LAURA JANE KENNY | staff writer

The AIDS Walk is used as a ploy for pushing political and religious agendas.

At a walk supposedly in support of AIDS research, propaganda being thrown into the crowd was merely a ploy by the liberal left to get across their agenda. The conservative right, however, did nothing less, showing up to condemn those who were actually there to lend a hand by displaying signs reading “God destroyed Sodom.”

As the Living Area Council representative for Trinity 5 South I thought it would be a great idea for our hall to do the AIDS Walk in Los Angeles.

The money raised from the AIDS Walk went mostly to AIDS Project Los Angeles, which teaches prevention for AIDS and tries to reduce the spread of AIDS in the LA area. What a great way to help the direct community that we live in! Or so I thought.

After raising over $1000 and going through the stress of driving in LA and finding parking, we maneuvered around the 30,000 people who had come to the event in search of a better spot. As our group was squeezing through the crowd, we could hear the celebrities and guest speakers over the sound system.

Many of the speakers, such as T.R. Knight from Grey’s Anatomy, thanked us for coming and tried to create energy and spirit among the participants. However, some speakers took this as an opportunity to preach.

One speaker approached the microphone and passionately spoke about the need for contraception education. This was a hot button issue and definitely caught my ear.

I listened as the woman informed the crowd that the issue was not about teaching kids about contraception.It was about America needing to put condom machines in the bathrooms and under the bleachers in schools across America.

Not only did she not mention abstinence as an option, she did not even talk about AIDS. It felt as though someone had informed her that the AIDS Walk was going on and she decided it would be a great opportunity to tell more people about her political view.

Liberal propaganda was being thrown at every person in the audience and, even worse, it was being cushioned with the idea that the woman was speaking at an AIDS event, so it must be right.

What exactly did I sign my entire hall up to walk for? Even though the money we raised went to a center that helped people learn more about AIDS and supported research, I could not help but feel that because we choose to sign up with an event that had booked these people to speak, our presence was supporting the ideas being advocated for.

I felt as if I had been tricked. Not only had I come and opened myself to this propaganda, but I had also brought many other students with me.

In the middle of all this frustration, the walk began. At the beginning of our walk, two transvestites stood cheering us on. Men dressed as cheerleaders with wigs, skirts, and impossibly high heels were holding pom-pom’s and yelling encouragements. At the finish line we were greeted with transvestites dressed as hookers and nuns to cheer us as well.

These people were happy that we were there to support AIDS research. Even though I disagree with their lifestyle, I felt the bigger issue was more important. We were there to support AIDS research and love others through our participation, something I thought the girls on my hall did a good job representing.

We were not the only Christians setting an example, however. In the middle of the walk, there were “Christian” protestors on the side of the street with megaphones and huge signs that read “Read the Bible” and “God destroyed Sodom”.

“Don’t they teach the bible at APU?” one person called out to us as we walked by. My roommate turned to me and explained her frustration. She said that people like that are why people do not like Christians.

These protestors were taking advantage of the situation just like the speakers. They not only stereotyped the people that were attending the AIDS walk, but they also set a bad example of Christianity. They were judgmental and condemning as they shouted at walkers to repent from their sins.

I can adamantly say that my participation in the AIDS Walk, and my assistance in raising money to help people who had AIDS help find a cure, was far from a sin.

I have never met a person who has walked by a protestor screaming at them and thought, “Oh, wait. You are right! I am a dirty sinner. Let me change my ways so I can yell at people too.”

I think that as Christians it is our duty to love on all people, no matter what sin they deal with. But these protestors were inhibiting our affect and, I felt, canceling out all the good we might have done with their bad.

The protestors and the speakers were taking this event, this act of community service that over 30,000 had attended, and using it to their personal or political benefit. I left the event frustrated and confused, wishing the two extremes could bring it to a healthy middle. Just goes to show how much good it does to shove your beliefs down someone’s throat.