Love on a Mission (LOAM) describes themselves as “a non profit organization working to provide a safe place for our LGBTQ+ youth in our community.” Recently, the organization planned to host its first queer prom.
“Some of our kids are homeschooled and don’t have a prom to go to, and others might not feel comfortable bringing a same-sex partner,” LOAM founder Deena Hamilton explains.
Unfortunately, local radical extremists caught wind of the event. Calls poured in to the event’s venue, Buckeye Imagination Museum. The “museum” caved to the pressure of a few abhorrent extremists, cancelling the event they had previously agreed to host.
Buckeye released a statement claiming “as information about the event has been shared with us, the museum has concluded that we are no longer the facility who will host this event,” implying they were ignorant to the details of the event they originally agreed to host.
The radical extremists have made many claims about the event, but one stands above the rest. This claim, that the event is designed for “grooming,” stands on loose footing, at best. Realistically this claim is meant more to hurt and further ostracize the LGBTQ+ youth of our community. The extremists cannot stomach an event that caters to people they choose to hate.
“Jesus consistently rebukes the way of cowardice: the way of choosing self over loving others, seeking ease at the expense of the down and out, or helping one’s own cause when it oppresses or neglects the poor and needy.” Red River Counseling doesn’t mince words when it comes to their explanation of cowardice in a 2017 blog post titled Cowardice and Christianity. Yet its this same form of cowardice that these extremists and Buckeye Imagination Museum employed to conspire the disruption of LOAM’s queer prom.
The more the community caves to these cowardly extremists, the more we enable them. It has long been said that the only way to stop a bully is to stand up to them. Unfortunately, when Buckeye Imagination Museum was tasked with providing a safe place for LGBTQ+ children in our community they caved at the slightest bit of pressure. If Buckeye Imagination Museum cannot provide a safe place for these children, it brings into question their ability to provide a safe environment for any children.
Despite the turmoil created by Buckeye Imagination Museum’s abject cowardice and the radicals that called for it, LOAM is not deterred.
“If we can’t find a venue at the last moment, this event will be rescheduled, but not cancelled,” Hamilton says.
Hopefully our community can find similar courage and stand up against hateful extremists and set an example for Buckeye Imagination Museum to follow.
Chad Walters
Mansfield