CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Approximately one eighth of the graduating seniors at Philadelphia's Saint Joseph's University walked out of commencement ceremonies on Sunday as U.S. senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), who recently infuriated gay rights groups and others with derogatory remarks about homosexuality, prepared to deliver the keynote address. About 100 graduates got up and walked out--amid competing boos and applause--when students were given an opportunity to leave "nondisruptively" before Santorum was introduced to receive an honorary degree and make his speech. Santorum didn't make any reference to the walkout or the controversy directly. "We are all called to love one another, even people we disagree with, even people who hate us for what we believe," he said. Some students had urged the Jesuit university to rescind Santorum's invitation after he likened gay behavior to bigamy, polygamy, incest, and adultery in an April 7 interview with the Associated Press. "Senator Santorum and I are at completely opposite ends of the spectrum," said Saint Joseph graduate Sara Foglesong, who was among those who walked out. "I am not incestuous. I am not a bigamist. I just happen to be bisexual. It offended me." The commencement also drew about two dozen protesters to a nearby street corner. "He represents homophobia, [which] I don't believe is a value based on Christian love," said demonstrator Malcolm Lazin, executive director of Equality Forum, a Philadelphia-based gay and lesbian group. "Homophobia encourages hate crimes, and Senator Santorum needs to be held responsible for that." Patrick Hamilton, a 1996 graduate of Saint Joseph's, said he was "disappointed" that the university had invited Santorum: "Saint Joseph's has always been known as a conservative university, but they've made a lot of strides in being more tolerant and accepting of gays and lesbians."
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
21+ steamy photos of Scotland’s finest gay men in Elska Glasgow
February 01 2024 10:07 PM
More Than 50 of Our Favorite LGBTQ+ Moms
May 12 2024 11:44 AM
Conjoined twins Lori Schappell and trans man George Schappell dead at 62
April 27 2024 6:13 PM
Latest Stories
Joe Biden sends queer lawmakers & LGBTQ+ allies to Paris Olympics
July 24 2024 12:08 PM
Kamala Harris rides wave of Democratic energy at kickoff event in Wisconsin
July 23 2024 3:36 PM
'Devastated:' A six-week abortion ban will go into effect in Iowa next week
July 23 2024 2:28 PM