Over the past year, PFOX worked within Disney circles to force a vote by shareholders to include “ex-gays” as a part of the Disney corporate non-discrimination policy. Disney rejected the measure in terms that would make “landslide” seem a vast understatement (by 98%.)
As stated before here and here, I don’t think trying to adding another layer of identity politics to the culture war is a good idea.
The language PFOX uses is confusing. It appears they are doing a “find and replace” word processing function on their organizational messaging. They are copying gay activist talking points and replacing every instance of “gay” with “ex-gay.” Greg Quinlan, PFOX’s Director, states that ex-gays are forced into the Disney “closet.” Over the past few years PFOX keeps talking about the “ex-gay community” needing to be added to the laundry list of sexual/gender identities in need of protected class status in various venues.
We don’t move beyond gay ideology and identity to become an ex-gay member of an ex-gay community in need of the government (in America … as of right now) or a private corporation (like Disney) to protect us as such. We are Christians … nothing more or less. Please don’t fight for special rights based on yet another false victim class.
Some are called to fight to preserve religious liberty in public policy. If PFOX is … great. Religious liberty (for all and as Christians) is a core ingredient for faith based post-gay self-determination and freedom. We are Christians, not terminally unique “ex-gays.” Let’s work toward the edification of the Body of Christ, not public or private policy to make us feel affirmed as yet another GLBTQExYZ protected class.
MORE:
Disney Ordered to Include Ex-Gays in Shareholder Resolution
PFOX Vs. Disney + Interview with Family News In Focus
About Randy Thomas
I agree with you Randy. Disney made the right decision in this case. While I am comfortable using the ex-gay label for definition in the proper circles when it is of genuine value, I don’t label myself that way as a rule. I am free. I’m a Christian who has experienced God’s grace and moved forward as a result of His forgiveness to be what I should be. The world is full of people who are “ex-somethings,” who were freed of something. But we don’t grant special rights to them just for overcoming. We just thank God.
I’m assuming that Disney already has both religion (which would include Christianity) and sexual orientation (homosexual, bisexual, and heterosexual) as protected classes in their non-discrimination policy. That just makes the PFOX effort to get “ex-gays” added to the list all the more confusing. If a person has experienced orientation change, then they are protected since they are heterosexual. If a person has not experienced orientation change but is still living a chaste life because of their religious beliefs, then they are protected due to their faith. Of course there are going to be personal conflicts between people over the many facets of their identities. People argue about politics, religion, sexual orientation, and whether or not techno is good music. That’s life, and sometimes it sucks, but the government doesn’t need to get in the way. As long as no one is losing their job over their religious views or their personal romantic relationships, I’m cool with it.
I agree with this post. It’s true that it’s just silly to keep adding labels to politically protected classes. The only thing I disagree with is the idea that we are all just Christians and nothing more or less. It’s true, Christ is the most important part of our lives, but there are a million other things that make you Randy and me Jay, and those are important parts to our identity. It’s okay to give them names and labels (Democrat, Republican, brother, son, uncle, teacher, student, Catholic, Protestant, etc.) and talk about them like adults, as long as we don’t let any one of them become 100% of who we are.