08/21/2012

Washington – Today the Washington Post published an op-ed column by HRC President Chad Griffin expressing condemnation for the shooting that occurred at the Family Research Council’s headquarters last week and detailing the virulent rhetoric that has earned them the designation of a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The piece can be viewed at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/calling-out-hate-when-we-see-it/2012/08/20/0f9725cc-eb02-11e1-a80b-9f898562d010_story.html.

Griffin writes: “Unfortunately, over the days that have followed, this incident has been unnecessarily politicized, confusing disagreements over LGBT equality with our unity against violence…. The logic that the Southern Poverty Law Center or LGBT organizations are to blame is preposterous, outrageous and irresponsible. No matter one’s political views, we can all agree that acts of violence are never justified and should always be condemned.”

Griffin goes on to detail a long history of demonization of gay people that has nothing to do with disagreements over public policy issues such as marriage equality or non-discrimination laws.  Among FRC’s many anti-LGBT statements devoid of facts are their linkages of gay people to pedophiles, their call for exporting gay people from the U.S., their position that there should be criminal penalties for homosexuality, and their thoroughly debunked claim that one can change their sexual orientation.

Griffin concludes: “We welcome the calls for reasoned discourse about LGBT equality. But that discussion must be predicated on truth, not demonization.”

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.