Date: Wed, 16 Oct 1996 02:01:35 -0400 From: Maggie Heineman Subject: About PFOX The October 15, 1996 "Family Issues Alert" (FIA) the weekly faxletter from Focus on the Family has a story headline "Pro-family efforts counter homosexual activities in D.C." The article reports on the Family Research Council press conference which was held last Thursday to announce PFOX (Parents and Friends of X-Gays). While Thursday's press release from FRC described PFOX as a National Organization, the fax sent by Anthony Falzarano on September 18, 1996 and the quote in FIA is more realistic. "PFOX will work to link up Christ-centered support for such families" says Falzarano in the October 15, FIA. "We are currently asking the many Christ-centered support groups that exist already all over the United States that support and pray for their homosexual family members and friends to formally associate with PFOX and take on our acronym. We are currently planning our 1st annual PFOX National Conference that will be held in Washington D.C. this winter," says Falzarano in the September 18 fax message. According to People for the American Way at http://www.pfaw.org/ed_lib.htm Karen Jo Gounad, the founder of Family Friendly Libraries helped to establish PFOX. Gounad is best known for her fight against the Washington Blade in the Fairfax, Virginia public libraries. Gounaud works closely with the American Family Association and appears frequently on Religious Right radio shows such as Beverly LaHaye Live, produced by Concerned Women for America, and James Dobson's Family News in Focus. The FIA says that "PfLAG was less than pleased with the unveiling of PFOX." The quote from Falzarano is "PFLAG is very upset that we started, but we're not intimidated. It is time that the Christian community has a support group. It is time that homosexuals learn that they don't have to be gay. There are options." Note: PFLAG has issued a press release about PFOX. I attended the Advocacy Special Outreach Network on Saturday, October 12 and heard Mitzi Henderson explain that an anti-PFLAG parents group was announced in the pacific northwest a year or so ago but that it never materialized-- it was basically a press-conference, not an organization. On September 18, Transformation X-gay ministries transmitted a 16 page fax. The first page is the message from Falzarano about PFOX. Other materials in the packet include: * Advice from Parents of Gay Children by Barbara Johnson of Spatula Ministries. * A Parents Prayer from Love in Action * Testimony by John Smid who left the homosexual lifestyle * A Nature/Nurture article that quotes Robert Knight extensively-- Knight is well known as the chief Family Research Council spokesperson concerning DOMA * An article by Joseph Nicolosi of Narth * An article by Frank Worthen on how to deal with same-sex attraction * book lists, cassette lists * A brochure on "help for the family" from Homosexuals Anonymous There is no mention of Karen Jo Gounoud in the set of faxed materials. It will be interesting to see whether Barbara Johnson and Kathleen Bremmer http://www.stonewallrevisited.com/pages/kathleen.html decide to hook up with PFOX. It seems to me that PFOX is a political thing (look at who held the press conference-- Family Research Council) whereas Barbara Johnson and Kathleen Bremmer are parents who believe in keeping families together. I hope Barbara Johnson and Kathleen Bremmer who are clearly interested in their children do not find themselves being used by people like Robert Knight who are clearly interested in imposing their religious beliefs through political victories. disclaimer -- opinions expressed are my own. Maggie Maggie Heineman, maggie@critpath.org, webmaster PFLAG-Talk/TGS-PFLAG http://www.critpath.org/pflag-talk/ The Rhea Murray Website http://www.critpath.org/rhea/