Singling out ex-gays in a way not applied to gays

Letter to Washington Post Editor:

Friday, March 4, 2011; 7:37 PM

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/04/AR2011030405804.html

When Greg Quinlan, president of the board of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays, identifed himself in the Feb. 26 Metro article "Md. House plans to act fast on gay marriage," you put quotation marks around "ex-gay. " But there were no quotation marks in references to gay members of the House of Delegates.

Putting "ex-gay" in quotes suggested that such a sexual orientation is not valid, not recognized or both. But thousands of former homosexuals collectively identify themselves as such. The D.C. Superior Court ruled in 2009 that ex-gays are a protected sexual orientation class in the District.

Not all persons who experience same-sex attractions choose to live gay lives. Many of us have voluntarily left a homosexual life through therapeutic work or behavioral choice. I did, and I have been happily married to a woman for nearly five years; we have two children. I no longer experience same-sex attraction and have no desire to return to the homosexual life. Please respect this choice.

Christopher Doyle, Bristow
The writer is a board member of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays.