After which, a spokesperson from the LGBT club made statements about the event and what it all meant. Apparently a guy of charismatic/non-denominational belief got up on the outdoor bench saying that he was a former homosexual, that the Bible in the 10 commandments condemened homosexuals by way of its condemnation of homosexuality and that homosexuals and everybody believing differently than he did, needed to repent.

That's about the time I was walking by. Actually I had anticipated just joining in any last-minute chalking, getting a rainbow ribbon and heading to class. Little did I know! Well, quickly assesing the cituation, I jumped into action!... hee hee

No, I was quite disturbed by this going on (to say the least) so I engagued the guy by asking a few questions and trying to make a few points.

He seemed like a hot whire and very energized by his public behavior, in the middle of the campus square (called Red Square) AND on National Coming Out Day.

I didn't know that I was standing next to student/intern leader in the Campus Crusade for Christ organization, I later found out that the so-called "ex-gay" guy in the square was also a member of that organization. In fact, now that I remember the situation more, it seems that they had a few other of their members scattered in thesmall crowd.

It's kind of funny now, but I suspected that the guy I was standing to was connected to the speaker in some way. I thought this to be the case particularly when he (guy standing by me) kept asking me what I thought about what the speaker was saying (you know in that "trying to be coy" young clergy sort of way).

So I answered him and we got into a discussion. After discussing for some time (I ended up being very late for class) I came out to him. He, in the customary way, invited me to a meeting they were going to have tonight. Why do they do that? It's like a supremacist of some sort inviting a person to a meeting whom they disagree with and wantto control.

Well, I did attend it mostly to know and say that I did, without dismissing and ignoring them outright. At the meeting I saw two guys I met last night while I was in the computer lab...

After the program, having confirmed my suspicions about the group, I was ready to leave but then thought I'd introduce myself to the guy who had gotten up in the square to talk - oh yes, he was there at the meeting. Side note: this meeting was held in a large lecture hall maybe 200 people in attendance.

Anyway, I came out to both of them as well as the leader guy I had spoken with earlier that day ran up to me to ask what I thought about it. I told him, was just checking it out and probably wouldn't make it a part of my experience while at school because of fundamentaldisgreements.

I did introduce myself the guy from the square and we got into a discussion lasting a hour or so. I won't go into his ideas here, but they included "the law", "Truth" (big "T), and "repentance" (alsosalvation).

My stars, I'm tired. They're probably all huddled somwewhere praying for my soul... why me! And the CCC leader is a cutie! :) Pray for me, meditate or whatever - maybe we can balance things out with good vibes. :)

Love you all, your brother,

Marcus

Copyright note: This story may be freely re-posted over the internet exactly as it appears, including authorship credit, provided *this* paragraph is also included intact. For any other use or form of reproduction or distribution, please obtain the author’s written permission in advance.
Copyright ©1998 by Marcus Stringer
Email: goodguy_Sea@yahoo.com
Website: http://geocities.datacellar.net/~mhaven/.