The Joke Is on Them: Gay Conversion Group’s Billboard Star IS GAY
SEXUALITIES, 22 Dec 2014
The poster claimed that of identical twins, one was gay and one straight. In fact the ‘twins’ were a single model and he is openly gay.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gga4LyHvz8I#t=11
A local Virginia news channel was contacted by the South African model featured on the poster to set the record straight.
When the gay-to-straight conversion group PFOX (Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays), put up a controversial billboard on one of the busiest highways in Richmond, Virginia, it thought it had found a clever way to highlight its belief that homosexuality is a choice, not a given.
On the left side of the billboard the group showed a clean-cut, dapper young man dressed in a suit. On the right side was a picture of the same man dressed in a white T-shirt. In between the images, the billboard said: “Identical twins: One gay. One not. Nobody is born gay.”
PFOX used studies looking at instances in which one twin is gay and one is straight to support its contention that there is no “gay gene” and that people can change from gay to straight. The argument was immediately challenged on scientific grounds.
Now a new objection has been raised. The twins shown in the billboard, it transpires, are not twins at all. They are in fact a single male model called Kyle Roux, who lives in South Africa.
And a further salient fact has emerged: Roux is openly gay. And proudly so.
He told the Virginia TV station WWBV: “It just seems like there’s no place in today’s world for an organisation that is promoting this as being some kind of deviant or distasteful lifestyle. I’ve lived my life openly gay and happy for my entire life.”
In a statement released in answer to ensuing criticism, PFOX said by it stood by its interpretation of twin genetics, and added: “PFOX believes respecting the lives of those who have made a decision to seek change is part of building a tolerant society.”
The controversial billboard is still up, and is scheduled to remain so until 4 January [2015].
Go to Original – theguardian.com
DISCLAIMER: The statements, views and opinions expressed in pieces republished here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of TMS. In accordance with title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. TMS has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is TMS endorsed or sponsored by the originator. “GO TO ORIGINAL” links are provided as a convenience to our readers and allow for verification of authenticity. However, as originating pages are often updated by their originating host sites, the versions posted may not match the versions our readers view when clicking the “GO TO ORIGINAL” links. This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.