I'll bet he never would have been banned if Internet cockroach Perez Hilton hadn't published explicit pictures of him getting long-dicked in the ass. Hope you're proud of yourself. Yet another example of how you've set the gay rights movement back.

Disgusting! Straight people really need to learn how to spice up thier lives, because being so fixated on gays isn't helping it out. Gays aren't going to go back in the closet, or stop voicing our opinions, so learn to share this world with diversity or by all means, leave!

Homophobic yes, but a private college so they have the right to decide who they want to speak and who they don't. Maybe they saw his unsafe sex video.

I'm sorry but as a U of M grad and an all around Michigander, you go to fucking Hope. You had a choice in your education and you chose to go to a school that is infamously conservative. You can't knock a private institution for what they want to do with their school. Should have gone to MSU or UofM……

I'm from the area that Hope College is at. It's bullshit closed-minded people like this that make it impossible for EQUAL rights. Ugh. He shouldn't have been banned.

this school is in the same athletic conference as my school. they are very conservative and this does not suprise me one bit. what a bunch of idiots up there!

"This blatant censorship certainly doesn't sound like an "honest and intentional" dialogue to us!"

Considering u censor and delete post here Non stop MAR Ure An Idiot , plus its a private institution , they have the right to do so .

I agree with zachswan; those pics were way to explicit and private for the internet; I can't believe you posted them, then feign surprise at how it's
affected this man? Please; you should apologise profusely. That was a disgusting thing to do.

To the few of you defending the school by saying they are Conservative, hence the censorship…so basically what you're really reaffirming is the fact that bigots (grrr) I meant *conservatives are not free thinking people, and are so absolute and narrow minded in their ways that they can't so much be enticed to be challenged on their opinions?
WOW. Talk about being insecure in your thoughts. Oh, and whatever happened to the free speech slogan conservatives love to yell. So only free speech when it is in relation to your Bible you keep shoving down everyone's throats, right?

Go invest in a brain cell!

Being a private institution does not justify their decision. Does that mean all those private institutions that discriminated against African Americans were justified simply because those institutions were private?

I just graduated from Hope College. I just want people to know that many students are upset that he is not being allowed to speak. We are upset that administration is making these suggestions. Many of us believe in diversity both socially and racially and are hoping that Hope College understands how offended we are with this decision.

THEY ACTUALLY SAID IT WAS "HIM" THAT WAS "OPINIONATED" NOT THE TOPIC OF HOMOSEXUALITY BEING BANNED.

CHECK FACTS.

MAYBE LANCE HAS BEEN TRASHED, I WONDER BY WHO?

NO ONE'S BEEN WORSE TO HIM THAN PEREZ!

Just to throw out another opinion… I have many gay friends and also relatives who I support and love and admire and I am also a Christian. Some of my gay friends are Christian, too. Following Christ, for me, means trying to love everyone, whatever their sexual orientation is. Being conservative or Christian definitely doesn't make one an automatic homophobe.

The administration meant to say that Dustin is "deemed too gay."

or maybe it's just because he saw black's sex pictures and changed his mind? did you forget about that one?

I was a student at Hope as well, I just recently have graduated. Although there are a lot of students who are extremely close minded the majority of the students there are upset that he is not being able to come and speak… Its not fair to generalize the students who attend Hope.. Not all of them are against homosexuality..

"from past experience, strongly-opinionated speakers usually don’t further academic discussions about gay, lesbian or transgender issues."

does that mean he won't approve any speakers who have their minds made up one way or another (no religious speakers either)?

first of all: every time i see his face i see him being fucked.. wonder whos fault that is.. *wonders*
second: as far as i understood he preaches safe sex but has unprotected sex *why do i know?* - so if he would try to tell me something about sex i would laugh at him. i really don't know why i'm thinking this way.. hum…

It's your fault, Perezito - you had those pics of his condom-free dick on your site - he's not the best role model…. WEAR CONDOMS, YOU GAYS!!!!! Oh, and Perez - stop being such a hypocrite. You know he was sending the wrong message to young gay men. I don't know about you sometimes…

