An event central to this month's
'Ex-Gay' Pride Month has been canceled.
Organizers said on Monday that their
July 31 Lobbying Day on Capitol Hill and Evening Dinner/Reception was
being postponed due to “security threats.”
“Due to some anti-ex-gay extremism
that has occurred since we first announced Ex-Gay Pride 2013, the
July 31 Lobbying Day on Capitol Hill and Evening Dinner/Reception at
the Family Research Council has had to be moved and postponed to an
undisclosed location in September,” Voice of the Voiceless said in
a
blog post. “The harassment has caused several security threats
which has forced us to change plans, and that is unfortunate.
However, we are committed to holding an alternate event in late July
as well as supporting some other initiatives that our allies and
fellow ex-gays are planning for July.”
Christian conservative Family Research
Council (FRC) launched 'ex-gay' groups Voice of the Voiceless and
Equality and Justice For All earlier this month after the closure of
Exodus International.
(Related: Exodus'
Alan Chambers sorry for pushing “ex-gay” therapy; won't back gay
marriage.)
Minnesota Congresswoman Michele
Bachmann, a Republican, had been invited to deliver the keynote
address at the now-canceled reception. Also invited to speak were
Heritage Foundation's Jim DeMint, Liberty Counsel's Mathew Staver,
Bishop Harry Jackson and Kansas Rep. Tim Huelskamp.
(Related: Rep.
Tim Huelskamp claims Supreme Court gay marriage ruling legalized
polygamy.)
Voice of the Voiceless also declared
“September as the first annual Ex-Gay Awareness Month.”
“Ex-Gay Awareness Month in September
will be a time to reflect on the discrimination and marginalization
that former homosexuals and ex-gays experience in the public at
large,” the group wrote.