Focus on the Family conference meets gay rights protest

Various Alabama gay rights groups plan to protest a Focus on the Family conference for parents on Saturday, Nov. 7 in Birmingham.

According to USA Today, the conference, “Love Won Out,” will be held at the Metropolitan Church of God and will give parents of gay children a Christian view and some advice on homosexuality. Read full article here.

Equality Alabama, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays of Birmingham, Central Alabama Pride and Covenant Community Church are some of the groups involved in the protest.

In the article, Johnathan Quinn, president of Central Alabama Pride, said the protest will be in a public area by the entrance of church.

“They’re telling you to hate your child unless he lives the way you tell him to live,” Quinn said. “Their literature tells the parents to abandon their children unless they go this route: forcing them to be straight.”

One of the conference speakers, Melissa Fryrear, director of gender issues for Focus on the Family, said the event will help families better understand sexual orientation issues and show them that homosexual behavior can be altered. She said “Focus on the Family” did not tell parents to desert their children.

“We’re here to help parents who don’t condone their child’s behavior but still love them,” Fryrear said. “One of our messages is helping parents stay in a relationship with their gay-identified child.”

The Focus on the Family Web site stated homosexuality “violates God’s intentional design for gender and sexuality,” but they believe people can change their feelings for those of the same sex. According to the site, the religious organization encourages homosexual counseling or therapy for those who want to alter their lifestyle. Visit Web site here.

The Web site also made the statement: “We do not endorse or promote any one particular religious, psychiatric or psychological approach as the “one and only” way to go about changing same-sex attractions and behaviors.”

According to USA Today, Focus on the Family spokeswoman Monica Schleicher said the conference often meets protest. She said the church will have security to ensure protesters carry out their opposition in a
“peaceful and respectful” manner. Read full article here.

In other news unrelated to the conference or the protest, founder of Focus on the Family, Dr. James Dobson, is leaving the 30-year-old Christian organization and his well-known radio broadcast.

According to USA Today, Dobson, 73, has been gradually stepping down and out of the organization – he resigned as president in 2003 and as chairman of the board in February.

The article said the child psychologist and author was in agreement with the board of directors concerning his departure from Focus on the Family. Gary Schneeberger, spokesman for the group, said the move was  “amicable and long anticipated.”

While announcing his resignation as chairman, Dobson said, “One of the common errors of founder-presidents is to hold to the reins of leadership too long, thereby preventing the next generation from being prepared for executive authority … Though letting go is difficult after three decades of intensive labor, it is the wise thing to do.”

Jim Daly will take Dobson’s place as president. In the article, Daly praised Dobson’s decision, and he said Dobson “will continue to make his voice heard in the public square.”