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Dead Constitution See other Dead Constitution Articles Title: ‘Ex-gays’ a protected minority group, DC court rules People who were once homosexual but changed their sexual orientation are a protected minority under human rights laws, a District of Columbia judge ruled earlier this summer. The ruling, which was handed down in June but only brought to light when Washington City Paper reported on it Tuesday, sided against a support group for former homosexuals, Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays, in their lawsuit against the National Education Association. But, in siding against the group, the judge stated nonetheless that homosexuals who have changed their sexual orientation to straight are a protected minority under DC’s human rights laws. The move is certain to cause mixed feelings in the gay-rights community, which is generally happy to see human rights involving sexual orientation expanded, but many of whose members reject the notion of homosexuality as something that can be voluntary changed. “We’re sort of excited for these guys,” writes the Queerty blog. “We think the ex-gay movement is quite bizarre, and the idea of pushing it on young people revolts us. But if rational adults believe they can change their sexuality, or at least deny it, more power to ‘em. And let the law protect their rights the same way we demand it protect ours.” In 2002, Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays (PFOX) applied to set up a booth at the National Education Association’s 2002 Expo, but was rejected on the basis of a lack of space. In 2005, PFOX launched a complaint against the NEA with the DC Office of Human Rights. When the office rejected PFOX’s claims, the case landed in DC Superior Court. In his ruling favoring the NEA, DC Superior Court Judge Maurice Ross ruled that the education organization was within its rights to refuse a stand to PFOX because the group is “hostile toward gays and lesbians,” and the NEA can’t be forced to condone discrimination. But the judge also stated in his ruling (PDF) that ex-homosexuals have a right to protection against discrimination under DC’s human rights laws. The judge stated that human-rights protection is not limited to “immutable” characteristics such as race and gender, but also includes “categories such as religion, personal appearance, familial status, and source of income, which are subject to change.” Judge Ross ruled that sexual orientation can fall within this category. That has resulted in a very positive reaction from PFOX. “We are gratified that the ex-gay community in Washington DC now has the same civil rights that gays enjoy,” PFOX Executive Director Regina Griggs said in a press release. Added Greg Quinlan, a director at PFOX: “All sexual orientation laws and programs nationwide should now provide true diversity and equality by including former homosexuals. … I have experienced more personal assaults as a former homosexual than I ever did as a gay man.”
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#1. To: Ada (#0)
The propositions that modern jurists take seriously is simply stupefying. These highly paid monkeys now allow people to air grievances in their courts based on what they do or don't do with their whangers. Our simian justice system is a laughingstock. By the way, we don't have "human rights laws". We have a Bill of Rights to protect our rights - enumerated and unenumerated.
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