As Pepperdine School of Law Dean Ken Starr prepares to defend Proposition 8 before the California Supreme Court next week two gay students presented a human face on the highly politicized issue of homosexuality.
Nearly 50 students gathered at the law school Wednesday to hear the pair discuss how they have reconciled their Christian faith with their homosexuality at “Growing up Gay in a Family of Faith an event sponsored by the Pepperdine chapter of the ACLU.
Because of the controversy surrounding Proposition 8 the Pepperdine ACLU chapter thought it would be great to talk about same-sex marriage from a more personal standpoint free of political rhetoric but focusing on humanizing the sufferings many gay people face said Kerry Docherty, president of Pepperdine ACLU.
Docherty said Starr’s choice to take lead counsel on Yes on 8″ was entirely a personal choice but still reflects on the university.?
“I think the dean of our law school is a great smart kind man who has done great things for Pepperdine Docherty said. But I think this illustrates that there’s a notion that gays aren’t equal.”?
Docherty moderated while audience members asked Herbie Huff and Estuardo Ponciano who are not Pepperdine students about their life stories and Catholic and Mormon faiths.
“I grew up praying I grew up going to church every week and I very deeply believed it said Huff, who was Catholic. But when a priest told her to avoid situations where she would be attracted to other girls, she said she lost faith in the Church.
His authority crumbled because I knew what I was feeling wasn’t wrong she said. So I just took off. I can’t go in a Catholic Church anymore. They make me cry.”
Ponciano who told his friends he was gay when he was as a student at Brigham Young University said he remains religious but no longer considers himself part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
“For myself I felt it brought me closer to God Ponciano said. I was praying and I was asking that [my attraction to men] be removed when what I should have felt instead was the knowledge that I am OK with who I am and God loves me for who I am. I am still his child.”
The discussion emphasized the personal side of a political issue.
“It was really nice just to set a human face on the legal issue said third-year law student Chris Chatelain. I would have liked to see Dean Starr here. But it is also nice that the school is allowing both sides to be heard. Hopefully they can do more of that.”
Docherty and Professor of Law Kris Knaplund the ACLU faculty advisor organized the event to facilitate discussion at Pepperdine.
Christians need to gain greater understanding of the gay community Ponciano said but gays also need to better understand Christians.
“It’s a good opportunity to engage in dialogue that needs to happen on both sides Ponciano said. It’s not just a question for gay people or religious people – the two don’t need to be exclusive.”
Some said they were surprised anyone at Pepperdine would devote an event to discussing homosexuality.
“It’s nice to know they’re not totally ignoring the issue said Seaver junior Anthony Barnes. It’s not spoken of enough at Pepperdine. A lot of times at Pepperdine people don’t recognize the intersection of faith and homosexuality.”
Organizers said the event was a positive step toward balance for Pepperdine.
“We are welcoming and hospitable to all and that includes gay people Knaplund said. [And] it goes far beyond those who are gay; I think we’re all interested in how people are treated.”?
Docherty said a level of tolerance and diversity exists at Pepperdine especially within the faculty but a sense of community for gays is lacking.
“I love [the teachers’] dedication to human rights but I just believe that gay rights are human rights Docherty said. I feel like at most law schools and colleges across the country there’s a gay community where they can express themselves freely but not at Pepperdine.”
Professor of Law Doug Kmiec said he is glad the university is engaging in thoughtful discourse about gay marriage.
“More discussion especially in an academic context from every perspective so long as it is expressed with preparation and civility is wonderful Kmiec said. [Informed discussion] certainly fits within a university law school environment.”?
In a Nov. 14 editorial in the San Francisco Chronicle Kmiec suggested that the state of California issue only civil unions to both homosexual and heterosexual couples. The term “marriage” would be determined by the couples’ respective religious affiliations.
Third-year law student Mitchell Moses also appreciates discussion.
“This is a legal issue that is coming up in law schools and legal areas of practice all over the country Moses said. And for the law school simply to keep its reputation and to become a better law school we need to have conversation on these topics. That doesn’t mean everyone has to leave there agreeing ¬- it’s probably better if they don’t because it will keep political and legal conversations going.”
?”Growing up Gay in a Family of Faith” was a follow-up to a political discussion of the constitutionality of Proposition 8 hosted by Pepperdine ACLU and the Federalist Society before the election.?
Future Pepperdine ACLU events on Proposition 8 are contingent on the outcome of the March 5 litigation according to Docherty. However she said she intends to shift attention away from gay marriage toward other issues ACLU supports.
