Fenty honors head of PFOX? Tell me it ain't so!

Edge Boston reports:

Adrian Fenty, the mayor of Washington, D.C., was a strong proponent of legislation that recently led to the District extending marriage parity to gay and lesbian families. Fenty has now shown that he is capable of--in Washington, D.C. parlance--reaching across the aisle: the mayor signed a certificate of appreciation that the District bestowed upon PFOX leader Regina Griggs, a press release from the group reported on April 28.

PFOX, or Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays, is an organization dedicated to individuals who say that they used to be gay or lesbian, but are now heterosexual. Text at the group’s web site says that "PFOX parents recognize our children for the wonderful young men and women they are. PFOX families do not label children based on who they are attracted to-feelings can and do change," the text continues, adding, "PFOX families allow for differences of opinion; we do not place requirements on our children nor do they place them on us."

The Fenty-signed certificate was given to Griggs in a ceremony that celebrated her decade of "dedication, commitment, and outstanding contributions as Executive Director of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays," the release said.

The full press release can be found here. I sure hope that this turns out to be a fraud. If it is true, our mayor has some explaining to do. Despite her claim to love homosexuals, Ms. Griggs is a fanatic — a relentless purveyor of junk science that continues to slander gay people. Oh, Adrian, I hope you didn't really do this.

Update: I have just confirmed with a confidential source that this actually did happen. I am awaiting a statement from the Mayor's office. This is not good — unless perhaps your name is Vincent Gray.

Update 2: Adrian Fenty's 2006 response to GLAA's mayoral candidate questionnaire can be found here. Here is our relevant question and candidate Fenty's answer:

12. Will you refuse to issue proclamations and otherwise decline to honor individuals or organizations that promote any sort of bigotry?

Yes. I will not issue proclamations or honor individuals or organizations that promote bigotry or discrimination. We must move forward as one society and we can’t do that unless we finally stand up and say in every way and at every opportunity that discrimination and bigotry is unacceptable in all its forms.

Of course, Fenty also promised to include members of the GLBT community in the search process for a new police chief, and members of GLAA in the search process for a new director of the Office of Human Rights. In fact, Fenty had no search process for either post; he simply appointed people without consulting anybody.

Comments

[Evan]

While my gut is to call him a two-faced [EXPLETIVE], I'm more likely to chalk it up to a stupid ignorant move. I'm willing to partially buy the argument that he/his office didn't realize the full extent of what he was doing. For example, I can imagine his defense as something like... "But the group's name says that they are friends of ex-gays and gays... Isn't that being gay friendly??"

Yeah, not so much Mr. Mayor. You/your office SHOULD know the difference between PFOX and legitimately gay-supportive groups like PFLAG. Do your homework before you go handing out Certificates of Appreciation. As a citizen of the District of Columbia, I sure as hell don't appreciate Ms. Griggs or her work.