Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays

Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays, commonly known as PFOX, is a United States nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1998 and headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. It is associated with the ex-gay movement, a network of religious and socially conservative groups that promote the possibility of changing, suppressing, or managing same-sex attraction. PFOX presents itself as an organization for parents and families and argues that people should be able to identify as ex-gay or pursue lives that do not involve same-sex sexual relationships. The organization’s public positions reject the view that homosexuality is biologically predetermined and emphasize what it describes as unconditional love without affirmation of homosexual behavior. PFOX has also promoted the idea that homosexuality is a political identity rather than an immutable characteristic. Its stated positions have extended to transgender issues: the organization has opposed gender-affirming surgery, argued that sex is biologically determined at birth, and advocated counseling rather than medical transition. PFOX states that it does not itself provide therapeutic services. PFOX has participated in broader conservative advocacy networks. It has been identified as a signatory to Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality, or PATH, a coalition whose principles support people seeking change in same-sex attraction or choosing celibate lives. The organization has also received support from the Family Research Council. Former PFOX presidents mentioned in public reference material include Greg Quinlan and Richard Cohen. Quinlan has described himself as a former homosexual and previously founded the Pro-Family Network. Cohen publicly identified as ex-gay and served as PFOX president for a period of time. The group has intervened in public debates about education, nondiscrimination law, sexual orientation, and transgender rights. In Washington, D.C., it criticized 2007 health and physical education guidelines that included age-specific sex education and HIV/AIDS information, arguing that the standards were inconsistent with abstinence-oriented messaging. PFOX also opposed proposed protections for transgender people, raising concerns about restroom access. In 2008, it sued the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights after the office aligned with the National Education Association in declining to provide public accommodations to ex-gay people. The resulting ruling favored the NEA while recognizing that ex-gay people could fall within protections under sexual-orientation nondiscrimination law. PFOX attracted national attention in 2014 through a billboard placed near Interstate 95 in Richmond, Virginia. The advertisement claimed that identical-twin research showed that no one is born gay and displayed photographs presented as two apparently identical men. The images were subsequently identified as stock photographs of the same man, who said that he was openly gay and criticized the campaign. The episode became a prominent example of criticism directed at PFOX’s use of scientific claims and public advertising. The organization’s views have been disputed by major mental-health and medical bodies. Critics have argued that PFOX relies on selective interpretations of research concerning genetic influences on sexual orientation. The principal researcher associated with one study cited by the group disputed PFOX’s interpretation. The American Psychological Association’s 2009 resolution stated that evidence was insufficient to support psychological interventions intended to change sexual orientation and advised practitioners not to represent such change as reliably achievable. PFOX has also faced criticism over the composition and purpose of its membership, with reporting suggesting that its leadership has included few people who identify as ex-gay and that its meetings have primarily been directed toward families and friends. The organization remains an advocacy group rather than a conventional consumer-facing product brand.

PFOX was established in 1998 in the United States as a family-oriented organization connected with the ex-gay movement. Its stated purpose has been to support parents and relatives, promote acceptance of people who identify as ex-gay, and challenge the idea that sexual orientation is necessarily biologically fixed. Rather than presenting itself as a clinical provider, PFOX has operated primarily through advocacy, public education, policy positions, meetings, and media campaigns. The organization developed within a wider conservative religious and public-policy environment. It became associated with Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality, a coalition supporting people who seek to change same-sex attraction or live without same-sex sexual relationships. PFOX has also been supported by the Family Research Council. Its public representatives have included Greg Quinlan, who described himself as a former homosexual and founded the Pro-Family Network, and Richard Cohen, who described himself as ex-gay and served as a PFOX president. Public material does not establish complete dates for either presidency. PFOX’s advocacy has covered education and public policy. In 2007, it criticized Washington, D.C., health and physical education standards that included age-specific sex education and HIV/AIDS information. The organization argued that the guidelines were not age-appropriate and conflicted with abstinence-only approaches. It also opposed legislation concerning transgender nondiscrimination, expressing objections related to restroom access and its broader belief that sex is biologically determined at birth. In 2008, PFOX brought a lawsuit against the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights in a dispute concerning whether former homosexuals should receive protection under sexual-orientation nondiscrimination law. The litigation followed a conflict involving the National Education Association and public accommodations. The court ruled for the NEA but stated that ex-gay people were a protected class that should be recognized under applicable sexual-orientation protections. The case illustrated PFOX’s strategy of using civil-rights frameworks to seek recognition for people who identify with the ex-gay category. The organization has been criticized by professional mental-health bodies and LGBTQ organizations. Critics contend that PFOX presents disputed interpretations of research on the origins of sexual orientation and gives public credibility to the idea that sexual orientation can be changed through counseling or personal effort. The American Psychological Association’s 2009 policy statement concluded that evidence did not support psychological interventions for changing sexual orientation and advised clinicians not to promise such outcomes. A researcher connected to a study cited by PFOX also disputed the organization’s interpretation of that research. PFOX has faced additional criticism regarding its relationship with the people it claims to represent. Reporting cited in public reference material characterized the group as having few ex-gay members and suggested that most of its board members identified as heterosexual. A representative reportedly described its meetings as being intended mainly for families and friends rather than for ex-gay people themselves. The organization was also denied booth space by the National Mental Health Association in 2004, which said that PFOX’s principles diverged from the association’s mission, and it was denied participation at events held by the American Association of University Women. In December 2014, PFOX placed a billboard beside Interstate 95 in Richmond, Virginia. It showed two apparently identical men and claimed that twin research demonstrated that no one is born gay. The images were later identified as stock photos of a single man, who publicly stated that he had been openly gay and criticized PFOX. The campaign intensified scrutiny of the group’s scientific claims and became one of its most visible public controversies. PFOX’s present organizational scale, current leadership, financial position, and operational footprint are not established by the supplied reference material. It is best understood as a United States advocacy nonprofit rather than a conventional commercial brand. Its brand identity is centered on ex-gay advocacy, family messaging, opposition to affirmative approaches to sexual orientation and gender identity, and participation in conservative policy debates.

