Over ten years ago, the HRC published a 28 page booklet designed to counteract ministries devoted to helping people come out of homosexuality, claiming that, "Most people who have been through these ministries . . . refer to their experience as psychological terrorism." In the same publication, conservative Christian organizations were described as "religious political extremist groups." The HRC also enthusiastically backed the recent anti-ex-gay movie, "For the Bible Tells Me So," claiming on their website that the movie "examines how a select few biblical verses are used by right-wing extremists to deny gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people their basic rights."

Brown, however, questions how an organization which claims to stand for the rights of gays and lesbians can so strongly oppose the rights of those within that community who are not at peace with their same-sex attractions and who choose to pursue change.

"How," Brown asks, "can they be called the Human Rights Campaign? What about the human rights of ex-gays? And how can the HRC call for tolerance and understanding and yet be so intolerant and bigoted in their treatment of those with unwanted same-sex attractions? Why heap scorn on ex-gays and deny their very existence? Isn't this the height of hypocrisy for an organization ostensibly devoted to the basic rights of gay and lesbian people?"

Sponsors of this year's HRC Carolinas Dinner include Bank of America, Wachovia, Duke Energy, Food Lion, American Express, and Audi. Despite this high level of corporate sponsorship, Brown claims that the HRC hardly represents mainstream America, noting that Joe Solmonese, president of the HRC, has stated that all Americans who believe that marriage should be defined as the union of a man and woman are "right-wing extremists." The HRC also calls on businesses to have special bathroom accommodations for employees undergoing sex-change operations.

"Who are the real extremists?" Brown asks.