Walking on campus Monday I passed by the Hub where a man was preaching the word of God. This isn’t an uncommon occurrence on campus, but normally I just walk by and forget about it. But when I went into the library to do some homework in my two hours before my next class started, I was compelled to go back and listen.

So I spent the next hour and a half listening to this man who revealed his name was Tom. While listening to Tom, who spoke on many topics from the Crusades to evilution (evolution), I patiently waited for the topic of interest for me which almost always comes up in such endeavors — homosexuality. I heard many things said, but one thing sticks out the most. In describing homosexuality, Tom used words such as “abomination” and “disgusting.” He said students are peer-pressured into accepting and celebrating homosexuals being out of the closet.

This is nothing new coming from a Christian preacher, but it struck a chord in me. It became clear to me that Tom hates homosexuals, but he won’t admit it. He cleverly disguises his hate in the “love the sinner but hate the sin” concept. Although I have a problem with this concept — it is impossible to love homosexuals while hating what they do.

The reason is very simple: identity. I wouldn’t define myself as a homosexual if I didn’t do the kinds of things homosexuals do. For instance, when I go on dates, 100 percent of them are men. Every person I’ve fallen in love with in my life has been a man.

So my question is this: If I didn’t do these things, or at the very least if I wasn’t attracted to guys, which according to the thought clause qualifies as a sin, would I be a homosexual? Obviously the answer is no. However, Tom, for some reason, thinks he loves me. Although in doing so he is contributing 100 percent to the social oppression homosexuals face on a daily basis. But somehow this qualifies as love — interesting.

It grieves me to see this kind of hate being preached on our campus. But there is always hope, and I saw it in the many voices that were challenging Tom’s words. One student stood up and did a little preaching of his own. He called homosexuality a “beautiful thing,” because it involved two people loving each other. I couldn’t agree more. If it hadn’t been for Tom’s message of hate, then those words about a “beautiful thing” may not have been spoken. So here’s to the preaching of hate at Iowa State!

Matthew Skuya

Senior

Political Science