• 2014

  Richmond billboard campaign

  [1]Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gaysen.wikipedia.org

  PFOX launched a billboard campaign near Interstate 95 asserting that twin research showed nobody is born gay. The use of stock images of the same man prompted public criticism.

• 2009

  American Psychological Association rejects evidence for sexual-orientation change interventions

  [1]Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gaysen.wikipedia.org

  The APA concluded that evidence was insufficient to support psychological interventions intended to change sexual orientation and advised professionals not to promise such change.

• 2008

  Discrimination lawsuit against the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights

  [1]Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gaysen.wikipedia.org

  PFOX filed litigation seeking recognition of protections for people identifying as ex-gay under sexual-orientation nondiscrimination law.

• 2007

  Opposition to Washington, D.C., education guidelines

  [1]Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gaysen.wikipedia.org

  PFOX criticized newly approved Washington, D.C., health and physical education standards covering sex education and HIV/AIDS information.

• 2004

  Mental-health association declines PFOX booth request

  [1]Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gaysen.wikipedia.org

  The National Mental Health Association declined PFOX’s application for booth space at its annual convention, citing a divergence between PFOX’s principles and the association’s mission.

• 1998

  PFOX is founded

  [1]Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gaysen.wikipedia.org

  Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays is established in the United States as an organization associated with the ex-gay movement.

PFOX positions itself as a family-oriented nonprofit that supports people who identify as ex-gay or who seek alternatives to affirming same-sex relationships. Its public messaging is socially conservative and contrasts with the positions of mainstream professional mental-health organizations, LGBTQ advocacy groups, and many public-health authorities.

• Advocacy and educational materials

  Family and friend advocacy resources

  PFOX presents information and messaging for parents, relatives, and friends of people dealing with same-sex attraction or identifying as ex-gay. The material emphasizes unconditional familial concern while opposing the requirement that families affirm homosexual behavior. The supplied sources do not establish a distinct paid product catalog.

• Nonprofit advocacy

  Public-policy advocacy

  The organization advocates positions on sexual-orientation nondiscrimination, education policy, transgender rights, gender identity, and the public recognition of ex-gay people. Its activities have included policy statements, legal action, participation in coalitions, and public campaigns.

• 2014Identical Twins Billboard

  Richmond, Virginia · United States

  PFOX placed a billboard beside Interstate 95 featuring two apparently identical men and a message claiming that twin research showed nobody is born gay.

  Outcome. The campaign received national attention and was criticized after the photographs were identified as stock images of one openly gay man, who objected to the advertisement.

  Source

• 2014

  Launch of the Richmond twin-research billboardStrategy

  Background

  PFOX sought public visibility for its argument that homosexuality is not biologically predetermined.

  Action taken

  It purchased billboard space near Interstate 95 in Richmond and used a twin-research claim alongside photographs of two apparently identical men.

  Aftermath

  The campaign generated criticism when the images were shown to be stock photographs of the same man.

  Source

• 2008

  Legal challenge seeking ex-gay nondiscrimination protectionOther

  Background

  PFOX disputed the handling of a complaint involving the National Education Association and the treatment of people identifying as ex-gay under sexual-orientation nondiscrimination law.

  Action taken

  The organization sued the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights.

  Aftermath

  The court ruled in favor of the NEA while stating that ex-gay people could qualify as a protected class under sexual-orientation nondiscrimination laws.

  Source

• 2007

  Opposition to Washington, D.C., sex-education standardsStrategy

  Background

  Washington, D.C., approved health and physical education guidelines that included grade-specific sex education and HIV/AIDS information.

  Action taken

  PFOX publicly opposed the guidelines, arguing that they were not age-appropriate and would undermine abstinence-only messages.

  Aftermath

  The dispute placed PFOX in opposition to the District’s education policy; no financial outcome is established in the supplied sources.

  Source

• 2014

  PFOX receives national attention for Richmond billboard[1]Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gaysen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign · Other

  A PFOX billboard near Interstate 95 in Richmond asserted that identical-twin research showed that nobody is born gay. The campaign was criticized after the images were identified as stock photographs of one man, who said he was openly gay and objected to the advertisement.

• 2008

  PFOX files discrimination lawsuit involving ex-gay protections[1]Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gaysen.wikipedia.org

  Lawsuit · Regulation

  PFOX sued the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights after a dispute involving public accommodations and protections for people identifying as ex-gay. The court ruled in favor of the National Education Association while recognizing that ex-gay people could be covered by sexual-orientation nondiscrimination protections.

• 2007

  PFOX challenges Washington, D.C., sex-education guidelines[1]Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gaysen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Other

  PFOX opposed Washington, D.C., health and physical education guidelines that included grade-specific sex education and HIV/AIDS information, arguing that the standards were not age-appropriate and weakened abstinence-based messaging.

1. 1Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gaysen.wikipedia.org
2. 2PFOX official websitepfox.org