The Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQ) Affairs creates a safe space for thousands of students every year on the University of Arizona campus through programs, trainings, events, and through the LGBTQ Resource Center in the Student Union. McSwain had earned a full-ride scholarship to an out-of-state university, but, he said, his mother and his father, who was a minister, thought they were doing what was best for their son by sending him to a Christian college in his hometown. Denton, where UNT is located, is… 1136986 and a company limited by guarantee registered in England no. Jesus said, 'By their fruit you will know them,' and the fruit here is just awful.". "They believe God has made clear that gayness is bad/wrong/sinful, and they must adhere to what God has said.". City Students’ Union, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB 0207 040 5600 studentsunion@city.ac.uk Registered Charity No. Queer Student Union for College of Arts & Sciences and Sawyer Business School students; Queer Law Alliance for Suffolk University … "I've been arguing for six years this is the wrong reading of the Bible and is not keeping with the spirit of Jesus and does harm to people. Due to the threat of expulsion, former students told BuzzFeed News that LGBTQ students at Union University live in constant fear of being outed, which could mean they lose their education, face being ostracized from their family and community, or both. Richmond, VA 23220. "Every college has some kind of ethics code you need to sign. We are one of the six Executive Agencies of the Student Government Association. "Originally, I thought no one would care about my story, which is over 15 years old," Davridge said. Duron's story was first reported by the Jackson Sun. They refused therapy, and Union expelled them at the start of the 2004 spring semester. Dawn Davridge, a former Union University student who was kicked out, describes balancing her sexuality and Christianity. I don’t know where I'm going to end up, but I've gotten so much support.". Contact Info. But in the meantime, Union opened an investigation into the allegations. Want to see more stories like this? "There was not even a hint of this policy when I visited," he said. While at Union, he attempted to hide who he was by dating a girl, but after a while, he determined it wasn't right to "string her along" and came out to her. “For a LGBTQ+ student, picking a college is a matter of safety. Title IX is a federal civil rights law that protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. "I used to have nightmares of getting kicked out and losing my community and my degree," he said. Duron said he doesn't know how the university even found his fiancé, but that after the phone call with Union about housing, his partner mentioned that a private profile affiliated with Union University had viewed his LinkedIn. The couple told one person, their best friend at the time about it, thinking she would keep the secret. "I was looking for a therapy program or something to cure me," she said. If you’re not in the know, the Queer department is responsible for the queer community on campus. Several alumni and students don't believe Union has found that balance. Union's email revoking Duron's admission stated that he had not upheld the "values and expectations" he agreed to in signing the community values statement required of all incoming students. "Union has a Title IX exemption to discriminate against LGBTQ+ students, but they don't have an exemption to regulate free speech," Gardner said. Former students like Davridge and others said they feel an "obligation" to speak out to protect future students who are struggling with their sexual identity and are considering attending Union. She didn't think it was possible to be Christian and lesbian. 7229624. “All students who apply to Union University sign a statement saying they will comply with the university's values. "To tell me, 'You’re a good fit for this school,' and not tell me all this other stuff — that should’ve been laid out in front of me.". Charity no. "In this sense, it is indeed in their self-interest to take this position.”. Maps. Denton, where UNT is located, is… In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Alex Duron shared the email he received revoking his acceptance to the Southern Baptist–affiliated school located in Jackson. Union County’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, under the Department of Economic Development, was established by the Freeholder Board in 2018 and is the first county government office of its kind in the State of New Jersey – one of four government offices in the nation to support the LGBTQ community, of which only two are county government offices. But in 2009, the handbook was altered to include a line forbidding the "promotion, advocacy, defense or ongoing practice of a homosexual lifestyle (including same-sex dating behaviors).". 02223522. “I have served as the Director for Counseling Services since August of 2015, and no one on my staff has attempted conversion therapy with any student during that time,” Huelin said. Our group stands for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, plus society, but we also more than welcome allies and supporters along as well. We offer a great opportunity to reach out and explore the LGBT+ community of Leeds and beyond. "We love our students and want them to thrive and succeed, and we believe that a standard of conduct that honors God and submits to his authority is an important part of that success. Essex LGBT have well over one hundred members, associates, contributors and friends from a wide range of religious, racial and social backgrounds. McSwain said his time at Union left him "mentally damaged." Aug 1, 2020 In 2017, Union University was at a crossroads. "That kind of culture unfortunately breeds suicidal thoughts.". He said he felt fortunate to have graduated from Union without being outed or expelled, but knows other students weren't as lucky. This organization travels to conservative Christian colleges advocating for the acceptance of LGBTQ students. Standard membership is free this term. "We thought we were safe because back then the school only banned homosexual activity. While the national attitude toward LGBTQ+ individuals has changed over the last 20 years with the legalization of gay marriage and subsequent U.S. Supreme Court decisions granting the community civil rights protections, Union's policy has only become more stringent. Dawn Davridge, who enrolled at Union in 2001, said the school's premarital sex policy was a joke. But Duron said he never mentioned his fiancé or his sexuality, adding that he is very private on social media about his personal life. "It is either/or, not both/and. The University of Pennsylvania checks off all the boxes for LGBTQ support. Stop by the Henderson Springs LGBT Center, located in the International Hallway of Plemmons Student Union. GLUU originally stood for the Gay and Lesbian University Union. Soon after, rumors about McSwain's sexuality spread through Union's campus and his fraternity, until he said he was called into a meeting with the school's administration and told that he would have to attend therapy or leave the university. The University of Mount welcomes students of diverse backgrounds, including students identifying within the LGBTQ community. Grimm said he'd heard about the "sessions" during his time as a student and about Union manipulating students to try to out one another. She said students used to say it was cheaper to get caught having sex on campus than pay for a hotel room because the fine was only $10. On the outside Union looks like your typical small Southern religious college. When he was arranging for graduate housing last week, he said a Union employee pressed him on the matter, asking if he was engaged or planned to be married, thereby qualifying him for the university's family housing.