I attend hope college and if you stepped into a class room on the campus you would see that we are very tolerant open minded highly educated people, we can choose to have whom we want to speak on campus and the fact that our administration does not want someone with a sex tape speaking about issues at a christian college is our decision. and for anyone who doesnt attend hope, maybe you should not make snap judgements about us unless you have experienced our education

I am a student at Hope and an avid Perez reader, so naturally I got a little geeked that I saw my school on here, but that excitement quickly faded when I realized why. Dean Frost says it would "polarize" the campus and unfortunately that's true, but I want all the Perezers out there to know that there are A LOT of us here at Hope who love and cherish the gay community and not to judge us all on our administration's poor actions. And I loved Milk….whew that James Franco is FINE!!

Yes. Let's talk about censorship shall we?

I am a freshman at Hope. The mission statement LIES THROUGH ITS TEETH. It reads: "Hope provides a distinctive blend of exceptional academic opportunities and caring faculty in a Christian atmosphere emphasizing openness and freedom." Notice the blatant lie embedded in the last sentence: "emphasizing openness and freedom". What COMPLETE bullshit. I was asked to participate less in a few classes, even without saying anything controversial or showing my political stripes. Any real college would know that that is ridiculous. Hope is NOT infamously conservative anymore. Just limited in brainpower. The actual climate of campus politics is carefully edited out of what the college publishes. Tension breeds progress. Hope College should notice that NOBODY of circumstance has been produced from their school, and for very obvious reasons. Unlike real universities and REAL liberal arts colleges, they encourage plug-in thinking. What, Sunjan Stevens you say? Now, that's subjective. But let's just say this: He may have gone to the New School, but he's clearly no Ani DiFranco. Yeah, I'm transferring, and going to a college that appreciates intellectual stimulation. I think Hope is a college that wishes it was the conservative version of the University of Michigan. Sorry, silly Hope College, you glorified community college you. Academia is for smart people.

Apparent from the name, I attend this school, and I am a liberal. So those who think Hope students and faculty are close-minded are themselves casting stones.
As for this issue:
He isn't banned. He is welcome to come speak in a professional capacity, but not as an advocate for gay rights in a roundtable setting. The reason he ISN'T coming on for the screen-writing class is tied to the fact that he isn't yet permitted on in the other capacity. That is the choice of his camp, not Hope's. And in no way is this resolved, because the discussion as to how it might be possible to bring him on in a round-table format is still going on. The administration's initial position is in response to a similar situation that really did polarize the campus earlier this decade. That situation was bad, and did more to set back open discussion than foster it.

It's your fault Perez,you put us his sexy..times pics!

It is true that overly strong opinions can further polarize discussions. If you want to be educational a non biased speaker would be most helpful. Additionally, it is unfortunate Mr Black found it necessary to photograph his personal relationships. Had it been any hetrosexual (and there have been many you have posted about for this same behavior) you would have found it as "hillbilly" as the rest of us. Now he wants to be taken seriously?

What's with this disgusting freak's Donald Trump hair?

Oh come on Fatso. Who do you think you're fooling with this post? You are partially responsible for Black being banned from Hope. You, Mario, were the one who published pornographic photos of Black. Now you feign sympathy for him and expect us to buy into your schtick. What? Do you think your readers are as dumb as you?

I admit it. We were seen chatting briefly on a Guelph Transit bus about recent enviromental issues. HE has the secret that can sink JL. WE might not do this. WE might. What could purr-suede me not to divulge the "trade" secrets that got me banned from all County of Wellington owned buildings?? I actually don't know what it is; but this dude had me laughing all the way home. A young woman was brave enough to sit with me. Other people thought I was weird. She let it look like I was actually talking to a real person for a while. Thanks to my "on-the-buses" team!! You keep me real. Love and blessings to you all. As Amelia once said; you have suceeded WHEN you get banned from the establishments progaganda centers. KEEP being nice about it though. Calm, peaceful resistance. Love and blessings and the occasional herd of maraunding orange ladybugs that were sold as pest control to Ontario-ans a few years back…….. What happened to their genetics anyway?? Really?? NO way?! Even I am happy to hear about that ONE. Call Susuki. Yamaha his day up a notch for us!! Kawa-saki-2-you also? I think?

