Liberty says no to Soulforce visit

Liberty University does not plan to allow members of the gay activist group Soulforce to step on campus today, despite the group’s announcement Monday of plans to do just that.

“To my knowledge, we have not authorized to let anyone on campus,” university spokesman Johnnie Moore said Tuesday. “We told them that they were restricted to the sidewalks.”

The last time the group came to Liberty, in March 2006, more than 20 members were arrested on charges of trespassing after walking onto school property.

This afternoon, Soulforce plans to rally from a sidewalk just outside the school’s main entrance for the first stop of the group’s annual Equality Ride. The national bus tour is scheduled to visit 15 faith-based institutions and speak against the discrimination of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students.

The group distributed a news release Monday afternoon stating that “Five young adult Equality Riders will donate gay-affirming Christian books to the Liberty University library and talk with students about safety and acceptance for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students.”

Liberty Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. said the school had not agreed to allow the activists on campus.

“I’m not sure where that information is coming from,” he said. “I don’t know if there’s a misunderstanding, or what.”

Captain Al Thomas with the LPD said he had approved Soulforce’s application to demonstrate but had not said the group would be allowed on campus.

“That’s going to be totally Liberty’s call. It’s their discretion. It’s private property,” Thomas said.

“When they (Soulforce members) are on city property, I’ll make sure they’re safe and orderly. If they decide to venture on campus, then we will help Liberty (University Police Department) with that if needed.”

He said both sides had said they hoped for “a peaceful demonstration.”

Falwell said the school plans “to go about our business as usual” today, and did not plan to increase security for the event.

“It’s a pretty quiet time,” he said, referencing the fact that many Liberty students leave today for fall break, which lasts through Sunday. “And we don’t expect any problems … Most of them (students) start leaving as soon as their last class is over.”

Soulforce plans to have 16 young adults arrive at Liberty’s main entrance off University Boulevard today at 1:30 p.m.

The group also plans to attend First Christian Church at 7 p.m. today, and possibly hold a car wash Thursday that would be free to Liberty students, said Katie Higgins, co-director of the Equality Ride. It plans to be in town through Sunday.

The group is focusing on Liberty because they have heard stories from gay students who attend the school “in a space where they are not welcome,” she said.

Falwell said the school does not discriminate against gay students.

“We have students admit that they have tendencies in that direction and they’re not disciplined or reprimanded it all,” he said Monday. “It’s just if they violate the code of conduct, that’s when there’s disciplinary action taken.”

He said the school’s conduct code “prohibits any kind of sexual activity outside of marriage, and in order for there to be a marriage in Virginia, it has to be between a man and a woman.”