Christina O'Connor | The Roanoke Times

Radford University freshman Rachael Fortune shows her support Wednesday at a diversity rally organized by several on-campus organizations such as Spectrum, Radford’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight ally group, and Radford’s Young Democrats.

RADFORD -- Gathering in the late afternoon sun Wednesday, about 75 Radford University students chanted a message they wanted all of campus to hear: "Diversity for the university."

The RU rally was one of several events held on campus in the past two weeks to protest a March 29 column published in the student newspaper that called homosexuality a "proud, sinful lifestyle."

"All I want is a safe space where I can walk across campus with my partner," said Bekah Parker, co-president of the RU Women's Studies Club, to the crowd outside of Heth Hall.

"I believe that all of us deserve the same rights no matter what."

Parker, a 23-year-old graduating senior from eastern North Carolina, implored her fellow students to speak out if they hear racial, ethnic, religious or sexual slurs on campus.

She also urged students to vote against a measure on the Nov. 7 ballot that would make the state's ban on same-sex marriage part of Virginia's constitution.

Another student, who identified himself as a straight ally, said he was appalled when he read the commentary penned by Brian Erskine, a 20-year-old junior from Stephens City, in The Tartan.

Aaron French, a graduating senior, told students that he had grown up in a town where homosexuality was derided and that he changed his mind about it when he was in high school.

"Printing hate speech that is disguised as an 'Insight' is extremely offensive," French, 23, said after the rally, referring to the section of the paper where the column ran.

"I'm part of the mainstream. As part of the majority, I want to make sure that people know I think it's wrong."

Christina O'Connor | The Roanoke Times

Derrick Rommel, a Radford sophomore, belts out John Lennon lyrics for the crowd that gathered for the diversity rally.

Three student organizations -- the Radford Young Democrats, the Women's Studies Club and Spectrum, the campus lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight ally group -- planned Wednesday's rally because they wanted to show their support for equal rights for all of Radford's students.

"It's not a personal thing against any writer," said Amanda Abel of the Young Democrats.

Other students echoed Abel's sentiments.

"We're not asking to get him removed. It's not about him," said Thomas Martin, a 19-year-old sophomore from Richlands. "The article is a symptom of a larger issue."

Erskine, whose article appeared on The Tartan's Web site April 6, did not attend Wednesday's event and said he was not invited.

"It would not contribute to a healthy environment if I were there," he said Wednesday afternoon prior to the rally. "I think it could possibly get out of hand."

In his original article, Erskine wrote: "The common arguments from homosexuals don't hold any more water than a sifter. If God is about love, why would he punish me? He does not punish anyone, they punish themselves."

He cited several Bible verses to support his views.

Brian Erskin

Erskine said he believed the members of Spectrum were acting responsibly by holding a peaceful demonstration and exercising their constitutional right to assemble.

But he also said he was disappointed with the way some students -- particularly some members of the Women's Studies Group -- had responded to his article, arguing that they missed his point.

Immediately after the commentary ran in the newspaper, many students voiced their displeasure with it on two different facebook.com groups. One is called "People against homophobic Tartan writers." The other is "Brian Erskine should apologize for his actions."

Students have also written letters to the editor of The Tartan rejecting Erskine's arguments.

An unknown student or group of students also inserted a page-long rebuttal to Erskine's column in about 800 to 900 copies of Wednesday's issue of the newspaper, said Noelle Selb, the editor.

Selb is planning to meet with an administrator in the Dean of Students Office today to discuss how to handle the situation.

Christina O'Connor | The Roanoke Times

John Brill, secretary of Radford’s Spectrum group, wears a green ribbon to show his support.

Some students have supported Erskine's views, or at least his right to express them, on the Web site of Whim, RU's alternative online student magazine.

Earlier this year, Whim was at the center of another free speech controversy on campus because of "Christ on Campus," a cartoon series the magazine is publishing.

The cartoons have depicted Jesus Christ being pummeled, stabbed by Santa Claus and being called a glorified Easter bunny.

Erskine, a self-professed Christian, himself weighed in on the cartoons, saying they were crude but that he would defend the cartoonist's right to publish them.

The university administration has also issued statements in support of both publications' rights to publish and encourages students "to exercise such liberty in a manner that is responsible, tasteful and consistent with journalistic standards."