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(Tulsa, Oklahoma) About seven members of the
Soulforce Equality Ride were arrested when they ignored a warning from Oral
Roberts University police not to enter the campus.
Several dozen young gay activists are on a 51 day
cross-country trip organized by the nondenominational group Soulforce to draw
attention to colleges and military academies that discriminate against LGBT
students.
Their bus arrived in Tulsa Monday. The
riders stood on the street, across from the main entrance to the university, and
held hands as they said a prayer.
The university created by televangelist Oral
Roberts will not enroll openly gay students and students already enrolled that
are found to be gay can be expelled.
All students are required to sign an honor code
that says, "I will not engage in or attempt to engage in any illicit,
unscriptural Sexual Acts, which shall include ... any homosexual activity."
One by one members of the Soulforce crossed the
street. As they reached the gate to the school they were warned by ORU
public safety director Gerald Isaacs that if they tried to enter the campus they
would be arrested for trespassing.
About seven of the riders kept on walking were
arrested by Tulsa police.
Oral Roberts was the fifth school to be targeted
by the Equality Ride
Saturday the riders held a rally at Union
University in Jackson, Tennessee. (story)
Thursday and Friday the riders were at Lee
University in Cleveland, Tennessee were they were allowed on campus to meet
individually with students. (story)
But late Thursday night their bus was defaced when someone spray painted “Fags
Mobile” in foot-high pink letters on the side of the bus as it was parked at a
Cleveland hotel. (story)
Lee students joined with Soulforce members in cleaning off the slur.
Tuesday seven riders were arrested as they tried
to enter Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. (story)
Regent, which is affiliated with Christian
Broadcaster Pat Robertson, says it does not bar gay enrolment, but its student
handbook states "...homosexual conduct or any other conduct, which violates
Biblical standards, is prohibited."
At their first stop 24 members of the group were
arrested when the entered Jerry Falwell's Liberty University in Lynchburg,
Virginia. (story)
©365Gay.com 2006
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