Bishop Gene Robinson to speak at Purdue
October 3, 2013
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Bishop Gene Robinson's Purdue University visit will include three public events on Oct. 27-28, along with classroom discussions and meetings with student and community groups.
Conversations with Gene Robinson is presented by the Purdue LGBTQ Center and Purdue Convocations with support from the Purdue Student Union Board, Chapel of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, the vice provost for diversity and inclusion, and the vice president for student affairs.
* Oct. 27. 2:30 p.m. Elliott Hall of Music." A Celebration of Community." Community and religious leaders, along with community artists and ensembles, will lead a gathering that, through story and song, celebrates inclusion and affirmation for the community at large.
* Oct. 27. 4:30 p.m. Elliott Hall of Music. Keynote address. Robinson will present his case for equal rights, using a common sense, reasoned approach, as well as a religious argument.
* Oct. 28. 7 p.m. Fowler Hall. "Panel discussion: Change Makers!" Robinson and a panel of campus and community leaders will discuss strategies to promote positive change as well as how to lead and overcome obstacles to become a leader for the change you wish to see.
Robinson, bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire in the Episcopal Church (retired), is the first openly gay person elected to the episcopate and a leading religious spokesperson for gay rights and marriage equality.
Robinson uses direct language to address complex, controversial issues, avoiding polemics and ideology, and uniting sacred and secular points of view. He's also someone for whom marriage equality is a personal issue. Married to a woman for 14 years, Robinson is a father of two children and has been married to a man for the last four years of a 25-year relationship.
Born and raised in Lexington, Ky., he completed his master of divinity degree at General Theological Seminary in 1973, and served as deacon, priest, and bishop before retiring in 2013. Robinson is now a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C. His most recent book, "God Believes in Love: Straight Talk About Gay Marriage," was published in 2012.
Source: Abby Eddy, Purdue Convocations director of marketing, 765-494-9712, aeeddy@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: Publication-quality photographs are available at http://www.convocations.org/press
