There is a very fine line between what is considered hate speech and what is considered freedom of speech. That is exemplified by the recent GSA chalkings. Freedom of Speech allows you to express your viewpoint on a certain situation, and that is exactly what the GSA did. They wanted people to become aware of their beliefs on homosexuality. The GSA stated their opinion in a way that is not hurtful or harmful to anyone.

However, when chalkings showed up stating “God Hates Fags” and a verse from Leviticus 18:22, “you shall not lie with a male as with a female,” a sense of hostility was sensed towards the gay community.

I believe the “God Hates Fags” chalking can be classified as hate speech. This messages was written in response to the GSA chalkings, it was not chalked to voice their opinions on gayness or homosexuality on their own time. I believe that chalking was made to feel homosexuals inferior; they were purposely made to harm people. That is what classifies that chalking as hate speech.

The college deemed the Leviticus verse as someone expressing their own religious views, so the chalkings are still present today. I agree with the college that this is just another person’s viewpoint, but I believe the person expressing their viewpoint in response to “Coming Out Day” is offensive and hateful. Even though that person was just expressing their freedom of speech, the message was still written to make homosexuals feel inferior.

One can say that these writings were just written out of freedom of speech, and they wanted to express their own viewpoint. This can be true, but the person should let the GSA know their opinions, not chalk their opinions anonymously. Your freedom of speech is taken away when you don’t put your name to your thoughts or opinions. This is exactly why these writings were hate speech, and not freedom of speech.