“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” -Romans 3:23
Davis Mallory, described as the “token gay guy” from the Real World: Denver will deliver a speech Thursday night called “Finding Common Ground.” Mallory is a homosexual and a Christian, and exists as both a bridge and a target simply by being who he is.
Mallory’s speech is scheduled for Thursday, April 26 from 7-9 p.m. It will take place in the East Tennessee Room on the third floor of the D.P. Culp Center. Mallory’s visit is sponsored by the Rainbow Alliance and Campus Crusade for Christ.
Mallory, 23, is from Marietta, Ga., and was raised Baptist. SGA Senator and Rainbow Alliance member Travis Lockner is one of those responsible for Mallory’s visit. Lockner can relate to Mallory’s message, as he is also a homosexual Christian.
Lockner grew up in Erwin, Tenn., and was raised in a religious household.
“Being gay and Christian is something that is a controversial matter, but needs to be spoken about,” Lockner said.
Lockner said he hoped that students attending the speech would take away from it a message of tolerance and acceptance, no matter what color, gender or sexual orientation a person is.
Lockner also stated that the purpose of bringing Mallory to ETSU was not to stir up controversy or trouble from homophobic people.
“At ETSU we pride ourselves on tolerance, diversity and accepting one another,” he said.
Campus Crusade for Christ is co-sponsoring this event. After Davis Mallory’s speech, CCC director Earle Chute will give a response.
“I’m going to talk about the love of Christ and the gospel, and the fact that God loves everybody, Chute said. “It doesn’t matter who you are, what your background might be or anything else. He loves everyone.”
Chute believes it is a tragedy that so many churches have condemned homosexuality and “expressed hatred” towards the homosexual community.
“To do so and to express hatred is not the love of God. We feel like the gospel is a message of love and not of hate,” Chute said.
Women’s studies major Kristin Senter was very supportive of Mallory’s visit.
“It is not my fault that I choose to break the societal normality of today,” Senter said. “I did not choose to be this way, and I believe it would be much easier to be ‘straight’ but I can not help how I feel and I refuse to hold back who I am because society does not agree with my lifestyle.”
Mallory has also received a great deal of publicity due to the rumors of an affair with Amazing Race winner Reichen Lehmkuhl. Several magazines cite Mallory as the reason that Lehmkuhl and Lance Bass broke up.
“I can’t say for a fact that I know if Davis is the one who broke Lance and his boyfriend up. I wasn’t there so I don’t know,” Lockner said.
“It’s a tricky subject because part of me thinks, ‘Well, shit happens’ and part of me is like, ‘Why do people care so much about someone’s personal life?’

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