Reflections Of Columbia SC From Atlanta GA

Sitting here in Atlanta watching the traffic wiz by in the highway I can't help but think of our most recent stop in Columbia SC at Colombia International University. This stop will remain important to me because a reality was really made clear, no matter how much students want to talk to us, the administration is afraid.

When we got Columbia SC we were welcomed at a a local LGBT center for a backyard BBQ. We met many amazing people. There was one to me who stood out, here name was Elke. Her son Sean was beaten and killed in SC because he was gay. She has now made it her mission to educate people on the lack of hate crime laws in SC. She told us a story about how her church kicked her out at a time when the should have held her close. She is truly an amazing woman and has started a foundation to help educate other by telling her story. As we left the center my mind was full and I was ready to get settled into the hotel and relax for the next day we hit campus.

We when pulled up to CIU the administration had blocked off with a section at the very edge of campus. It was blocked off with yellow police tape and road barricades. The campus was at least a mile down the road. We we asked on administrator why the barricade he said it was for our safety from the road. The road was behind us at least 40 feet and there no barricades on that side. As were setting up for the day we watched a group of about 30 students walk towards us. They had to walk a mile to get to us and cross police tape with words do not enter on it. What kind of message is that sending? Standing vigil and gathering my thoughts at the barricade I counted at least 8 identifiable police cars. What were they so afraid of? I placed my Bible on the barricade and watched as two police officers took a few steps toward me, once they realized I was just placing my Bible there they stepped back.

We had some great conversations with students. The administration however was out in full force and roved around the entire. Almost as if to monitor what the students were saying. While I feel we had some genuine conversations I feel the students held back because of the administration.

Towards the end of the day we abruptly told we had to leave campus because the administration had a staff meeting. We asked if we could continue to speak with students and the faculty said “No.” The faculty would not let these young men and women speak to us with out them in ear shot. We were then asked to remove ourselves to very edge of campus, right next to the same busy road we were told eariler in the day they wanted to protect us from. It was disappointing that the administration reacted the way they did. We watched as the students looked confused as were put by the side of the road.

The next day we were asked to go to the University Of South Carolina to support them in the National Coming Out Day celebrations. We pulled on to campus and parked the bus on campus all day while talking to students and supporting the USC community. It was a great day for the riders and I to kinda relax and hang out and talk to students about what it means to come out. The USC community was amazing.

Now we are in Atlanta GA visiting Morehouse and Spelman Colleges. Our visits here are a little different. While Morehouse and Spelman do not have polices that discriminate against LGBT students, both schools were founded with deep Baptist roots. Currently both colleges have student groups that support LGBT people on their respective campuses. While here in Atlanta we are here to show our support of the progress these schools have made and to have peaceful dialogue with students.

The ride has been nothing short of an emotional roller coaster thus far and I can only imagine what coming weeks will bring.

From The Road,

Zak Rittenhouse