On the Road: Young Gay Activists

Lauren Topliffe, a junior at Oklahoma Baptist University, loves the school "for so many things--academically, spiritually, it's been great for me." But, as a lesbian, she's felt at constant risk--of harassment by other students and of violating school policy, which forbids engaging in or promoting homosexual behavior. (It also forbids heterosexual sex outside marriage.) Topliffe, 21, out to family and friends since she was 17, believes her sexual orientation is "pretty well known" on the 1,649-student campus. But she's never done anything that might risk disciplinary action by the school, which could include mandatory counseling or expulsion. Until now.

"It's time for me to do this," Topliffe told NEWSWEEK last week. Her decision to out herself on campus was inspired by the Soulforce Equality Riders, a busload of gay, mostly Christian activists who are barnstorming the country, trying to get a dialogue going at religious and military schools that believe gay behavior is wrong. Topliffe's is the kind of reaction Jake Reitan, 24, one of the ride organizers, was hoping for. "We're going to make this conversation happen," says Reitan, a Northwestern graduate who will attend the Harvard Divinity School.

That's been easier at some places than others. The Equality Riders have been received cautiously but cordially at most stops so far, including OBU (the tour began March 10 and ends April 26). But they were refused admission at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, and 12 riders were arrested there when they ignored the order. "It's a different atmosphere at every school," says Reitan.

At OBU, where the administration allowed the riders access to the student center, students showed the group respect even as they disagreed about Scripture. "They're trying to talk about how being gay is justified in the Bible," said Lee Goggin, 23, a senior wearing a STRAIGHT PRIDE T shirt. "I think the majority of students here believe that's not how it is."