A few weeks ago, Baylor Student Senate voted to charter Gamma Alpha Upsilon, or better known as GAY. The LGBTQ+ group has long been a part of the Baylor community as an unofficial organization, however, the university has failed to recognize the group in an official capacity. Baylor, here are just some of the reasons why you need to charter this organization.
As a Christian university, you are striving to love and care for your students in all aspects of life beyond academics. But you are failing to recognize and support members of the LGBTQ+ community and the GAY organization. If you truly believe in God and want to embody the love that Jesus has for us, then why don’t you love and recognize all students on our campus?
Yes, most of the campus is made up of white and heterosexual students that obviously don’t identify as LGBTQ+. However, there is a percentage of students that don’t identify as straight. And that should be celebrated, recognized, and honored. We are lucky to have a student population that isn’t homogenous. The makeup of our university doesn’t fit into one white and one hetero narrative, but Baylor, you are failing to recognize and celebrate that fact.
Students come from all around the country and the world to attend Baylor University, an institution of diverse thoughts and ideas. The four years of college are a time to meet new people, explore different subjects, and learn about the world that is waiting for us beyond graduation. That world is politically divided and at war with one another. But it also contains an enormous amount of identities, including gay, bisexual, lesbian, transgender, nonbinary, asexual, and so many others.
For years, Baylor has failed to recognize students of the LGBTQ+ community. Baylor’s statement on human sexuality has remained the same since the early 2000s. Last August, President Linda Livingstone released another statement that the university must do more to “better support all underrepresented students on our campus, including those who identify as LGBTQ.”
If you want to do more and be better, then actually do something. Conversations are great, but actions speak louder than words. Baylor, you have the opportunity to charter Gamma Alpha Upsilon. Now, you are just wasting it.
Baylor, what are you afraid of? Are you worried that your countless donations will seize if you recognize that not all of your students are straight? Are you concerned that prospective students won’t want to come to our school? That shouldn’t be of any concern. What should be of concern is how quickly you act in chartering GAY.
Our faith does not discriminate. Baylor should not discriminate against LGBTQ+ students, and it’s time for actions to take place in the charter of Gamma Alpha Upsilon.