UPDATE: PBAU changes course, decides to let gay Christian group onto campus

About two weeks ago, I told you about Palm Beach Atlantic University's refusal to allow Soulforce, a national Christian gay rights group, visit its campus. Tonight comes word that the university has reconsidered its decision ... sort of:

Palm Beach Atlantic University officials reconsidered their initial ban of a gay students' rights group from campus, offering members a space for a few hours on Monday to meet with select students and staff from the private Christian school.

But the group, called Soulforce, said the invitation is too restrictive and that members plan to walk onto PBAU's downtown West Palm Beach campus at noon hoping to conduct a more open forum.

"Unfortunately, the format is not conducive to reaching out to the Palm Beach Atlantic community in the spirit of open dialogue," a statement released by Soulforce today said in reference to PBAU's offer.

"Additionally, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students who need to hear our message of love and affirmation would not be reached in this format."

Looks to me like the classic right-wing tactic of doing just enough to appear to be open-minded, yet still controlling the playing field in every meaningful way. The point of Soulforce's visit is to minister to GLBT students, not just to meet with "pre-selected" students and staff.

Moreover, PBAU may have opened up a legal can of worms here, I think. If they stuck with their original decision to refuse access outright, they could rest quite easily on their status as a private university and the accompanying right to permit access to whomever they please. However, by granting limited access in this way, I think they've opened themselves up to a First Amendment challenge: if you give Soulforce access, you've got to allow them to deliver their message.

Granted, it's been a long time since I studied First Amendment law, and PBAU's private status may trump free speech objections anyway. But this wishy-washy response might create additional problems, if it's determined that, once they permit access, the university must provide a complete forum free from obstructions or parameters.

Ultimately, though, at bottom, you have to ask: what is PBAU so afraid of anyway?

This is Soulforce's third annual "Equality Ride," although Monday will be its first visit to a Florida school. This year's ride includes 17 young adults who travel in a tour bus and have been trained in non-violent resistance and how to speak with students who have different religious beliefs.

Soulforce members are known for challenging school administrators with attempts to go on private campuses, and past tours have resulted in trespassing arrests.

Soulforce is scheduled to arrive on PBAU's West Palm Beach campus at 10:00 a.m. on Monday morning. This could be a very interesting confrontation. Stay tuned ...

(cross-posted at Pax Americana)