Hundreds of people gathered at the Gay Community Center of Richmond yesterday to show their support for the city's LGBT community after a billboard supporting “ex-gay” therapy was erected in the Virginia city by anti-gay activist group Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX), reports GAYRVA.com.
PFOX claimed that the billboard with the words “Nobody is born gay”, which was based on dodgy interpretations of two studies that purportedly deny the existence of a “gay gene”.
Attending Sunday's demonstration of support, Richmond resident and mother of two Terra Courtland said it was important for gay families to “show we're just like everybody else, just trying to raise our kids and live here.”
Another resident, Jason Coast, who identified himself as a straight ally, said “if some of us are being discriminated against, then we all are.”
Following the erection of the billboard, which is set run through the holiday season, Virginia Del Patrick Hope released information about a bill he plans to bring before the 2015 General Assembly to combat ex-gay therapy on minors. The damaging practice has already been banned in New Jersey, California and Washington, D.C.
“Out and proud” gay model Kyle Roux has spoken of his shock at being used for the billboard.
Watch a report on the PFOX billboard, AFTER THE JUMP…
