FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Contact: Wayne Besen, TWO Executive Director
Phone: 917-691-5118
E-Mail: wbesen@truthwinsout.org
Web: www.TruthWinsOut.org
We are Relieved That The Mayor Did Not Honor A Hate Group, Says TWO
NEW YORK — Truth Wins Out (TWO) thanked Washington, DC mayor Adrian Fenty today for quickly clarifying that a certificate of appreciation given to Regina Griggs, an activist with Parents & Friends of Ex-Gays, (PFOX) was a clerical error. PFOX had breathlessly touted the certificate in a press release and proudly displayed a copy of it on its website. Today, the mayor’ office issued the following statement
A staff level error was made when the request for the certificate in question was fulfilled. We apologize for the error as it runs contrary to the Mayor’ vision of a more open and inclusive city.
The Mayor is proud of his ardent support of the LGBT community as illustrated in his championing of the Marriage Equality legislation which he signed into law on December 18, 2009.
“We appreciate Mayor Fenty’ rapid response and for clarifying this troubling issue,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “The mayor took an affirmative step to stop PFOX from touting the certificate as a stamp of approval from the DC government. We are pleased that no such recognition was given and that the mayor did not endorse a hate group that deliberately spreads misinformation against LGBT people. Additionally, we thank GLAA’ Richard Rosendall for bringing the issue to our attention and for their efforts to resolve this matter.”
According to a gushing PFOX press release:
The government of the District of Columbia has awarded a certificate of appreciation to Regina Griggs, executive director of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX). The certificate, signed by D.C. mayor Adrian Fenty, recognizes Griggs for her “dedication, commitment, and outstanding contributions as Executive Director of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays.”
Truth Wins Out also took PFOX to task for its overwrought excitement over a certificate it was mistakenly given.
“This pathetic publicity stunt shows how desperate PFOX is for attention and how delusional they truly are,” said TWO’ Besen. “Now they look doubly ridiculous, because the they were never meant to have this certificate.”
UPDATE: Mayoral candidate and Council Chair Vince Gray today issued the following statement about Mayor Fenty’ Certificate of Appreciation honoring the work of Parents and Friends of ExGays and Gays:
“For the Mayor to issue a certificate of appreciation honoring an organization that has done so much to alienate so many is not only an insult to the LGBT community, it is yet another example of the insensitivity of his administration. It is an embarrassment to our city that he would make such an offensive mistake. It was the Mayor’ signature on the certificate, not a staff-member’, and I hope the Mayor will personally take responsibility.”
I see that they are still showing the certificate on their website and the press release. I find the following statement from that release particularly interesting.
PFOX has been instrumental in ensuring civil rights to all District of Columbia residents.
I guess the Nazis were instrumental in helping the Jews, the Gypsies and the Gays, and certain others a job and a new place to live.
It is factually incorect to say that no such recognition was given.
“We are pleased that no such recognition was given and that the mayor did not endorse a hate group that deliberately spreads misinformation against LGBT people.”
While the Mayor’s staff did apologize for issuing the certificate, Mayor Fenty did in fact issue the Certificate of Appreciation. His office has not attempted to rescind it. And the Mayor has not condemned the ex-gay movement or their ideas.
Clearly, the intention of the giver – made clear by the mayor’s office – matters as much as what was erroneously received by PFOX.
Thus it is accurate. We stand by the statement.
And today PFOX are STILL proudly displaying the certificate on their web-site. Last night I tried to post a comment, saying that they should also mention that the certificate was given by mistake and that Mayor Fenty had already apologised for the error that led to it being issued. I received the message that my comment would appear “after approval”. Clearly it wasn’t “approved”, since it doesn’t appear.
“A staff level error was made when the request for the certificate in question was fulfilled.”
It sounds as if PFOX made the request for the certificate in the first place. Does anyone have any information on that?
Yes, PFOX – or someone affiliated with them in DC – made the request. It was not a genuine honor. It is kind of like the kid who is the worst athlete on the block buy a large trophy and then declaring him/herself the champion.
Pathetic, really.
[...] Griggs of PFOX was, completely by mistake, given a certificate of appreciation by DC Mayor Adrian Fenty. You could tell it was a mistake by [...]
OK, it has been over a year, and they are still prominently displaying this on their website. Why doesn’t the Mayor’s office send a cease and desist letter?
Well, the mayor lost the election….but it really needs to come down. PFOX is a disgraceful band of reprobates with no morals.
Thanks for reminding us. Perhaps we will post on it.
[...] Unfortunately, PFOX is fact averse when it comes to accepting that the District of Columbia has rescinded a certificate supposedly honoring the “ex-gay” [...]
[...] To see the dishonesty of PFOX, one has to look no further than the Homepage of its website. On the bottom right-hand side is video from Dr. Robert Spitzer asserting that some gay people can go from gay to straight, even though Spitzer has now disavowed his study. Right below that is a “Certificate of Appreciation” from the District of Columbia, even though the former mayor, Adrian Fenty said in 2010 that the “honor” was a clerical error. [...]