Wisconsin Lutheran, Day 2

After a rather quiet and calm day spent gazing at the administration building of Wisconsin Lutheran College, I was hoping for a little more excitement when we got on campus Tuesday. I think we all got a little more than we bargained for.

Our plan was to split up into groups, join students for morning chapel, set up outreach tables with resources about the Bible and homosexuality, and initiate informal conversations with students as they walked around campus. We arrived around 10 AM, spoke to the press, and then headed up the hill to WLC.

Myself and fellow riders Jillian and Jess prepared to ask students if we could join them for chapel, and were ushered from the open side entrance to the front of the student center, which was locked and guarded by campus security. Riders who were told to leave campus gathered in a circle in front of the entrance to the center, holding hands and singing in a gesture of solidarity with those students who wished to engage with us but were silenced by their administration. Two female students from the school, one wearing a Soulforce Q t-shirt, joined us in our vigil. After a total of 15 minutes on campus, Haven informed us that the police had given us our first verbal warning, and those who did not wish to be arrested should leave campus.

Dan and I walked back down the hill to the sidewalk to resume our vigil from the day before hand in hand, reflecting on our peers who were likely moments away from being arrested. At the bottom of the hill, we encountered a gentle looking elderly man and woman who were speaking with Riders. At first, I thought they were there to support our cause, as we had encountered so many community supporters, but soon realized they were there to inform us that we needed to reconsider our interpretation of the Bible and repent of our “homosexuality.”

Over the next 30 minutes, several Riders, including myself, talked with Ken and Gloria about scripture and our personal stories. Several of the Riders became upset at the couple’s seemingly unwavering convictions, and though I usually get pretty emotional (I cried during our non-violence training), I felt pretty good about my conversation with Gloria. I emphasized that being a Christian and being openly gay are not mutually exclusive, and shared how my current relationship with my girlfriend has been one of the most positive and generative experiences I’ve had, and has made my relationship with God stronger. Though we may not have changed their minds on the spot, I definitely think we made them realize that we are intimately familiar with scripture and have fervently thought about/prayed about our sexuality with the Divine. It’s always amazing to open people’s minds simply by showing them our humanity!

Those of us who were not arrested stood vigil on the sidewalk until all of the 6 or so police cars drove away, our friends in the backseats. We headed to the district police station to wait for their release, but after almost two hours, returned to our hotel and planned for the night’s activities.

To see the 6 Riders and 2 community members later that night, still speaking with students and encouraging them to meet at a Starbucks near campus, speaks volumes to how passionate and dedicated they are to ending religion-based LGBT discrimination. Refusing to comply with unjust policies, though it may require enduring discomfort and even some verbal battering, is the right thing to do for our community. I know I was inspired to keep fighting the good fight, and to keep replenished for the next 14 schools we visit.

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