Raising his voice for gay rights

Lutheran, The, Oct 2004 by Peterson, Heather B

Log Cabin Republicans honor his efforts

Grant Turck is motivated, determined and gay. The junior at Pepperdine University, Malibu, Calif., won the 2004 Liberty Education % Forum and Log Cabin Republican Spirit of Lincoln Award for Youth Leadership. (Log Cabin Republicans is a group of gay Republicans; see www.lcr.org.)

Turck received the award for "challenging anti-gay policies" at Pepperdine. As a sophomore he started a student-run organization called Students Against Homophobia. Its mission is "to educate the Pepperdine community about homophobia and its effects."

It isn't the first group he has started. Turck, a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Cincinnati, helped launch the Gay-Straight Alliance at Madeira [Ohio] High School.

After the Lo 2 Cabin honor. Turck ran into trouble at Pennerdine when he applied for offical university recognition of Students Against Homophobia. Recognition would have allowed the group to meet on campus, advertise and receive some financial support. Pepperdine denied the application, stating: "[The university] will not recognize a student organization that promotes the teaching or behavior inconsistent with our ethical norms."

After the denial, Turck and others submitted an application through state and federal systems for official 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization status. They are waiting for approval and then plan to launch a national awareness campaign at educational institutions.

Turck believes God will work through the fledgling organization, saying: "God, as he always does, will work wonders within Students Against Homophobia. So often in life, doors are shut in the gay community's face. However, it is through [the organization] that I hope to make a concerted effort with the help of God to end this by instead keeping the door open and reaching out to these important groups of people through education. For too long we as a society have neglected to address the issue of homophobia and its truly damaging effects on both humans and the learning environment."

About the past year's honors and frustrations, Turck reflected: "God has shown that he will always be there ready to offer support, encouragement, vision and, above all, love. I feel extremely optimistic and positive about life, and future possibilities seem endless. I think this is partly because of my increased trust and faith in the Lord."

Heather B. Peterson