Proclaiming Truth About Homosexuality Gets Group Booted from Campus

by Jim Brown and Jenni Parker
January 20, 2004

(AgapePress) - Two mild-mannered pro-family activists have been barred from an Illinois university campus after being railed against by homosexual students and faculty members who accused them of "hate speech."

During their fourth visit to Northeastern Illinois University, Wayne Lela and John McCartney were subjected to the shouting and heckling of a large group of homosexual activists who ridiculed the two men for presenting factual information about the dangers of the homosexual lifestyle. One individual even tossed a package of condoms on their display table.

Lela and McCartney are the founders of the Committee on Family and Social Health (CFSH). Lela says during the visit to the NEIU, members of the school's Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Association became enraged by the presentation. And following the verbal attack against the presenters, the homosexual activists complained to university officials.

Although the members of CFSH had previously been allowed to share their information on campus, the school apparently found cause to rescind their welcome after the homosexual group complained.

"The administration of the school now seems to be kind of backtracking on their commitment to free speech following the protest by the gay and lesbian group, because apparently they have put a moratorium on more appearances by us," Lela says.

Since their latest visit to the NEIU campus, Lela and McCartney have been openly condemned by the school's president and other administrators for engaging in so-called "homosexual harassment," and the GLBA and school officials have officially accused the two men of "hate speech" for voicing their opposition to homosexuality.

Lela and McCartney say the intolerance shown by homosexual activists is remarkable. The pro-family committee's founders feel that homosexual activists have been able to push their agenda by trading on the perception that homosexuals are the victims of intolerance, even while they act out intolerance against those who disagree with them.

"These men and women have been getting by on manipulating ordinary Christians and other believers and people who object to the homosexual lifestyle. They've been getting away with intimidation, using guilt, like this Matthew Sheppard case," McCartney says.

And Lela says the tactics used by homosexual activists to drive public opinion and push their agenda include "intimidation and emotional blackmail -- emotional manipulation."

After the CFSH incident, the NEIU student newspaper The Independent reported that the GLBA had demanded the university administration address hate speech on campus by fulfilling eight demands outlined by the homosexual group, including a ban on so-called "hate speech." Reportedly the GLBA has contacted the ACLU and Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, and states that it will take legal steps if its demands are not met.