Gay Activists Escorted Off BYU Campus

PROVO, UTAH - Five gay activists were peacefully escorted from Brigham Young University's campus Monday after raising a mild ruckus in front of a gathering of students.
The five are members of Soulforce, a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender group. BYU police loaded them into a van after the demonstrators yelled to a campus crowd that policies of the LDS Church, BYU's owner, were killing gays.
“They made us aware of their intentions, and we told them it would go directly against our policy,” said BYU spokeswoman Carri Jenkins. “The officers approached them and asked them to stop and asked them to leave.”
When they did not, they were escorted off campus, placed under arrest, cited for trespassing and delivered to their hotel, said Jacob Reitan, one of the five. Other members of the group, which totaled 33, were allowed to remain and meet with students.
The planned rebellion was a tame culmination to a relatively calm day of controversy on campus. An afternoon rally at Provo's Kiwanis Park was equally peaceful.
"We are here to force the issue and say, 'BYU, it's time,' " said Reitan. "We really feel these students don't understand our message."
Soulforce's so-called Equality Riders stopped in the conservative Utah County community as part of a nationwide tour to schools they believe discriminate against gays.
They were allowed to speak to students, but not allowed to create a public forum, hand out literature or set up a booth, as per BYU's public-expression policy. Most of the nearly three dozen activists spent the morning and afternoon conversing peaceably with BYU students, though they weren't entirely pleased with the school's restrictions.
“It's unfortunate that someone can't give a speech or hand out literature,” said Dallas resident Haven Herrin, co-director of the Equality Ride tour. “It says to us that this isn't a legitimate conversation to be having.”
Added Delta, Pa., resident Kate Riley, a Soulforce member who said she is an ex-Mormon: “Being able to talk with others is awesome. But the restrictions - we're just being limited.”
BYU police officers, dressed in suits, and several university officials monitored the discussions in front of the Wilkinson Student Center and broke up groups they considered too large. Hundreds of students stopped to speak with the Soulforce members - some in opposition, some in support.
“Me and my friends were worried confrontations were going to break out,” said Jon Harrop, a sophomore from Mesa, Ariz. “It's been neat to see good conversations. It's giving them a better taste of what members [of the LDS Church] are like.”
Junior Austin Rose, from Bountiful, said most of his debate with the Equality Riders was based on beliefs.
“I don't know if Soulforce is going to get what they're looking for,” Rose said. “I do appreciate their [boldness].”
Soulforce members said their goal was to create awareness and educate BYU students about religious-based gay discrimination.
For Robyn Murphy, an Equality Rider from Minneapolis who says she was excommunicated from the LDS Church, Monday's conversations made a difference.
“I see a real movement in some [students'] perspective,” she said.
from The Salt Lake Tribune