Josh Ritter Protests Pa. College’s Gay Policy

Ritter made the announcement on Facebook hours after playing a Friday night concert at Messiah College in Grantham, Pa., southwest of Harrisburg.

Messiah students and staff have to sign a “community covenant” promising to avoid homosexual behavior and premarital sex.

Ritter calls the policy exclusionary and bigoted. He says he’s donating his fee to an organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services.

Messiah spokeswoman Beth Lorow says the administration is disappointed that Ritter is speaking in favor of tolerance but isn’t applying those principles to their religious freedoms.

Ritter talked about the policy during the show. Lorow says his comments on stage weren’t as harsh as his Facebook posting.