Milk Screenwriter Barred From Campus Talk

I naturally responded with: and can you not see that Hope's pedantic blind eye in the name of your "context of the historic Christian faith" can only inform a community that leads to intolerance, hate and indeed even murder. This is not the Christian faith of Jesus; this is the historically repressed reformed faith of the organized fearful. When Hope brings in a prominent figure in say economics or sciences, do you not savor the constructive and ongoing dialogue without needing to have "both sides of an issue" in the same forum? This is nothing but a shameful act of institutional bigotry all packaged up in the name of your commitment to a church's history of intolerance.

When I commented on the Hope Alumni page on Facebook that this was upsetting, I got this canned, lame, condescending response: Hope, as a Christian academic institution, has not shied away from the issue of homosexuality, and has on many occasions enabled dialogue within the campus community. In the specific situation with Mr. Black, it was felt that his prominence as an advocate for gay rights would not contribute constructively to the ongoing exploration and dialogue on campus. Experience has shown that such dialogue best occurs in an educational atmosphere and when both sides of an issue are presented in the same forum. In consultation with students, faculty, and administration it was deemed appropriate for Mr. Black to speak in classes related to his professional expertise as a screenwriter and actor. Hope remains committed to serving our alumni and to providing an exceptional education experience in the context of the historic Christian faith.

Kudos to you, Arin from Holland for proposing the sexuality round table discussion. Don't be discouraged by narrow minds offering flimsy excuses. I, with a couple of other brave students, started the first gay and lesbian student group to ever be officially recognized by a Jesuit university in the United States. Fordham Law School's Dean of Students and its Board of Trustees took a full academic year to consider our request, but we persisted and eventually prevailed. We had to remove "student" from our name because the law school would condone the study of lgbt legal issues but not condone the lifestyle of the student him/herself. We agreed to the compromise, changing our name from Student Union as all the other minority groups were called, to Law Association. We still had a catchy acronym, GALLA, got official recognition in the form of a budget, bulletin board, permission to meet on campus, and publication of our group in all official law school publications. Persistence pays.

I'm the student who originally proposed this event with the English department and administration. I was on leadership for our college's unofficial Gay/Straight Forum (pseudo-formally known as Sexuality Roundtable: a Forum for Gay and Straight Students) when we decided to push for this event. I was in the meeting with Dean Frost when he gave official denial to our group's proposal to have the event with Lance. It's an immense pity. I recognize the college's ability to deny speakers; however, as an informed and seminary-bound gay man, I know for a fact that it is not only unChristian, but also contrary to the college's Reason for Being and the RCA's justice policy to censor conversation. It was never an event about advocacy. It was academic and important. The event is still happening, but off-campus. I want peace for our college and town, requiring some recognition from administration and community people that I exist and that I'm loved by God. I'm excited for the screening.

Having Grown up in West Michigan, and recently moving to California. I doubt They will ever get it. I stayed for 42 years hoping to help change there views. They want to grow so bad, but until they open their minds The will never gain the success that smaller city's such as Portland, Tampa, Ft Lauderdale , and Columbus have had just to name a few. These city's have opened there minds Which in turn has attracted progressive minds, attracting progressive business. In turn bringing large dollar amounts to the areas. Being from West Michigan and working very closely and knowing a number of very influential people. I can tell you that If they truly understood this there views would change over night. Only because when if affects there pocket books their views change very quickly. In short Money is the center of The west Michigan "Dutch Religious Right." I truly believe that it was more supporters (Dutch Mob) of the college that made the decision then it was Hope college itself.

Having gone to Hope College myself, I can say they could really use this discussion on campus, it hasn't changed in all the years since I went there - very sad.

Homophobia, not DLB, is what is "divisive and not educational."

Excuuuuse me, but isn't education all about confronting ideas that challenge our preconceptions and learning to deal with uncomfortable experiences? Isn't an honest debate the heart of intellectual inquiry? If I were a student at Hope College, I would sue for malpractice!

Don't they realize that he won the Oscar for Best Screenplay!!! Do they plan to reject Pulitzer Prize winners and Nobel Laureates as well? Has anyone on their faculty ever won an award in the same league?

Of course, as a private college, they have the right to make their own rules. So what? Just because they have the right to do it, doesn't make it the right thing to do. We're not discussing whether they have the right to censor that discussion, but rather, whether or not they ought to.