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.
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.”