Let me see if I get this straight: When members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas hold one of their infamous demonstrations with the notorious “God Hates Fags” signs, then that’s hate speech. And when a group of conservative, Christian students sponsor a speaker whose topic is “Why God Loves Gays,” then THAT’S hate speech too? Talk about a darned if you do, darned if you don’t scenario.
Alan Chambers found that out the hard way. So did members of a Furman University student group called Conservative Students for a Better Tomorrow.
Furman University is a “national liberal arts university founded in 1826 in Greenville, S.C.,” according to the school’s website. In light of how recent events have played out, the “liberal” in that description should really be highlighted.
Furman has a Cultural Life Program that allows students to attend lectures, performances, debates and films that are either fictional or documentary. By attending those events students can get academic credit.
CSBT members wanted to bring in Chambers, who’s a Christian minister and president of an organization called Exodus International.
Chambers describes himself as a former homosexual; his organization, according to a CSBT press release, seeks to provide a ministry “to those struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction seeking to live a life that reflects the Christian faith.”
From that description, you’d probably guess that Chambers and his ministry are about as welcome on a liberal college or university campus as a bunch of New Black Panther Party members are at a Ku Klux Klan rally.
CSBT members wanted Chambers to deliver an address called “Why God Loves Gays” as part of the Cultural Life Program. They also wanted students who attended to get academic credit, as other students have done after attending other activities associated with the CLP.
The committee that oversees the CLP nixed the idea. Here’s what committee chairman David Gross, an associate professor in Furman’s music department, wrote to CSBT members:
“The intent of the Cultural Life Program is, in part, to ‘increase the audience’s understanding of the world, its people, their history and beliefs.’ It is legitimate that some events introduce controversial issues. However, as we invite discussion, we also insist on ‘fundamental respect for all humanity.’
“Events can be provocative in nature, but at the basis of such provocation has to be the respect for different beliefs and stances. An event whose outcome might be divisive to a much greater extent than its educational value would warrant is not conforming with this position.
“Mr. Chambers is introduced in your proposal as a ‘former homosexual.’ His organization and his writing focus on helping to find a ‘way out.’ Such language suggests that he treats homosexuality as an aberration.
“This is a provocative stance that may lead to bitterness and division on campus. Its intention seems to be diminishing the self-worth of, and even ostracizing certain members of our community.”
Translation: We’re wussing out because we don’t want to bring the wrath of gay activist and liberal groups down on our heads.
More discerning readers may have noticed the contradictions in Gross’ statement: that “respect for different beliefs and stances” clearly doesn’t apply to Chambers or conservative, Christian students on Furman’s campus.
It’s perfectly fine to diminish the self-worth of conservative Christian students, and even to ostracize them, but heaven forbid it should be done to gays and lesbians.
If we’re to believe the flapdoodle Gross writes, then we’re to believe that the film “The Birth of a Nation” will never be shown on Furman’s campus as a CLP program. Does anybody really buy that?
Examiner Columnist Gregory Kane is a Pulitzer-nominated news and opinion journalist who has covered people and politics from Baltimore to the Sudan.
