LGBT activist group looks to shame Christian campuses; releases list of schools it deems the 'absolute worst'
Campus Pride, a gender activist group, released a list of campuses that it deemed the "absolute worst" for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual and queer) students. The national list included 102 campuses that the group claims to have gender-discriminatory policies and practices.
The "shame list" was first published in December 2015. It initially included 57 campuses that had received or applied for Title IX exemption. Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation in education programs that receive federal financial assistance. Some educational institutions, such as religious organizations, were permitted to apply for exemptions.
Campus Pride claimed that some campuses that apply for Title IX exemptions do so in private.
"Ultimately these campuses are dangerous for vulnerable LGBTQ youth and others. All families and youth deserve to know this information – and so do corporations who do business with these campuses – from those who hire and recruit, vendors who contract food service, sell books, make donations and in any other way provide goods or services to a college or university," said Shane Windmeyer, executive director of Campus Pride.
Campus Pride usually releases an annual "best of the best" list of college campuses that it deems to be LGBTQ-friendly.
Many of the schools that are on the list appear to be religious schools.
Some of the schools included in the list are Arlington Baptist College, Asbury Theological Seminary, Biola University, Brigham Young University, Central Christian College of the Bible, Indiana Wesleyan University, Maranatha Baptist University, Trinity Law School, Virginia Baptist College and Westminster Seminary California.
Windmeyer pushed schools to put policies that may affect LGBTQ students in their brochures.
"If your values and religious belief system include bigotry or discrimination toward any group of people, put it on your Admission brochure. Otherwise Campus Pride will do it for you," Windmeyer concluded.
Campus Pride also urged students who attend schools included on the list to consider filing a complaint against their campus to the U.S. Department of Education.
