Their message: BYU discriminates against gays and that's not OK.

Soulforce - a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender advocacy group - is scheduled to visit the school April 10 as part of a nationwide Equality Ride tour. After previous stops at other religious schools and military academies, more than 30 advocates plan to comb the Provo campus to talk to students about how BYU allegedly oppresses homosexuals.

"All these schools teach history, and history shows a wealth of information that religion has been misused time and again to discriminate against people," said Jacob Reitan, co-director of Equality Ride. "Is it really OK that I couldn't be a student at BYU simply because I'm gay?"

BYU's Honor Code - which prohibits extramarital sex and drug and alcohol use - addresses homosexuality in this way:

"Brigham Young University will respond to student behavior rather than to feelings or orientation. Students can be enrolled at the university and remain in good Honor Code standing if they maintain a current ecclesiastical endorsement and conduct their lives in a manner consistent with gospel principles and the Honor Code.

"Advocacy of a homosexual lifestyle [whether implied or explicit] or any behaviors that indicate homosexual conduct, including those not sexual in nature, are inappropriate and violate the Honor Code."

BYU officials sent a campuswide e-mail this week advising students and faculty of the impending Soulforce visit.

In her message, Vice President of Student Life Janet Scharman told students and faculty that BYU's campus is open to all visitors as long as they are courteous and engage in nondisruptive, civil dialogue.

"Individuals may not, however, harass our students, faculty or staff or use our campus as a public forum in violation of BYU's public-expression policy," she wrote. "This policy applies to anyone or any organization that wishes to come onto our campus."

BYU junior Matt Snow doesn't mind Soulforce advocates coming to campus. "If anything, it should solidify how we feel about the matter," said the exercise-science major.

Scharman said BYU has told Soulforce the school will not change its policies or practices to accommodate the group's desire to promote its initiatives. She added if Soulforce activists follow BYU's policies, then students and faculty should show them the same civility.

"They should be treated fairly," said BYU freshman Jessie Cook, a Houston native. "Just because we don't believe in what they're doing doesn't mean we think they're bad or we're discriminating against them."

Soulforce Riders have run into resistance at several campuses on their 19-stop, coast-to-coast venture, many confrontations leading to arrests.

Richard Lindsay, a spokesman for the Equality Riders, said the advocates are not afraid to trespass if a school refuses to allow them on campus.

"If we feel like the school is cutting us off and not letting us have any kind of forum, then we're willing to take a more direct approach," Lindsay said.

Members of the group have been arrested at Liberty University (Lynchburg, Va.), Regent University (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Oral Roberts University (Tulsa, Okla.).

Lindsay said the group is stopping at schools with written policies against homosexual activity.

thollingshead@sltrib.com

Soulforce rally

Besides its visit to Brigham Young University, Soulforce also plans to stage a rally April 10 at 6 p.m. at Provo's Kiwanis Park.