CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Creative writing senior Omar Garbareno, front, and veterinary science junior Megan Nyboer hold signs protesting Tim Wilkins, a Baptist minister, last night outside the Student Union Memorial Center.

About 30 students, staff and members of the Tucson community protested outside the Student Union Memorial Center last night as a minister spoke against homosexuality to over 200 people.

Pride Alliance, an ASUA resource center for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students, organized the protest against the appearance of Tim Wilkins, a North Carolina-based minister and director of Cross Ministry.

Cross Ministry is a religious organization that disagrees with the homosexual lifestyle.

Wilkins' speech, which was held in the ballroom of the union, focused on his own previous homosexuality, and how his religious faith led him to become a heterosexual.

Wilkins also said that homosexuals deserve to be apologized to for the persecution they have felt from the Christian community.

"Christians have not always addressed the issue of homosexuality as lovingly and redemptively as they should," said Wilkins during his 30-minute speech which was followed by an almost hour-long question and answer portion with audience members.

"We've not addressed this issue as well as we could. For that there needs to be an apology," he said.

But members of the Pride Alliance said Wilkins' message was offensive.

John Tucker, co-director of the Pride Alliance and a molecular and cellular biology senior, said the Refuge, a collegiate ministry service affiliated with the Baptist Student Union, contacted the resource center in early September to ask if they would like to be involved in a dialogue with Tim Wilkins.

After Pride Alliance's executive board looked at the Cross Ministry Web site, they contacted Wilkins and asked him not to deliver his talk during National Coming Out Week, a weeklong series of events being presented by the Pride Alliance.

But Wilkins denies that he had any knowledge of National Coming Out Week that is being held on UA campus this week.

"It was not our plan to have this talk during ÎComing Out Week,'" Wilkins said as he wrapped up his speech.

"We thought it was last week," Wilkins said. He added that the official National Coming Out Day was on Oct. 11.

Eddy Peason, director of the Refuge, said that Wilkins does not present a hateful message.

"Wilkin's approaches homosexuality in a non-hateful way," Pearson said. "He is not an anti-gay or radical speaker."

But Jonna Lopez, a women's studies senior and director of the Pride Alliance, said that Wilkins' speech unfairly targets the homosexual community.

"This is about using religion to condemn an entire group of people," Lopez said.

Wikins, who said he was a homosexual for 10 years until he became more involved in his own religious faith, wanted to stress the importance of not using religious faith to coerce someone from a homosexual lifestyle.

CLAIRE C. LAURENCE/Arizona Daily Wildcat Sociology junior Rachel Zinn entices students to pose a question to fellow Pride Alliance members as part of "Coming Out Week" yesterday in front of the Student Union Memorial Center.

"I just want to talk about what Christ has done in my life," Wilkins said.

Along with protesters from Pride Alliance, UA staff members and Gay and Lesbian Alliance groups also went to show their concern over Wilkins' message.

"It's really important that this protest is not just gay people," said Stephanie Milner, an undeclared junior and member of Students Promoting Respect for Individuality through Example.

"Straight allies are more likely to be heard because we're not the ones being oppressed," Milner said.

Protesters held signs that read "God loves everyone" and "Judge not lest you be judged" among others, as well as chanting "Hey hey ho homophobia's got to go."

Some UA students at the union yesterday evening stopped to watch.

"I think it's good the

protesters are speaking for what they believe in," said onlooker Stephanie Powers, an undeclared freshman.

Some student members of the Refuge felt that the presence of protesters was a positive sign, and that Wilkins' appearance at the UA was something that would cater to different student beliefs and perspectives on homosexuality and religion.

"I think the protest is cool in that it's drawing attention to this," said Jenny Cain, music education senior and Refuge member. "This is a great opportunity for groups to come together and listen. I'm excited."

As part of National Coming Out Week, members of the Pride Alliance held a panel discussion yesterday on the north side of the union.

Members from the Pride Alliance answered questions from students passing by.

"It's important for gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender students to have affirmation from other people that are gay," Tucker said. "For them to realize that it's not the end of the world."

The resource center will also be holding events today and tomorrow including "Cross Dress Cabaret" in which members of UA clubs will participate in a drag

contest.

For more information on Coming Out Week, visit www.pridealliance.org