Jim & Michelle Deferio #fundie media.www.thelamron.com

Two non-denominational Christian preachers calling for the repentance of gays attracted attention from hundreds of students on Tuesday, many of whom protested their presence.

Jim Deferio and his daughter Michelle, both from Syracuse, arrived on [SUNY Geneseo] campus shortly before noon and remained on the college green for over five hours: finally leaving at 5:30 p.m. Jim Deferio held a sign proclaiming that gays have been healed through faith and touted Web sites including exhomosexuals.com and hopeforhomosexuals.com.

Large numbers of students crowded around the demonstrators, in some cases insulting and denouncing their message. Many were offended by Jim Deferio's often inflammatory comments, such as his denial that there is a biological basis for homosexuality.

"All sex out of marriage is a sin," Deferio said. "Jesus defined marriage as between a man and a woman." He claimed that homosexuals are 40 times more likely than heterosexuals to molest children, and declared John Lennon an "evil person."

According to Michelle Deferio, she and her father are not affiliated with and do not receive any support from outside organizations, and have no political goal. They have held similar demonstrations at other SUNY campuses, including a Sept. 11 appearance at Brockport. She said that different cultures struggle with different issues related to the teachings of God, and that she and her father focus on sexual immorality when at college campuses because it is most relevant for that audience. "I want people to have a real relationship with God," she said.

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