Anti-gay religious freaks preach hate on school campus

[Grimmlok]

The "Christians" of Soulwinner Ministries International showed up on UNC-Chapel Hill's campus yesterday to demonstrate as part of its "Save Our Students" project, in which the fundies travel to colleges around the country to proselytize (64 campuses in 27 states).

These fundies came out to demonstrate against the homos, who as we all know, are putting the Homeland at risk. Late yesterday I received an email and a photo from Blender EM, whose friend was at The Pit, when the demonstration occurred.

Hi Pam,

Today, September 11, a group called Soulwinner Ministries International showed up to spread their anti-gay hate at the popular student area at UNC - Chapel Hill called The Pit. They were talking about how gays were a threat to "National Security." The fact that they spoke out today, on September 11, was not an accident. But they were here last Thursday, too, and the student publication called the Daily Tar Heel has an article about it.

From the article:

Michael Venyah, founder of Soulwinners Ministries International, said he and others from the organization were told to leave campus or they would be arrested for trespassing.

Venyah and the others had set up signs next to the Student Union and Lenoir Dining Hall and began to preach against homosexuality, masturbation and premarital sex.

The group held signs with provocative messages, such as "Homo sex is a threat to national security" and "Satan says that God loves everyone."

More from her letter -- and what happened in The Pit--The University police said the group posed a threat to campus safety after exchanges became heated between the students and the Soulwinner group. The spokesman for UNC-CH's Department of Public Safety, Randy Young said the religious fundamentalists were asked to leave -- "Our officers, on a case-by-case basis, will look to protect free speech up until the point the University's operations are compromised or individuals' safety comes into question."

E.M. continues:

In the Pit, students reserve tables and times to advertise their clubs, etc. They shouted "Lesbians" at an all female A Capella group (the group is not a gay-identified one). And they apparently yelled "slut," "homo," etc. at people passing and even went up to tables and harassed the students there, asking the students if they were gay and saying that they were going to go to hell.

It seems like this is happening a lot these days in Chapel Hill. Someone attacked me because I'm gay, and things like this 'demonstration' are frightening. This is all very disturbing. These 'demon-trators' like "the Pit Preacher" are coming to campus frequently, spewing hate (the Pit Preacher goes to a lot of campuses and was kicked out of the Pit recently).

She went on to say that a gay male student was walking on campus minding his own business on his cell phone. He passed some frat boy types, who started mocking him.

It was horrible. I didn't know about what had been going on at the Pit at the time this happened, but I wonder if the anti-gay preaching has sparked some homophobia on campus. I would love to work at UNC-Wilmington some day, but I chose not to even consider it because there is this really out spoken anti-gay bigot there (Mike Adams [who also bleats at Clown Town Hall -- Pam]). It's sad to see that this sort of proud bigotry is gaining a strong voice at UNC-Chapel Hill. Some days you see so many instances of racism, sexism, and homophobia...the hatred can be overwhelming.

If you hear more about this story, it will be because the ministry is already bleating about being silenced. Michael Venyah -- "They said they couldn't guarantee our security, but there was no threat to security. We were just preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some people will oppose; some will agree."

Perhaps Soulwinner should have gotten a permit before showing up. Venyah does say that he's going to show up again today.

Personally, unless people were threatened with physical violence, the police should have let the demonstration run its course. In this bleeping hot weather, the Soulwinner fundies would have eventually wilted, like the laughable lone demonstrator with a bullhorn that showed up to the NC Gay and Lesbian Film Festival this year.

It was hilarious -- this guy was spewing twisted scripture and the usual homo-hate. Festival attendees laughed, brought him bottled water and some even stood next to him and had friends take pictures of the pathetic spectacle. He must store that sign in his garage to pull out from time to time when he hears about LGBT-related events in town.]

My wife Kate and I were out there between films and broke out into hysterics when he suddenly stopped screeching, got on his cell phone, spoke briefly to someone, then hung up and began bleating without missing a beat.

It was so hot that day that he didn't last very long.

AMERICAblog: A great nation deserves the truth

Sieg Heil.

[McJag]

Dis.Gust.Ting.

[Honey]

Can't believe people put so much effort into hating

[celeb_2006]

Unbelievable. They would never have allowed a neo nazi or kkk group or the like to have come within 10 miles of a college campus. Double standards? All the time!

[dangerous]

Omg!!???

[Eli]

It's funny, they're a threat to national security because being haters of a particular bunch of people makes them more likely to be terrorists than gay people who mind their own business. Works out well for once, don't you think?

[Mr. Authority]

Unbelievable. They would never have allowed a neo nazi or kkk group or the like to have come within 10 miles of a college campus. Double standards? All the time!

Seriously. I think these hate groups should have their freedom of speech revoked; those who abuse that right to spread hate should be arrested for civil disorder.

Anyway these X-tian clowns will get their asses beaten sooner or later.

[msdeb]

very sad that these assholes think that their opinion is the answer to everything. even sadder is they are among us. grrr

[Ravenna]

Um, a threat to national security how? Oh, right, the gays brought on September 11th with their wicked behaviour

These people are so contradictory in their ideas of God. On the one hand, they think God is perfect, and on the other hand they think God hates. These ideas don't mesh. A perfect being is above the baser human emotions of mankind, like hate. (And a perfect being is also not an egomaniac who feels the need to be worshipped.) Ah, but maybe I'm getting a little off-topic.

Get a life, people. Try spreading some love for a change and being real Christians, instead of using religion as an excuse to hate.

[Sweetie]

Some people are complete morons.
Do they not realize they are JUDGING people and according to the Bible that's a sin also?
I hate people like this.

[sweet and sexy]

This is so sad.

[KrisNine]

Sorry, but I'm stuck on the "Threat to National Security"!!

Stupid, narrow minded people amaze me.

[barbiedoll25]

Don't these idiots have jobs? Or families or friends to spend their time with? Or any kind of life where they don't waste their time spewing such hatred?

[sweet and sexy]

Don't these idiots have jobs? Or families or friends to spend their time with?

I don't know who will want to be friends with such ignorance. Or even give job to them, come to think of it.