Sometimes, there is no going H.O.M.E. The anti-gay organization Heterosexuals Organized for a Moral Environment has come to NEIU on and off since at least 1994. Most of the time, they were either ignored or protested.
That all changed in fall of 2003 when a large protest broke out, and students demanded changes in policy from the administration. Since then, Heterosexuals Organizing for a Moral Environment (H.O.M.E.) have had a history with the students on campus.
“They told us they wanted to come on November 13, and we got word out to the students so they could mobilize a response. We contacted them to tell them to use the B-Wing, and they responded back that they weren’t coming,” said Dean of Students Michael Kelly.
Regardless, students from the Socialist Club and the GLBA were prepared to meet H.O.M.E. in the event that they did show up. At 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 13, around 10 students affiliated with the two groups waited in Village Square with a table and signs protesting bigotry and hate speech. H.O.M.E. never showed up to meet their opposition.
“It was anti-climatic, but we still had a presence,” said Rachel Cohen of the Socialist Club. “The administration likes to brag about diversity, but they refuse to take a stance for student rights. Every time H.O.M.E. has come here we’ve given them hell. They chickened out his time, but that doesn’t change the fact that the administration still allowed them to come.”
According to Kelly, H.O.M.E. was not invited to come to campus. Since the university is state property, they can show up whenever they choose.
“They can’t threaten, berate or shout at students, and they can’t be disruptive,” Kelly said. “If there is a likelihood that their presence will result in lawless action, then we can ask them to leave.”
Kelly clarified that lawful protests, such as the one planned by the Socialist Club and the GLBA, will not be grounds for the university to ask H.O.M.E. to leave.
Director of the Student Union Felicia Keelen said H.O.M.E.’s spokesman told her their appearance was never planned. “They may have just been inquiring about the day,” she said. She also said that H.O.M.E. did not mention another day for coming to campus.