Evangelicals will eventually have to deal with gay rights. Friends of gay rights among the alumni of Wheaton College, one of the nation's premiere evangelical institutions, have started a "OneWheaton" campaign in support of LGBTQ students. Said Jen Zimmerman at the Chicago Tribune:
OneWheaton seeks to offer "a safe space" for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community, said group spokeswoman Kristin Winn. The LGBTQ community, according to Winn, is not widely accepted on campus because of the school's official position against "homosexual behavior."
OneWheaton claims to have been inspired by the "It gets better" campaign and by other efforts at other evangelical colleges, of which, incidentally, there is a good deal more activity than people might expect. Biola University, Oral Roberts, Calvin College--even arch-conservative Harding College--have all seen pro-gay rights activity.
Another factor which contributed to OneWheaton is the reaction to a lecture series on "Sexuality and Wholeness" which was held earlier this year. One of the lecturers said that he had chosen celibacy over homosexuality. In response, OneWheater issued this letter to Wheaton's students. The letter was signed by over 300 alumni:
If you are a student and this is part of your story, your sexual identity is not a tragic sign of the sinful nature of the world. You are not tragic. Your desire for companionship, intimacy and love is not shameful. It is to be affirmed and celebrated just as you are to be affirmed and celebrated.
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