Designers refuse to be at conference if Christian is there

The Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts makes a big deal about inclusion, with a pages-long statement concerning its "passionate conversations" about ethnicity, gender, race, ability, disability and age.

But its policy of inclusion apparently goes only so far.

That became clear after AIGA declared it would not participate in a design conference unless a Christian speaker was excluded.

Fox News reported the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of AIGA refused to partner with the Circles Conference, a three-day event for graphics and user experience designers, if David Roark was on the speakers roster.

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Roark is the communications director for The Village Church, a Texas megachurch.

He was disinvited from the conference by Circles because of the demand from AIGA, the report said.

AIGA claimed the church has "discriminatory policies and practices towards (sic) women and the LGBTQ+ community."

AIGA said in a statement it would not tolerate The Village Church because of its beliefs.

AIGA claimed it would be a "misallocation of our membership resources" to participate in any event that included the church.

Roark responded on Twitter that he has no hard feelings.

"The last thing that I would want to do is cause a problem or be a distraction."

He said that "to end division and pursue unity in our world, we must be willing to listen well, enter into dialogue and understand that we can show love, honor and dignity to one another while still disagreeing."

"I want the creative community to be a place where individuals of all backgrounds, beliefs and lifestyle can learn from one another, regardless of differences, not a place where we shut each other out," Roark said.

Commenters on the site pointed out that LGBT activists now are discriminating against Christians and their beliefs even when the subject at hand isn't faith or issues such as homosexuality and marriage.

"Sounds to me as if the conference is inclusive of everyone except Bible believing Christians," said one.

Added another: "So the 'inclusive' company wants to EXCLUDE Mr. Roark … Got it."