rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/petition/demand-acu-remove-harmful-language-from-student-handbook?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-petition-area-demand-acu-remove-harmful-language-from-student-handbook' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> Religious Exemption Accountability Project https://actionnetwork.org/groups/religious-exemption-accountability-project https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/petitions/photos/000/408/209/normal/Artboard_103_288x-100.jpg In September of 2022, Abilene Christian University’s Student Government passed a resolution to remove harmful policy language from the student handbook which negatively targets LGBTQIA+ students. The policy change would remove gendered language from this existing text: “ACU strives to be a community that follows Jesus’ example in all things, including our understandings about the authority of Scripture, sexuality, relationships and our core identity as children of God. Therefore, our foundation for a sexual ethic is a call to chastity outside of marriage between a man and a woman. Throughout Scripture and in the life of Jesus, we see a commitment to honor God with our bodies through relational and sexual stewardship as well as pastoral love and compassion for those who do not live according to those beliefs.” In a major blow to LGBTQIA+ students, Abilene’s Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership Team ignored and overruled the student government by refusing to allow the policy language change to go through. The Sexual Stewardship policy at Abilene Christian University still allows for discrimination against its LGBTQIA+ students, student-workers, faculty, and employees. Residence life and spiritual formation workers can lose their jobs if they are found pursuing a queer relationship even while remaining committed to Abilene’s values and policies. In addition, Faculty are restricted from identifying as queer or pursuing queer relationships. LGBTQIA+ students, who pay their tuition just like cis-gender heterosexual students, are not supported OR protected by the administration like their cis-gender and heterosexual peers. SIGN THIS PETITION AND HELP REAP BY DEMANDING that the Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership Team follow the lead of their student government by removing harmful language which singles out and targets LGBTQIA+ students, faculty, and employees. Join us today in advocating for the full inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ students who only wish to live fully as their authentic selves at Abilene Christian University, https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/demand-acu-remove-harmful-language-from-student-handbook