Tonight was the first part of our two-part visit to Hardin Simmons University (HSU) in Abilene, TX. Our visit to HSU was prompted by a faculty termination policy that equates “homosexuality” to incest and sexual abuse of children in a list of “acts and lifestyles deemed sexually immoral.”  The policy also has wording that makes acceptable the firing of faculty members due to disability.  Additionally, HSU has an anti-bullying policy that leaves gender identity and sexual orientation out—implying that queer students are not protected from harassment based on their identities.

I was grateful tonight for the boldness and persistence of our group of 25, extemporaneously driving home the urgency of the need to shift this policy and to be proactive allies for LGBTQ students.  I was also grateful for the frankness returned by the faculty with whom we met and broke bread, and with their willingness to listen and engage.  The administration made promises to revisit their anti-harassment policy, and consider ways to better protect their LGBTQ students.   We talked about concrete ways to end silence and make Hardin Simmons an environment where students feel safe and loved.

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My friend and fellow Rider Jason Conner issues a challenge to each person he talks to along our journey.  I’d like to take this opportunity to issue Campbell University, and Dr. Dennis Bazemore (VP of Student Life) a challenge:

Show your LGBTQ students the welcome you showed us.

We Equality Riders have  spoken to LGBTQ students on Campbell’s campus, and despite Campbell’s assurance yesterday that all students are welcome, these students are denied equal treatment.  Their petition to start a Gay-straight Alliance (GSA) has been denied once already (administration sited a technicality).  The University’s policy still singles out “homosexual acts” as an offense amongst the most serious of University infractions (burglary, rape).  There is no policy in place to insure a transgender student would feel at home in dorms. Students have been told that LGBTQ faculty members will be fired if they come out.  This leaves LGBTQ students feeling anything but welcome, and not at all safe.

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