 "Photo: Luke Gaeckle")
Though some say the Bible is clear on what it teaches, statistics say otherwise. In a 2005 Gallup poll, 49 percent of Americans believed it was acceptable for homosexuals to be members of the clergy, a seven point decline from 2003.
But what of the Biblical verses that people often use to say homosexuality is wrong?
Angelica Laudermith, assistant director of CoffeeLoft.org, a campus organization that describes itself as a "creative spiritual community," said many people are confused about what they have been taught.
That's one reason they chose to be one of only three communities in the Midwest to show "For the Bible Tells Me So," a pro-gay film examining the role of homosexuality in Christianity, Thursday at Farber Hall. The film was also sponsored by the 10% Society and Reconciling Ministries.
"For me, it's important to show college students that there are other things out there and make the decision for themselves," Laudermith said. "If they decide it's not right, that's fine, but at least they've had the opportunity to see other perspectives."
The only other cities in the Midwest to show the film are Fargo and Minneapolis.
About 115 people from USD and surrounding communities came to view the movie, Laudermith said. The film chronicles the lives of five American families and their experiences with homosexuality and features former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson.
The group hoped to see more resistance to the movie than was present Thursday night, Laudermith said.
"We were hoping for resistance, frankly," she said. "We wanted to get people on both sides of the argument so they see it for themselves, instead of just believing what they are told."
The plan to view the movie was submitted before the campus ministerial association, but was not well received, said senior Lewis Eggleston, assistant director of CoffeeLoft.org.
"They said, 'Lewis, we're not 180 degrees away from you, but we're on the other side of the circle,'" Eggleston said.
The movie focuses on verses in the Bible, such as Leviticus 20:13, which says, "If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads." The film gives an explanation for what the verses meant in their day and age, Laudermith said.
"It's taken out of context," she said. "You have to interpret (what they meant). In the Gospels and in what Jesus taught, he didn't talk about that."
Afterward, a four-person panel consisting of Eileen Friest, co-founder of The Center in Sioux Falls, Brook McBride, pastor of First United Methodist Church, Evelyn Schlenker, professor of Basic Biomedical Services and Jerry Jacobs, director of the Disaster Mental Health Institute, answered questions from the audience.
Junior Jordan Esmay, a member of Campus Crusades for Christ, said he attended the movie because he hoped to defend the scripture during the discussion.
Esmay, who believes homosexuality is a sin but no worse than drunkenness or adultery, said the panel was unbalanced. He didn't hear any points of view from the panel that disagreed with homosexuality, and was surprised there was little opposition to the pro-gay panelists.
"I was surprised that there weren't more pastors from around town that were there," he said.
Laudermith said the panelists were invited by Lewis Eggleston, and said she didn't believe any other pastors besides McBride were formally invited to the panel.
"Most of the times that we brought it up to the opposing viewpoints, they said it didn't seem welcoming," she said. "(For this panel,) we didn't check with them on their personal views."
The panel discussion lasted until after midnight, Laudermith said, demonstrating a demand for more discussions.
Eggleston agreed.
"Talking that late shows that it must have stirred something," he said.
Laudermith said watching the film was upsetting as a Christian, because it reminded her that there are many struggles gay people have to go through "because of the Christian church."
"It was a very moving film ... and painful," she said.
Esmay said he thought the movie unfairly portrayed Christians who believe homosexuality is a sin.
"I found it to be kind of a slap in the face," he said. "It was definitely misleading. It really portrayed it as, 'If you don't believe what we believe, then you are stupid and arrogant and homophobic and a bigot.'"
Laudermith said there were a few parts of the movie she felt overgeneralized fundamentalist Christians.
"The movie portrayed funamentalist Christians as they all believe (it's a sin) or that they are hateful and go to the extreme," she said. "... They didn't show a range of churches, they just showed the extreme left and the extreme right."
Anne O'Mara, assistant director for the Newman Center, agreed, and said she doesn't like being "pigenholed" as someone who is "anti-people" because she believes the act of homosexuality is a sin. But that has nothing to do with how she feels about the person.
"It's the behavior that is problematic," she said.
Laudermith said part of her purpose in showing the movie is to let college students, particularly gay students, know there are church communities that are "accepting." There are only 12 churches accepting of gays, lesbians, bixsexuals and transgenders in South Dakota, she said, but that number may be growing.
"I'm hoping there will be a change in attitude," she said. "I've seen a growth in our church (because we are accepting of gay people)."
Though the movie didn't change her mind regarding sin and homosexuality, O'Mara said the movie had a purpose on campus.
"In some ways, I thought the movie was a good conversation starter," O'Mara said. "But the conversation needs to continue, and continue with a great deal of love and carefulness."
Reach reporter Michelle Rydell at Michelle.Rydell@usd.edu
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