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More than 20 gay rights activists were arrested on trespassing charges Friday as they tried to step onto the campus of Liberty University, the school founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell. Many of the activists were part of Soulforce, a group on its first stop of a nationwide "Equality Ride" tour to promote gay rights at the nation's conservative Christian universities and military academies.Invoking the memory of the civil rights movement, Soulforce member Jacob Reitan said:
"We want to come to the school today to say, 'learn from history.'""We have a right to be here, because this school teaches that being gay is being sick and sinful," said Reitan, co-director of Equality Ride. "We have a right to question and to show how we are children of God."
13 Comments:
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I've thought about this article all day. It is shameful that a so-called xtian had these kids arrested.
So much for xtian values ... as if I expected such from the pig Falwell.
We should all send money to pay for their court fees -- 'cause I'm sure Robertson and the rest of this bunch will follow suit.
Oh sure, Kurt...you heal a situation by subjecting those you want to heal to the strong arm of the law.
Gay people aren't broken and cruelty never fixed anything or anyone. EVER.
I don't think I can remember any other group, vindicated by history, empirical and scientific evidence, still treated so horribly.
The Equality Riders are brave to endure what a rap sheet could do to the prospects of their futures. Kurt, we live in violent times. Many young men like Jacob Reitan have been murdered for being what they are, with no regard to what kind of love and support they offered to their families and communities.
The mission statement of the Constitution and Bill of Rights is on the line here. Religious control cannot trump either. We have religious freedom in this country, limited only by what other person's rights will be compromised in that process.
In this country, we have a right to an education, assembly, marriage, family and children, religious inclusion and choice of faith. We have the right to expression, of who we are and what we are and where we can go...within the boundaries of equal and mutual expectations.
And the C and B of R, isn't stamped with "except gay people", but it's looking that way more and more to be in the case of real lives and situations.
Those "heterosexuals only" stickers are eerily looking more and more apt every day. I don't want to relive segregationist societal influence. We haven't recovered from what it's generationally done to blacks. And Kurt, if you know me...I have the authority to speak in that context.
And far more than you to even speak in that context about what gay folks mean to our lives in the greater scheme you can't get your mind around.
Your hit and run comments only display the type of arrogance typical of racists, misogynists and segregationists. You think yourself too important, intelligent and masterful to really BE or say anything important, intelligent or masterful.
posted by Regan, at
3/11/2006 2:01 PM
Kurt, what fundamentalists believe about gay people is just wrong, my friend. We don't have "broken hearts" as the Liberty University student said. Fundies simply cannot stop stigmatizing gay people. We aren't "broken" any more than heterosexuals are, and such a "one-dimensional" view of gay people is ridiculous, especially coming from a supposed college student.
These are "trailer park" prejudices. Should we all jump up and down and celebrate the fact that a fundie has finally come to the conclusion that "God doesn't hate homosexuals"? No, but they believe that He's going to torture us for all eternity just the same. Kurt, I marvel at the fact that you simply can't acknowledge the absurdity of such backward thinking.
You know, there was another powerful figure who stood in the doorway of a school many years ago. He also didn't want people who were different to be admitted either. He was George Wallace, and his name has gone down in history as that of a bigot. He is an embarrassing part of America's racist history. Jerry Falwell's legacy will be the same.
posted by Chris L>, at
3/11/2006 4:07 PM
Gays only have broken hearts because of these sanctimonious hate mongers; and the only thing religion ever 'cured' was sanity!
posted by Anonymous, at
3/11/2006 4:28 PM
Chris L, that was an outstanding and wholly accurate description of Jerry Falwell's behavior compared to George Wallace.
Are gay young people kept from school, or harassed at school because they lack intelligence, talent, creativity, compassion for other students or good looks? No.... Being gay is enough, just like color was enough...
that's why I say that straight people that don't think themselves actually bigoted or hostile towards gay people...but yet support exclusionary or discriminatory laws-display the conceit of segregationists.
Those that name-call and yell FAG and other profanities at the demonstrators were shameful, so DON'T call Jerry Fallwell a PIG then condemn someone else for yelling FAG. (as one of you did earlier). that's hypocritical.
I WAS THERE, that late friday morning to afternoon at the protest and it's sad to see how much you have misrepresented the Christian side/Liberty U and how things went down. I talked to Alexey and Haven, both soulforce Equality Riders, and some others and being a student, I know the schools position. It's obvious from some of your comments on Fallwell that you did't read his official press release as to why he did't let them protest this time but you have definatly read soulforces take... Guy's Liberty is a Private Christian University, our stances are made clearly known, Attendace is not mandatory, there are 50 zillion other colleges to choose from. There was NO hate that day on our parts (students and proffesors where out there with them talking and debating is a very civil manner one on one), Jerry Specifically condemns HATE mongering, if fact when soulforce demonstrates outside Thomas Road (I was visiting that day though I dont' attend Jerry's Church regularly), they are brought coffee and doughnuts in the morning by the members of the Church. Liberty is private property, and if I showed up to your home to protest your views that I dont' agree with and condemned you for not allowing me to walk into your house, you'd find that unfair, wouldn't you and call the cops. There was no problem with the group standing outside, but they were told not to protest inside the main campus. The arrests were civil and the police took them away quietly and descretely as possible. You are basically telling us that we aren't allowd to believe what we strongly feel the Bible says is what it seems to boil down too. Dont' we have rights to believe that? Isn't that Protected by the constitution too, and soulforce can protest all day long, but don't complain when you are arrested for willfull trespassing onto Private property you've been told not to enter. True Bible believers, NOT THOSE GOD HATES FAGS NUTS out there that have no idea what Jesus realy taught, and don't search themselves for their own sin and are no better than white supremisist haters, we don't hate or condemn Homosexuals for being less than human or want to oppress them etc, I would have to hate myself cause I have my sins I struggle with too, the bible says we are all sinners, I am in the same boat, but we have hope because of Christ. If I believe something is destructive I will try to warn others and stay away from it myself, in the end however, I believe what you do is between you and God. But of course I will try to promote and tell others about what I believe. Also, just because some ignorant students drove by and honked or yelled, don't pin that on liberty, as we all know people will be people, whether that be good or bad at times.
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