Request for advice/resources

[jgracik]

Hello folks,

I am new to this forum, but have been aware of SoulForce for some time now. My spouse and I are recent seminary graduates and became more aware and educated about LGBT issues while in school. Currently my spouse works for a Christian university in California and advises student government who is in charge of chartering student clubs and organizations. She has been approached by a student who would like to start a campus organization that would be a safe place for LGBT students to gather and support one another. However, she is well aware of the majority of the administrations' theological positions on the matter and fears a top-down block despite the fact that the school's consitution ostensibly makes room for such a group. We are trying to find some resources on CA state laws that might come into play so that an educated decision might be made. Is it legal for an educational institution, particularly a private religious school, to prevent the formation of a group based on their theological and ethical beliefs? Any resources, advice, and other help in this matter would be wonderful. Please feel free to post it here or to send it to my email address below.

EMAIL

Thanks!

Jeff

[pnggrad79]

Jeff,
Thanks for wanting to do something to include lgbt folks on your campus. The Soulforce's Equality Ride is a mission to change the hearts and minds of some universities that openly discriminate against lgbt students. They leave in late Feb/early March and travel about the country trying to get a dialogue with antigay university leaders. I suggest that you PM Jamie McDaniel, Kara Speltz or some other Equality Riders and they might be able to lead you to more resources. There are several threads on Soulforce dealing with the Equality Rides and their endeavours. Best of luck to you and I hope that you meet with success with your university's anti-gay policies.