Jim Deferio, a 59-year-old Syracuse resident, once again faced protesters outside of the New University Union yesterday when he returned to Binghamton University to voice his anti-gay sentiments.
He did not face the crowds of students alone, but was joined by Greg Jacobs of Pennsylvania, a member of Preaching Jesus 777 Ministries.
Amidst jeers, shouting matches with bystanders and chants of “Leave!” from an estimated crowd of 70 students, the two stated their beliefs that God condemns homosexuals.
“We’re here to tell people that we’re all sinners and God provides a way out for us,” Deferio said, holding a sign that read, “Thousands of ex-homosexuals have experienced the life-changing love of Jesus Christ.”
According to Deferio and Jacobs, they were urging students to uphold the Christian view of sexuality in the Bible.
“The Bible is the only true word and the books in your library are a waste of time,” Jacobs said.
Students in the crowd, although they agreed that Deferio and Jacobs had the right to speak under the First Amendment, disapproved of their messages.
“All he talks is hate,” said Michael Herz, a sophomore environmental science major. “This is not the venue to say it because of the diversity of this campus.”
Herz suggested that Deferio speak his thoughts in a more subtle manner.
“He shouldn’t be calling people out,” he said.
Lauren Webb, a sophomore psychobiology major, also disagreed with their stance.
“All of America is made up of different people,” she said. “If [God] hated homosexuals, why would they exist?”
Will Edgecomb, also a sophomore psychobiology major, held a sign that read “Intolerance of Intolerance is Tolerance.”
“It’s uplifting so many people think this guy is wrong,” he said.
Deferio, who came to BU in April and last October, spent over six hours at SUNY Oswego on Monday expressing the same views.
Deferio graduated from Syracuse’s Environmental Science and Forestry school with bachelor of science degrees in biology and forestry, and first started making speeches in 2003, visiting BU once a semester.
“It’s important to make a habit of going [each year],” he said.
Since speaking is Deferio’s full-time job, his wife, who works as a nurse, helps with his travel expenses of going to each campus.
Deferio said he justifies each visit by spreading the word of the gospel.
“I felt convicted that I was given so much, but I wasn’t sharing it with others,” he said. “[God’s] word is to set us free.”