Dustin Lance Black has been barred from a Hope College campus discussion on sexuality because he is an advocate for gay rights. Black, who won an Oscar in February for his screenplay for the 2008 film “Milk,” is in West Michigan to direct “What’s Wrong With Virginia.”

Hope students had proposed inviting Black to a college roundtable discussion on sexuality. The English department had also invited Black to speak to a screenwriting class. College officials put a halt to the roundtable, saying that Black would be too divisive. Hope College Dean of Students Richard Frost said that from past experience, strongly-opinionated speakers usually don’t further academic discussions about gay, lesbian or transgender issues.