Parents & Friends of Ex-Gays (PFOX) has endorsed a shareholder’s move to petition Disney to add “ex-gays” to their employee non-discrimination policy. I appreciate the good heart and kind intent of the actual shareholder who brought this petition forward. That said, I do have some concerns:
1. Christians on a Post-gay journey aren’t terminally unique for time and eternity. Adopting a victim mindset of being perpetually “other,” makes it tough to move beyond the labels of homosexuality at all. We are Christians … period. Our issues aren’t issue of “ex-gayness” in corporate policy. It might include our religious liberties (i.e. sharing about aspects of our lives regarding faith and the Christian community at large, moral choices made within the context of work), but we are not defined by who we used to be attracted too or even our current temptations. I don’t think affirming our post-gay journey is even Disney’s responsibility to be honest.
2. We are defined by Christ alone. We don’t use the same measuring stick, language or politics that the rest of the world does and we don’t need to increase power through identity politics. At Exodus, we want to help people seeking to overcome homosexuality to live out our faith and becoming empowered by the love of God. This includes the worldview and relational paradigm clearly explained throughout the pages of Scripture.
3. I never lived in a closet and I doubt you’ll find anyone in Disney’s … except maybe the mop characters in the Disney classic Fantasia. Being in Orlando and working where I do, I know people who work at Disney. A couple of these friends and acquaintances are on a post-gay journey and they have never shared that they were harassed, abused, intimidated, threatened with being fired, passed over for promotion or picked on for their “ex-gayness” … now their Christianity on the other hand …
It’s easy for me to say the following because I work at Exodus now. But, I did work in the secular world and other Christian ministries before this. I think it is important for people of faith (any faith or no faith) to be able to talk freely about their worldview that helps them to accomplish their job and guides their decision making. Because we spend so many hours a week with our co-workers we of course will be more open to sharing about personal convictions and that is where I would rather see an effort at authentic interpersonal dialog and civility instead of a corporate mandate that everyone celebrate and affirm our “ex-gayness” Yes, allow us to participate in a lunchtime bible study but don’t empower further alienation by forcing people to “protect” my “ex-gayness.”
Again, I don’t understand PFOX’s recent actions and reasoning behind wanting to create an ex-gay protected class but I do appreciate their, and this shareholder’s desire to protect us from persecution. That said, I don’t want to adopt tactics from the gay activist playbook that affirm identity politics in public or corporate policy. Let religious liberty be the issue because our primary identity is Christian not “ex-gay.”
LISTEN to my interview with Family News in Focus on this issue.
Podcast: Play in new window
About Randy Thomas
I do not know the heart or motivation of the person involved in pursuing this with Disney. I also agree with you Randy from a biblical and philosophical perspective. Having said that, it is a tactic that can be used to take the power out of the gay pursuit and use of the same tactic. If all of the sudden every variation on the theme must now become protected, how ridiculous it becomes to do it at all. Just a thought
Excellent article; good points. I'm inclined to agree with you. Let our identity be in Christ, nothing else. “We are defined by Christ alone.” Thank you, Randy.
Good, I am glad to find others in agreement. I love Regina personally and I think they and this shareholder have good hearts but I just … well, I think my post adequately shares my concerns.
I would assume that the shareholder is doing this because they are trying to protect people on a post-gay journey. This is the way gay activism has worked in the workplace so it probably seemed like that was the only option. I don't know the shareholder so I could just be talking out my ear about it but that is my assumption as to the why.
But regardless, my concerns are based on the action/consequences and not the motivation.
Sure thing. Thank you Vicki. There are religious liberty concerns across the board but the same issue we could possibly face as people on a post-gay journey fall under that heading. We don't need protected class status … in my humble opinion of course.
Great post. Picking a fight doesn't show love, we must get rid of the ex-gay vocab and proclaim Christianity. We are identified in Christ alone. When will all this back and forth stop?
Randy, I agree on what I skimmed through. I get PFOX's regular mass email and I'm increasingly concerned that they are looking just like militant homosexual activists. The trend I've seen in the last 8 months or so leads me to believe they are indeed trying to pick a fight and I've considered dumping the subscription.
I'll echo all the pro-JESUS comments.
Thanks Trent. I'd be interested to hear what you ultimately decide. I do pray for PFOX to be led and blessed of the Lord.