Around 50 students protested at York University last Thursday after the student group Campus for Christ advertised a “Prayer for the Homosexual Community at York.”
Students felt the invitation for the protest was blatantly homophobic. The prayer was dedicated towards “the homosexuality community [sic]” and asked them to “pray in love for those who seek freedom from this bondage that they may find Jesus and turn away from temptation.”
The LGBT student community at York organized a counter-protest, to be held at the same time. In response, Campus for Christ formally apologized and cancelled the event. The group met with campus groups, including Trans, Bi, lesbian, Gays, Allies at York. A revised statement on their website says the event was meant to “address the negative relationship that currently exists on a wide scale between the Christian and homosexual communities.”
LGBT supporters decided to have a peaceful protest anyway. “We held the protest for the Campus for Christ student group, to show them that the queer community is strong and that they have to be educated about their ignorance,” said Evelyn Shaller- Auslander, a protestor from U of T.
