The College Republicans brought Dr. John Diggs to campus Tuesday. Diggs presented a controversial speech titled "The Medical Effects of Homo-Sex" to a packed Jundt Auditorium.
Diggs' proposed appearance on campus gave rise to concern on behalf of the University and gay rights advocates. Dr. Raymond Reyes, associate vice president for diversity, expressed concern about the campus climate following the lecture. Reyes worried that such a speech could be misconstrued and Diggs' message could be used to create anti-gay sentiment.
Reyes, who had listened to Diggs' previous lectures on CD prior to the lecture, expressed concern to Sue Weitz, vice president of student life. Based on the planned topic for the speech, the College Republicans were not given University approval and therefore could not advertise the event. To gain University approval, however, the College Republicans were given the option to have Diggs change the title and topic of the speech to be more universal, covering the harmful affects of all human sexuality as it pertains to penetrative anal intercourse and promiscuity.
Dan Brutocao, president of the College Republicans, decided not to change the topic of the speech, reasoning that Diggs would be more knowledgeable on the speech he had already prepared. After talking to Diggs, Brutocao decided to change the title from "The Medical Effects of Homosexuality" to "The Medical Effects of Homo-Sex," because according to Brutocao, the term homosexuality denotes a person, whereas homo-sex refers specifically to the acts involved, which was more pertinent to the lecture.
Diggs' 75-minute lecture Tuesday night outlined the negative effects of homosexuality as it pertains to both society and the individual. Key points from his speech included the assertion that homosexuality is defined by two "inarguable" characteristics: promiscuity and penetrative anal intercourse. Diggs also said homosexuality was strongly responsible for the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), particularly HIV, in both gay and straight circles.
Rod Aminian, president of Helping Educate Regarding Orientation (HERO), said Diggs' lecture went beyond the discussion of sex.
"Dr. Diggs is an ideologue of vulgar proportions," Aminian said. "He stretched fact, used dodgy nomenclature and used every token anti-gay byline in the lexicon of anti-gay bylines."
Items that Aminian took particular issue with centered on Diggs' statements on promiscuity, especially the assertion "that gay men are not out for love and companionship, just pure, unabashed sex," Aminian said.
Aminian also cast doubt on the validity of Diggs' points, specifically a statistic Diggs cited from a 1978 study claiming 28 percent of gay males had more than 1,000 sexual partners in their lifetime.
HERO set up a table on the steps of the Crosby Student Center earlier in the day on Tuesday to distribute pamphlets and rainbow ribbons as well as encourage people to attend the lecture.
Reyes said that the lecture was a "blessing in disguise," creating the potential for thoughtful discourse on this subject. "What are we going to do now to be responsible for what we know and make a climate which demonstrates Christian ideals?" Reyes asked. Reyes discussed the importance of being critical consumers of information: inputting multiple perspectives so we can learn from one another.
"If [the College Republicans] wanted people to listen, they failed, because they limited debate to five questions following the lecture," Aminian said.
"I wished the [question and answer session] could have been longer, but the speech had run so long already, I didn't want the speaker to be up there for two hours," Brutocao said.
Aminian thinks that some issues were left unspoken following this event. Aminian said he plans to have a "sit-down with Brutocao."
Brutocao also mentioned plans to collaborate with other clubs in the spring to have a panel discussion offering both sides of issues.
According to Reyes, discourse is necessary for understanding. Reyes cites the alliterative slogan that grace Unity House as inspiration: "Courageous conversations create caring communities."
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