I am fairly new to the realm of college and having my daily life coincide with openly gay persons. After graduating high school from Olathe East in 2005, I joined the Marine Corps. Although “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was recently repealed, the Marine Corps was, and still is, a rather conservative fraternity. The majority of us approved of President Bush, voted for McCain in the past election and believe in some form or another of Christianity.
It came to great shock to me when I was attending KU (yes, it is true, but I saw the light and now bleed purple), when I witnessed “make out on the hill day,” in which homosexuals gather on the hills of the Lawrence campus and make out. I was in shock and skipped class that day, rather than be forced to watch something that went against my beliefs and moral upbringing. I have come a long way since that day. I understand gays are in all walks of life and it is how our society will be from now on. However, the shock strategy is nothing but appalling to many. Just as they claim to have the right to be openly gay, do I not also have the right to not have to see these acts?
I find the recent “sponsorship” of the Pennsylvania Family Institute by Chick-fil-A and the backlash from the homosexual community rather interesting. The LGBT community stresses “love me for who I am” and “equal rights for all no matter what their belief or sexual orientation,” but when someone opposes their views, they brand them as haters and portray them as religious zealots that are brainwashed by the organization they belong to.
I participated in the debate on whether Campus Crusade for Christ should be funded for a trip to a conference. The resolution was not passed due to the fact the majority in the body felt that religious worship should not be sponsored by SGA funds. It was a good debate, but my issue was the comments made by certain senate members when they cheered as it was, to quote one, “the first time this body has denied a Christian group.” This group had every right to go the conference and gain knowledge to bring back to the campus; the problem was it was not in line with the largely liberal senate body. The denial of funds was looked upon as a battle won for the LGBT communities because the organization does not fall in line with their beliefs. If the LGBT community preaches love and equality, doesn’t Campus Crusade for Christ have just as much right to practice their beliefs, as they feel they have the right to have drag shows on campus? Doesn’t Chick-fil-A have the right to sponsor whichever organization they choose? It seems to me we are too worried with protecting the minority that the majority is having their rights stripped away.
Tyler Tannahill
Sophomore in political science