Anya Blah, blah, blah The Undead Zombie Mother of Blog-Doom

Ok. I am a student at Hope. Just know, yeah, there are a lot of conservative people here. I am not one of these people and there are hundreds of students who are outraged at the choice of the college to ban Black from speaking at our school. So what if there are some pictures of him online. That is his own life. Pictures like that of you or anyone else could make their way online too. Certain head honcho people at Hope are giving the excuse that we as students "are not ready." The truth is: WE ARE READY! WE are the future and WE are the ones who have grown up immersed in this diverse and open culture. I think that it is our "leaders" today, such as the Dean, who are not ready. Like it or not, times are changing. 50, 60, 70 years ago our school systems would have had a hard time allowing a black man to speak at our schools. Look at us today. Who are they to not allow us the right to listen. We are ready.

Re: GayInMI – Did you read Sunday's Holland Sentinel? Have you read the letters to the editor that have been printed since?

Re: b a t k i s s – The roundtable has not been set up yet, there are no participants on any side. That is what is being discussed.

But, it is true, if you think about it, that overzealous activists actually have the potential to hurt their cause rather than help it (think PETA activists showering fur-wearers with pig's blood). Having a speaker who cannot possibly see the other side of the argument they're making is not helping; it's saying 'THIS IS WHAT'S RIGHT. WHAT I THINK IS RIGHT AND IF YOU DISAGREE THEN YOU'RE IGNORANT AND WRONG'. I, as I've said, disagree with homophobia and those that would stand in the way of others seeking happiness, but I do know that debate works best between two level-headed, open-minded people, and if you're having just a -speaker- with no one to rebutt, it's just as offensive to some as it would be if a KKK member came and made a speech.

Re: justlove – Read posts #49 and 50 and stop perpetuating the same things as everyone else when it is clearly not true! It isn't about WE ARE READY or the GSF or any of that. This really is a technical issue that has A LOT more to do with HOW this conversation is going to happen rather than if it SHOULD or SHOULD NOT happen. No one has been BANNED from campus. In no way is the discussion over amongst the college and GSF/We Are Ready and even Student Congress.
And you wonder WHY speakers that are potentially polarizing aren't always the best option? THIS IS IT! If he came on campus without any sort of planning or forethought about the way the discussion would happen this same thing would be going on: Both sides saying things THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE.
Please, as an educated college student, rise above the simple pettiness of the "sides" and find a way to get involved that seeks compromise rather than conflict. If more people did that than maybe this discussion could happen a lot sooner.

You are the reason truly intelligent people do not belong at Hope. Shut your mouth, because the world doesn't care. The real world is never going to reflect Hope's bubble, and clearly you don't know that because you're still there. Don't even try to come back at me, because clearly you have nothing useful to say. And you call BANNED imflammatory language? Banned is the reality of the situation, you little Christian twit (THAT, my friend, is inflammatory). His point of view has been scraped from the cave walls of Hope's ice-aged campus. In that sense, he has been banned. Stuck in the dark ages is right. Clearly all of Hope's students need to go back to middle school and learn censorship. People have bled for our right to free speech, only to have nimrods "politely" excuse their own ignorant behavior. Here, class, let's take out our dictionaries! And if you don't get my rhetoric, I'd advise you not to try practicing law because Hope has not prepared you.

Super gay

Re: notsosoft – Let me begin by saying that this situation is awful. You're absolutely right — a college that claims to promote "openness and freedom" should respect everyone's right to speak. That being said, before you humiliate yourself again by lashing out with a strain of incoherent bullshit about Hope College, let me stop you. Throughout all of your posts almost nothing you said was even remotely responsive to any of issues at hand. Hope College not producing anyone of circumstance? Being a local professional (and a University of Michigan Graduate), some of my best employees have been Hope graduates. Furthermore, just because you don't agree with Terri Lynn Land, Pete Hoekstra, and Robert Schuller, doesn't mean they're not notable. Additionally, a 'true' liberal like you should know that Hope College graduated A. J. Muste, but given your last posts my guess is, like your posts, you have once again spoken without actually knowing anything. (A. J. Muste was an active member of the civil rights, pacifist, and labor movements in the United States.)

