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Gay-lesbian group plans to visit
BYU-Idaho in April
By Missy Brunisholz
March 8, 2007 | Soulforce,
a gay and lesbian youth-led activist group, is planning
to visit the Brigham
Young University-Idaho campus April 15-17 as part
of its Equality Ride.
"We come in pursuit of greater understanding," said
Haven Herrin, co-director of Soulforce. "Our goal is
to foster a conversation about LGBT (lesbians, gays,
bisexuals, and transgender) people of faith. While such
conversations are often marked by politics and divisiveness,
we bring open minds and hearts to academic settings,
where we hope for a genuine exchange of ideas."
BYU-Idaho sent out an e-mail to all of its students
and employees telling them not to engage in debate on
the issue of homosexuality with Soulforce.
The e-mail states, "The group claims it would like
to create dialogue with BYU-Idaho on the issue. However,
past statements and previous experience with Soulforce
including their visit to BYU (Provo, Utah) last year
indicated the group is more interested in staging a
media event."
BYU-Idaho, a private institution, is not granting
an invitation to Soulforce to visit campus. However,
the university is encouraging students and employees
to be courteous and respectful toward any Soulforce
members they may encounter.
In 2006 Soulforce traveled to 19 schools and held
vigils, Bible studies, class discussions and community
forums. This year the group will stop at 32 Christian
colleges including the University of Note Dame, Pepperdine
University and Baylor University.
"We are called to the places that cry out for justice
and compassion," said Herrin. "Where is it the darkest?
We will go there."
More than 200 U.S. colleges and universities have
policies against LGBT students. BYU-Idaho represents
a Christian campus for The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints (LDS).
"We come from a variety of experiences, a variety
of racial and ethnic backgrounds. There are five straight
allies on this year's ride," said Harrin. "There are
four riders who identify as transgender. There are Buddhists,
Jews, Catholics, and evangelical Christians. We're all
here to have a conversation with America's next conservative
religious generation about our personal lives and our
personal relationships to the scriptures that the schools
use to condemn us."
Gordon B. Hinckley, president of the LDS church, has
explained the LDS stand on homosexuality this way:
"In the first place, we believe that a marriage between
a man and a woman is ordained of God," Hinckley said.
"People inquire about our position on those who consider
themselves so-called gays and lesbians. My response
is that we love them as sons and daughters of God. They
may have certain inclinations which are powerful and
which may be difficult to control. Most people have
inclinations of one kind or another at various times.
If they do not act upon these inclinations, then they
can go forward as do all other members of the Church.
If they violate the law of chastity and the moral standards
of the Church, then they are subject to the discipline
of the Church, just as others are."
In 2006 "equality riders" from Soulforce
entered the grounds at BYU-Provo, and 24 were arrested
on suspicion of trespassing. Nine BYU students joined
in on this demonstration, which was supposed to represent
the LGBT young people who have ended their lives because
of the LDS teachings on homosexuality.
"My church has always taught me the principle of standing
for something true" said Matt Kulisch, a BYU-Provo junior
last year. "My integrity demanded that this message
of God's love for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
people be told in its entirety."
Dallin H. Oaks, a leader in the LDS church, said,
"Church leaders are sometimes asked whether there is
any place in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints for persons with homosexual or lesbian susceptibilities
or feelings. Of course there is. The degree of difficulty
and the pattern necessary to forgo behavior and to control
thoughts will be different with different individuals,
but the message of hope and the hand of fellowship offered
by the Church is the same for all who strive."
This year Soulforce will return to the BYU campus
with Kulisch and two former BYU students where they
said they will try to outreach to the community during
their 6 hour march around the walls of the Provo campus.
The eight-week Equality Ride began Thursday.
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