George Fox University

Entering any campus that is welcoming is always a personal paradox in my heart: relief that these administrators recognize that this is an appropriate conversation, but angst in preparing for the rebuttals, passive condemnations, and the dint of going where no group has gone before by challenging thousands of years of tradition in institutions that breed conservative leaders. This is often a taller mountain to scale then the institutions that choose to arrest us rather than have this dialogue.

As we pulled up to George Fox University, we were greeted by a cluster of faculty, administrators, student hosts and one sign that read FREE HUGS. Misgivings immediately rushed through me as I anticipated an affected group of people just looking to get through this day and “appease the rabble rousers.” No one wants to arrest young gay people, right? Despite my immediate apprehension coupled by my lack of sleep, I was able to lighten up and settle into my mission before introductions began.

We were immediately paired or tripled with our host(s) and began a day of shared meals and deep discussions. For the first time since the ride began, the Equality Riders were formally dispersed throughout the campus. We called on our knowledge, intuition, and stories to address concerns and answer questions. Some Riders served as panelists in formal discussions, some were invited guest speakers in classes, some met with administrators and boldly addressed issues of LGBT inclusion, and some just mingled with the George Fox student body by attending pottery classes and telling their stories of faith and sexual orientation.

Often times, Riders were alone in knots of students who seemed to be drilling for answers. My first two one-on-one conversations happened in succession as one gentleman shared his ex-gay testimony and challenged my stance, followed by another gentleman who shared his story of being abused as a child, and challenged me with logic and scripture. After taking in their accounts, I began to sit with them and listen. I listened with peace and an open mind and did not attempt to defend myself. Throughout the conversations, they kept asking me (indirectly, of course) to reevaluate my position on being gay and Christian, and as the conversations ended, I walked away having heard one request: please help me find peace on this issue. I was called to George Fox University for these two men, to show them that God affirms a gay man and uses a gay man for good. I think every Rider had at least one moment like this. After six Equality Riders shared their coming out and faith stories with a class, one student shared that she saw them as incredible models of what Christians can and should be.

As the day ended, hosts and Riders gathered back into a debriefing room. I sat near a professor who, earlier in the day, cried in front of his Human Development class as he realized the struggle that LGBT Christians experience. During debriefing, we received continual thanks and blessings. One faculty member said that he has been changed by our visit; another student felt overwhelmed with love for us and privileged to have been in our company today. A consensus throughout the hosts was the intention to continually grow in understanding of this issue.

If dialogue was the mountain to scale, the west bus Equality Riders finished the day standing atop Mt. Everest, exhausted, contemplative, triumphant, challenged and satisfied.

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