op-ed Submission
Op-ed submission: Nothing but Love: A demonstration of inclusivity in response to Jonathan Fisk
As students walked through their dorms this past week, they likely encountered a flyer entitled “The Original Diversity: Man & Woman in Christ,” which advertised a discussion led by Jonathan Fisk and hosted by the Lutheran Student Fellowship. Many of us probably passed this flyer by without digesting its hateful message. When we, the members of College Democrats, took time to look into Jonathan Fisk, we were appalled to realize that the Lutheran Student Fellowship has endorsed an unabashedly homophobic, ultra-conservative, transphobic, anti-choice fear monger.
As the name of his talk implies, Fisk believes that only heterosexual relationships deserve respect and that homosexuality and abortion “might just spell the end of civilization as we know it.” In one of his videos, Fisk argues that Christianity and homosexuality are incompatible, stating, “lesbian means that I act out upon my adulterous desires.” Fisk couples his apocalyptic message with warnings of an “anti-Christian crusade.” We believe that Fisk neither represents nor reflects the values of the Washington University community, namely, acceptance and inclusivity.
Fisk disparages others and argues that they do not deserve the same rights that he does. When confronted with this type of hateful and intolerant rhetoric, we have no choice but to voice our disapproval. We see it as our moral imperative to demonstrate our love for every Wash. U. student in the face of Fisk’s selective admonishment. It is our goal to show the world that this community accepts every one of its members, regardless of their religion, gender or sexual orientation.
To that end, we will be holding Nothing But Love in Tisch Commons on Feb. 20 at 6:00 p.m. Please join us to express your support for your fellow students, faculty and staff.