We understand that a mistake was made in awarding a certificate of appreciation to Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays (PFOX) and we appreciate Mayor Fenty acknowledging that. This mistake has empowered an anti-gay organization to increase its fundraising and to legitimize itself in ways it would not have otherwise been able to. 

PFOX believes that homosexuality is a mental disorder that needs to be cured by ‘reparative therapy’. Not only is this harmful to young people struggling to understand their sexuality, but every major medical, psychological, and educational association in America says it is wrong, ineffective, and dangerous.

It is incredibly important for Mayor Fenty to make it clear that PFOX doesn’t have the support of the District of Columbia. To do that, he must invalidate the certificate of appreciation and publicly condemn PFOX for its policies that undermine the dignity of LGBT people and threaten the mental and physical health of the most vulnerable of our community. 

We find this course of action to be necessary and our signatures below indicate our formal request for the Mayor to act affirmatively to bring this situation to a prompt and meaningful end.