‘No One is Born Gay’ tabling event stirs controversy at University of Alabama

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A student event at The University of Alabama (UA) titled “Prove Me Wrong” provoked an outcry over a sign that read “Hot Take: No One is Born Gay,” encouraging students to vote “yes” or “no” on a whiteboard.

Key Players

Jaden Heard, an Auburn University (AU) sophomore, led the tabling event at UA.

The event was registered under AU’s chapter of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), an American nonprofit that advocates for conservative values on high school and higher education campuses, affirming that “every young person can be enlightened to true free market values.” Heard is an event coordinator for TPUSA’s Auburn chapter. 

Further Details

The incident at UA was not Heard’s first controversy. In November 2021, he was criticized for anti-vaccine advocacy. According to Campus Reform, a conservative outlet for which Heard serves as a correspondent, he led a protest of over 100 students to demonstrate against AU’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. 

On April 18, 2022, an event sponsored by TPUSA titled “Prove Me Wrong” was registered to be held from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at UA’s Student Center Plaza. 

“Will have a topic and UA students/ local people will have to opportunity to prove me wrong on my topic of choice,” the event description stated, making no reference to a specific topic. 

Led by Heard, the event featured a sign that read “Hot Take: No One Is Born Gay” and asked students to respond “yes” or “no” to the statement on a whiteboard. 

Outcome

Student groups and others voice disagreement

That day, more than 100 students arrived in protest. Over a dozen student organizations offered support for LGBTQ+ students and condemned the event on social media, including the Queer Student Association, the Women and Gender Resource Center Student Leadership Council, student government, and more, The Crimson White reported. 

Many expressed disappointment with UA’s response. Preston Merritt, a freshman, was “shocked UA let such an offensive idea and message be on display for all of campus and new students and parents touring” and and said he was “glad LGBTQIA+ members and allies came together to get the right message across.” Veronica Ramos, a junior, said she saw “a lot of people crying” at the event. 

Heard leaves with police escort, TPUSA advisor says event was never discussed

Later that day, Heard left “around 1:45 p.m. with a police escort after packing up the table and materials, which included a Turning Point tablecloth and stickers,” The Crimson White reported.  

George Hawley, the campus adviser for the UA chapter of TPUSA, alleged the event “was not discussed with him ahead of time.” Another TPUSA representative said the UA chapter “did not have permission from the national organization to host the event and that Heard is not affiliated with the UA chapter.”

As of May 4, 2022, the TPUSA event was listed as canceled. 

Heard reflects, defends actions

Shortly after, Heard told The Crimson White he had hosted similar events and wanted to “get a lot of people talking” with a controversial topic. “It wasn’t my intention to attack anyone’s identity, but just simply to get the conversation started,” said Heard. 

Response from University of Alabama

On April 20, 2022, Steven Hood, interim vice president for student life, and G. Christine Taylor, vice president and associate provost for diversity, equity, and inclusion, stated via Instagram that UA “continuously strives to make our campus more welcoming and inclusive — a campus where all students, faculty, and staff are valued and and are free to participate in reasoned and open discourse.” 

“The First Amendment that protects the rights of student groups to register events and state controversial opinions also protects the rights of community members to disagree.”

Queer Student Association holds pride event

On April 22, 2022, the Queer Student Association held a counterprotest over another TPUSA tabling event that was set to take place on the same day. According to The Crimson White, at least 50 students demonstrated with Pride flags and posters. Reportedly, TPUSA did not show up.  

However, QSA’s event garnered anti-LGBTQ messages on Yik Yak, a social media app that lets users view anonymous discussion threads posted in a five-mile radius. “Walked right past the gay rally and got [Chick-fil-A] for lunch because I hate gay people,” an anonymous user wrote. “Hot take: I was born a homophobe,” another posted. 

Nevertheless, many felt the counterprotest was a success. Jas Orr, president of the Queer Student Association, praised its turnout. “I am thrilled at the outcome. I am happy that people are showing up. Today was a labor of love for me,” Orr said. “I had a couple different people reach out and ask me if they could do something like this, so I threw it together and worked my tail end off to make it happen.”

“There’s a difference between speaking your mind and speaking trying to invalidate an entire group of people,” Erin Stender, a gender and race studies graduate student, said. “But it was almost heartwarming to see everyone get together [Friday] as a group and make their presence visible.”