Baylor: Jesus Loves Us All?

Recently it was brought to my attention by the Baylor College Dems President Alexandra Neville that blatant acts of discrimination occurred on the Baylor Campus Tuesday. Students who travel all over the United States spreading a message of hope and peace to religious students who identify as LGBT, or allies, visited Baylor last Tuesday. Instead of receiving tolerance, the organization known as Soulforce was met with hostility. In addition to the story of the students who witnessed and hosted the gay-rights advocacy group an article can be found in the Baylor newspaper.

The story of March 20, 2007 at Baylor
by: Justin Mueller and Alexandra Neville, Baylor Democrats officers

On Tuesday, six gay-rights advocates were arrested on the campus of Baylor University. Five of those individuals were members of Soulforce, a group of Christian homosexuals and heterosexual allies traveling on their Equality Ride tour to conservative religious universities across the United States.

Soulforce had initially requested an open dialogue on the Baylor campus about human sexuality, and the relationship between Christianity and homosexuality. This request was denied, and the Soulforce members were informed that they were not welcome to speak at our private university campus and could not hand out literature or buttons.

Addressing the student body, Dr. Dub Oliver, Vice President for Student Life, informed us that, as per the will of God, we were not to participate with advocacy groups “which promote understandings of sexuality that are contrary to biblical teaching.” Specifically mentioned was premarital sex of any orientation, and homosexuality. Many students who advocate gay rights had heard about Soulforce’s upcoming visit through resources such as Facebook, but their presence was made known campus-wide via the forewarning email.

So, Baylor informed Soulforce that they could not come to campus unless invited by students. The administration then proceeded to inform students that they are not allowed to associate with such people.

As Soulforce spent time on campus, conversing with students and handing out buttons and literature on what the Bible does and does not say about homosexuality, they were being unknowingly followed and videotaped by plainclothes policemen.

The group met with students on and around campus during the day to talk about students’ experiences on being LGBT at Baylor and the bigotry they may have faced as a consequence. At a rally off campus, students expressed their desire to unite and reminisced about Baylor Freedom, a group of students that used to chalk gay-pride messages on campus. Soulforce decided that in honor of Baylor Freedom, they would march to the front of our chapel and chalk Bible verses and other messages.

When they began to chalk Baylor sidewalks with messages like “God loves you,” “Our God is a God of peace, love, and understanding,” and other statements of love and hope, the students were confronted by the plainclothes police officers. After refusing to stop chalking, which is the most common medium of event and group communication at Baylor, the five Soulforce members, as well as one Baylor student, were arrested for criminal trespassing. They were carried off singing “We Shall Overcome.”

According to Baylor Police Chief Jim Doak, they asked for this by their actions. Apparently arrest, a night in county jail, and $2,000 in bail per Soulforce member (only $1,000 for the one Baylor student who somehow managed to defy definition and trespass at the university he attends) is now the punishment for nonviolent well-wishing and declarations of equality.

Soulforce offered to pay the bail of our Baylor student, who returned to campus after being released. The climate here has been both positive and negative, with many students praising the group’s efforts and coming forward with interest to form a campus-wide gay-straight alliance. On the other hand, many have praised the actions of the police and applaud Baylor for upholding their Christian conservative standards.

“I am glad they were arrested. I am so proud to be a Baylor Bear right now,” I overheard one student say while talking about what had happened. I was disgusted to know that there are people who are proud of the campus’s actions.

We are working hard to spur progress on LBGT rights on campus and looking to get changes made to Baylor policies. We’ll start asking the question, what is Baylor University doing to support its LGBT students? And hopefully we will get an answer soon. With so much fear being instilled and the constant threat of being silenced, it is easy to feel intimidated. Hopefully someday the Baylor administration will find in their hearts the capacity to love and welcome everyone.