On Thursday, April 19th, the Westbound 2007 Soulforce Equality Ride visited the smallest school on its itinerary, Yellowstone Baptist College. YBC holds a student population of approximately 50 students and is affiliated with the Montana Southern Baptists. As one might imagine, it was an interesting day in Billings, with half as many Equality Riders as students, driving wind and rain, and a parade of mixed emotions from community members and students.

In keeping with the school’s ecumenical focus, stop organizer Emil Pohlig decided to send a scripture-focused message to the YBC community. Each Rider stood along the school’s driveway holding a lily and a scripture reference of their choice. We began our vigil at approximately 10:00 AM. It was 35 degrees, with rain and winds at 28 miles per hour to the northwest.

We stood there until 1 PM.

Yellowstone Baptist College President William Phillips made this statement on Wednesday, before our arrival: ‘”The students at Yellowstone Baptist College are adults who believe in our mission and agree to uphold our stated policies. Our policy affirms the biblical standard that human sexuality is God’s gift to human beings and is to be expressed only within marriage between one man and one woman. We do not discriminate–all sexual intimacy outside of marriage is wrong.”

I agree that human sexuality is a gift given by God. And since all people are made in the image of God, every person’s sexuality is a gift from God. Are God’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children not as gifted? Are we less than? No, we are not. I take my inspiration from Romans 12:4-7. “A body is made up of many parts, and each of them has its own use. That’s how it is with us. There are many of us, but we each are part of the body of Christ, as well as part of one another. God has given each of us different gifts to use. If we can prophesy, we should do so according to the amount of faith that we have. If we can serve others, we should serve. If we can teach, we should teach. If we can encourage others, we should encourage them. If we can give, we should be generous. If we are leaders, we should do our best. If we are good to others, we should do it cheerfully.”

I have great faith that every part of me was fearfully and wonderfully made by God. I have great faith that every part of me, and every action I take within a truly loving relationship, is affirmed and looked upon with honor by God. My faith is not measured by an allegorical Creation story. It is not measured by social constructs. It is not measured by misinformed interpretations of Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic biblical texts. It is measured between myself and my God.

When President Phillips came to the gates of the school, welcomed us to Montana and let us know how sorry he was that we had to stand in the cold and rain before going back inside, my heart broke.

We concluded the vigil by delivering our scripture verses and lilies to the steps of the chapel, then left the unwelcoming doorstep of Yellowstone Baptist College for our bus, which had no heat due to a long-broken valve. A deputy from the local sheriff’s department boarded the bus and informed a group of wet, cold but determined Equality Riders that the act of leaving fifty-two lilies on campus was considered trespassing, and if it was done again, we would be arrested.

Those could have been fifty-two lilies presented to the students of YBC as a gesture of peace and reconciliation. Instead, they represent for me the fifty-two lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth who take their own lives every thirteen days that people are barred from having this conversation. They represent fifty-two children who will never grow up. They represent fifty-two families ripped apart by hate. They represent fifty-two people who stand outside the gates of their communities and churches, as we stood outside the gates of Yellowstone Baptist College.