A pair of new organizations for ex-gays—Voice of the Voiceless and Equality and Justice For All—have called on President Obama and The White House to issue a Presidential Proclamation to recognize July as its first Ex-Gay Pride Month. An official letter was sent to President Obama on June 18 by VOV Co-Founder & Acting Director Christopher Doyle.
Doyle says VOV is a public advocacy organization of ex-gays that represents “tens of thousands of former homosexuals,” and is looking for the same privileges as Obama has gave the LGBT community during Gay Pride Month in June.
“As you may know, former homosexuals are now recognized as a legally protected class in Washington, D.C.,” Doyle said in his letter to the president. “We would like to discuss tolerance for the ex-gay community and how The White House can ensure equal access for ex-gays in the nation’s capital, which is the only jurisdiction that recognizes ex-gays as a legally protected class.”
Doyle’s letter said his office has left multiple voice messages for the White House Office of Public Engagement—calls that have gone unanswered.
Doyle said July will be a historic month for ex-gays, who he said for years have “suffered discrimination and intimidation because they dare to exist.”
“Thanks to a 2009 judicial ruling, ex-gays no longer have to hide in the shadows in fear of intimidation and threats from anti-ex-gay activists and media who seek to marginalize and diminish our community,” Doyle said.
The Family Research Council’s legislative arm, FRC Action, will officially launch both VOV and Equality and Justice For All during a dinner and reception on July 31 in Washington, D.C. Among those invited to speak are Congresswoman Michelle Bachman, former Sen. Jim Demint, Liberty Counsel’s Mat Staver, Congressman Tim Huelskamp, and several prominent leaders in the ex-gay and faith communities.
The event is scheduled only weeks after the Supreme Court’s rulings in favor of gay rights.