Now, regarding the situation at hand. It's unfortunate. One would think that society should have learned its lesson with the countless of other groups the majority has oppressed, but we haven't. However, it surprises me just as much that the people seeking change haven't yet learned that pointing fingers, labels (like conservative, liberal, christian, etc.), and meaningless banter doesn't change a system. I won't give examples because you know every single one of them. They are the extraordinary. It is the same spirit which drives many people towards change today. The fact this has made news means that there is a group of students at Hope College are seeking change and for that there is something to be said (especially when countless of other 'conservative' 'christian' schools continue to exist without even RECOGNIZING a GLBT community). So next time you find yourself sitting at your computer, pointing fingers at Hope College and its students, instead, go out and act on those emotions, engage in politics. Look at this situation and see what good is coming out of it, awareness is being raised, oppression is lifting, and it's because people are acting, not blaming.

*He is the kind of student Hope would traditionally embrace:

Also, salsaconqueso: NEWSFLASH you dumbass! The GLBT community IS NOT being recognized by the college.
And my statement that "hopestudent" has nothing useful to say derives from the fact that what they are saying is condoning the discriminatory practice, much like yours is. So there is complete accuracy in that. It's not based off of nothing.
I don't really give a rat's ass what people who condone such behavior have to say, because guess what: the real world is all about the tension that will lead to progress, and if your sheltered self doesn't go along with that, you're not going to be at the forefront of the real world. Just stuck in your idealistic shell.
So keep talking back, I dare you. My words will articulate what yours never could.

Re: notsosoft – Who are YOU, a freshman in college (a college which you claim to be incompetent), to tell me that what I have to say has no merit (again, I’m not going to call you close minded but that is again a very close minded statement).
I do know how long ago AJ Muste went to school here. My point in naming all of those people is to show that your overbroad proclamation about Hope College graduates simply isn’t true. Furthermore, who cares if he was a white, male? At that time – if you were a female or black going to college that was miraculous in and of itself. Are you really going to judge an institution based on what race/gender its graduates from the early 1900’s weren’t? That’s a bit far fetched even for someone of your intellectual competence. Furthermore, are you really going to JUDGE people who are Christian? Frankly, it sounds like you’re rebelling against some religious institution that was imposed upon you rather than making an intellectual decission regarding your own morality. I don’t care who you are, there are (real) intellectuals who were/are smarter than you ever will be, who would consider themselves Christian, among other religious beliefs.

Re: notsosoft – Regarding my profession, nice try, but guess again. I’m a small business owner. I don’t know what drove you to think I was involved in some left-brained profession which doesn’t require any thought, but clearly your powers of observation aren’t as keen as you would like them to be. Then, regarding hopestudents intellectual contribution to this argument, you’re wrong. Just as both you and I have something to contribute (albeit you’re contribution has been largely negative, nonproductive, unintelligible, and all around poorly thought out) Disregarding anyone’s opinion is contrary to true liberalism. If you claim to be a true liberal – and contend that hopestudent remains some component of the neo-conservative machine then why don’t you try listening to what hopestudent has to say. Don’t try to tell me you did. You disregarded it. That goes uncontested.

Re: notsosoft – Furthermore, how do you know I don’t know about the issue at hand? I said I was local. Clearly, I’ve shown enough knowledge about the situation (more than you, which if that were my only comparison, I would have to say that wouldn’t suffice). Now, if you’re going to bring it back to hopestudent again, I guess I will too. My entire argument surrounding hopestudent is that you regard them as less intelligent than you, which you then equate to you being able to brush off what they say as irrelevant. If you were truly intelligent you would recognize your mistake instantly. (The more I argue with you the more I begin to understand why UofM choose a white, catholic, male over you). When you begin to judge someone for their beliefs, no matter how reprehensible they may be, you become just as discriminatory. No, you don’t have to agree with them. No, you don’t have to accept what they say, but until you can logically explain to them why you believe what you believe while maintaining civil discourse, you will always abandon true liberalism. Furthermore, when you begin shrinking them with language such as ‘twit’ you have become just as unconstructive as say banning someone from speaking at a college. (Side note from this last paragraph: nice grammar, clearly you haven’t passed an English class in a long time)

Re: notsosoft – Again, I am going to say that I fully support the GLBT community at Hope College and around the United States, I am simply saying that this discourse is not constructive and if we want to experience true change anywhere, we must act, not blame. (Hint: calling me a twit, dumbass, labeling me at all really, isn’t going to work again) Finally, you dare me? Oh that’s cute. How will I ever be able to respond to the work of a college freshman? You’re words articulate what mine never could? Interesting, but erroneous. I just did. Twice.

