Fox News.

Fox News reported that the ALA did not return calls after an initial exchange, and cited the ALA's own "Library Bill of Rights," which includes the statement that, "Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval."

The article quoted Hayley Gorenberg of GLBT equality group Lambda Legal, who compared the issue to schools refusing to teach that the earth is flat--even though that theory may still have its adherents who might claim that their views are being suppressed. "All of the leading medical, therapeutic, psychiatric and social work organizations have a fair unanimity here about claims relating to the so-called ex-gay movement or so-called reparative therapy where the central idea is that these groups would like to try to change people's sexual orientation or gender identity, and the consensus is that it's unnecessary and damaging and can be severely harmful to people," Gorenberg noted.

Griggs rejected that argument, noting that the cautions about "reparative" therapy were couched in non-definitive language. "They use terms like 'can' or 'may,' which is merely an opinion" and not scientific fact, noted Griggs, adding, "Most of these statements eminate from the gay divisions within those associations. These GLB sections have tried to get their respective associations to ban reparative therapy, but have been unsuccessful.... The most they can do is issue statements like these discouraging any kind of change therapy while promoting gay affirming therapy."

Griggs also denied that PFOX was looking to promote any sort of "cure" for gays, but rather simply wanted to ensure that a full range of opinions could be heard by those interested in hearing from all sides. Griggs also claimed that "ex-gays" warrant the same sort of tolerance that gays demand. "Therapy is not the issue--tolerance is." Warned Griggs, "Expect more lawsuits nationwide."

Griggs' group sued the city of Washington, D.C. last year for failing to extend specific non-discrimination protections to "ex-gays." As reported at EDGE on Oct. 15, 2008, the gorup brought suit against Washington, D.C.'s Office of Human Rights for not including "ex-gays" as a protected group under laws that bar discrimination based on sexual orientation. A distinction was made between heterosexuals and "ex-gays" based on claims that "ex-gays" are targeted for harassment due to their claims of once having been--but no longer being--homosexual. Said Griggs at the time, "The ex-gay community is the most bullied and maligned group in America, yet they are not protected by sexual orientation non-discrimination laws."

In Washington, D.C., discrimination based on several categories is banned, including "sexual preference," "sexual orientation," "gender identity," and "gender expression," but "ex-gays" are not distinguished from heterosexuals by the law and are not included in the protected categories. The theory behind such laws is that GLBT people should not have their rights abrogated because of their sexuality; in other words, they should not be denied the same rights as heterosexuals.

Griggs mirrored this notion in asking, "Shouldn't ex-gays enjoy the same legal protections that gays enjoy?" Griggs claimed that "ex-gays" saw their rights violated based on their sexual history: "Former homosexuals and their friends have been fired from their jobs, repeatedly ridiculed, assaulted, and intimidated. This harassment is most often perpetrated by the same groups who demand protection under sexual orientation laws but work to deny ex-gays the same respect."

Griggs also referenced controversy that arose when then-presidential candidate Barack Obama featured gospel singer Donnie McClurken, who claims to have formerly been gay, at rallies. "On CNN Prime News, former Human Rights Campaign spokesperson Wayne Besen insisted that Obama should fire McClurkin just for being ex-gay." But, said Griggs, "Former homosexuals should have the right to be out, open and safe in society."

Besen, who heads Truth Wins Out and works to counter the claims of "ex-gay" groups, responded to news of the suit at his blog, in an item that called the PFOX suit "bizarre" and asserted that claims of discrimination against "ex-gays" were "invented" and "exaggerated."

Stated the text at Besen's site, "PFOX has never offered any evidence and has long invented or greatly exaggerated potential cases.

"PFOX is a political organization that sells the idea that people can 'pray away the gay,'" continued the text. "It was founded by lawyer Roy Cohn's ex-boyfriend, Anthony Falzarono, and bankrolled by the [anti-gay, Colorado Springs-based] Family Research Council."

Added the text, "It was later run by therapist Richard Cohen, who was banned for life by the American Counseling Association."

The text continued, "The current leader is Regina Griggs, who has an openly gay son."

One comment posted at Besen's site by a reader noted, "So PFOX is finally admitting that 'ex-gay' means something other than 'heterosexual'?"

Added the commentator, "I suppose I'd be happy about that, if they weren't still insisting that 'ex-gay' means something other than 'homosexual' too."