Other ex-gay organizations include Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays. He stated that there is "violent oppression of gays and Christians in the Middle East". He favored federal legislation extending marriage rights to gays. The newsletter articles contained slurs against Jews, gays and women. I'd like him to see that gays are real people. He has expressed sympathy for gays in the military and undocumented immigrants. In 2007, he called for ending the ban on gays in the military. I was not willing to lose an election on behalf of the gays. Remember that this was early for gays to be obvious. He was praised for helping to question prevailing myths about gays and sport. Random attacks on gays rose in the Castro. Top 50 Gays, coming in at spot 48.