Re: justlove –
Funny how both of you are intimidated enough by the work of a "college freshman" to even bother responding. Vicious arguments have no age, ahem. I've used less vulgarity than you: oh, AND I did not call myself more intelligent than "hopestudent", you obviously assumed that. That was nowhere in my argument. But no, the COLLEGE is not recognizing the GLBT community. THAT'S the point.
ALSO, I did not even apply to U-M, because I wanted to get out of the Ann Arbor - Saline area having lived there for so long. Your bit about coming from an affluent family proves my point exactly - what an elitist attitude. Affluent family and high test scores mean little - It just means you can take tests well and you got lucky. And evangelist? Wow. An evangelist. My point exactly. And LOOK at who is ignorant of the REAL situation at hand! Wow, this is actually super funny.
I made several points that you were unable to see in your meticulous attention to facts that naively ignored the disgusting discrimination inherent in the current collegiate surroundings at Hope. And again, Wheaton and Calvin don't have mission statements emphasizing "openness and freedom". I obviously know what I'm fighting for, because I'm condemning you for antagonizing the pro-queer movement (of which I am an active member, having personal investment being queer myself) by claiming pacifism.

And how dare you tell me I'm one against the world.
You're only upset because I disagree with your patronizing of institutions that are so clearly in the wrong. Most of the world isn't like that, and just because you're from the east coast has no bearing with me or anyone else. I'm not victimizing you, but clearly I'm making you uncomfortable and that's fantastic. That's the only way people become sure of themselves. And if you really care about that movement, which you don't seem to care for (more about yourself and your personal vendettas) you might actually do something. Also, I won't try to force statistics that many might use to back up their supposed intelligence, because, well, I'm not like you. ALSO, since you're a small business owner, what qualifies you to assess debates? I'm just curious.

Only your personal agenda, the agenda of an individual who grew up not having to work for any of your privileges. And English, you say? Hahaha. Let's not go there. I have reason to believe I have high ability in that area as opposed to math and science, and let's just say it's statistically significant. But I won't use "statistics," because that would go against my personal beliefs. Also, trust me when I say that I have friends who are VERY religious. I see why religion is so necessary in today's society, I believe true Christians who treat others with nurturing kindness are what Christianity is all about, and I know and appreciate those individuals: I am not okay when that bars someone from conveying a truth. Jesus was a social activist. He was all about going to the oppressed and healing them. DLB is even all about reconciling the gay community and the Christian community. "Too opinionated" and "polarizing" doesn't even apply to him.

And English, you say? Hahaha. Let's not go there. I have reason to believe I have high ability in that area as opposed to math and science, and let's just say it's statistically significant. But I won't use "statistics," because that would go against my personal beliefs. Also, trust me when I say that I have friends who are VERY religious. I see why religion is so necessary in today's society, I believe true Christians who treat others with nurturing kindness are what Christianity is all about, and I know and appreciate those individuals: I am not okay when that bars someone from conveying a truth. DLB is even all about reconciling the gay community and the Christian community. "Too opinionated" and "polarizing" doesn't even apply to him.

You see, the area surrounding Hope College is just as conservative as Hope. I completely understand the atmosphere. Calling Hope a glorified community college is a bit much though, it’s position on Gays is contemptible. However, that doesn’t make it a glorified community college. The ways in which it excels far outweigh the ways it which it is set back.
Moving on, I fully understand that people get into Michigan who do not deserve it. A family friend of mine is simply unintelligent, (4.0 w/o any honors or ap classes, and a 23 on the ACT) got into UofM