Josh Ritter took to Facebook following a performance at Pennsylvania’s Messiah College to voice his support for the gay community after learning that the college asks student’s to sign an anti-gay waiver.
Huffington Post reports that the singer/songwriter took to Facebook after his performance where he posted a headline-making statement.
“Today I was Grantham, Pennsylvania, at Messiah College, and as I was doing a little digging about the place I learned something that surprised and disappointed me,” he began. “Messiah College requires all students to sign a "Community Covenant" promising to, among other things, “avoid such sinful practices as…homosexual behavior….”
Continuing he adds, “This policy, which I see as exclusionary and bigoted, could not run more counter to my personal beliefs. If I had done my homework, and read about Messiah's policies ahead of time, I would never have agreed to play there.”
According to Huffington Post, Ritter is currently touring in support of his album The Beast in Its Tracks. Ritter used the stage to encourage the students to be open about their beliefs and to promote change.
“I spoke honestly about my personal views - that we should all have the right to love - and to marry freely, no matter what our sexual orientation. Everyone was respectful and kind, and it is my hope that they'll continue to demand a change to the Community Covenant,” he continues.
“I hope to have made the best of a difficult situation,” he explains. “I'm donating the fee I received from Messiah College tonight in its entirety to The Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.”
Ritter concludes his post, stating that he “won't play Messiah College again - not until they welcome, in word and deed, all members of their faith regardless of sexuality, and I urge my fellow musicians to do the same.”
The college has not responded to Ritter’s Facebook post.
image: Josh Ritter Facebook
