Demand ACU Remove Harmful Language from Student Handbook
Petition to Abilene Christian University President Phil Schubert
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,
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To:
Petition to Abilene Christian University President Phil Schubert
From:
[Your Name]
As people deeply committed to upholding the dignity of all people, we are dismayed that queerphobic practices and ideologies are deeply ingrained and embedded within academic and student life on campus. We feel that ACU’s discriminatory practices and policies against our LGBTQIA+ neighbors directly oppose clear moral tenets to love and affirm everyone, especially those who are outcast and marginalized.
We stand in solidarity with Queer, Trans, and Non-binary students, faculty, employees, and alumni who are bravely calling out and resisting their oppressors in positions where they abuse their power. We believe that prohibiting LGBTQIA+ identity and expression sends a hateful message that undermines ACU’s own belief in the open and affirming love of Christ which welcomes all into the fold. Queer, Trans, and non-binary students exist on campus and their humanity should be treasured not treated as anathema.
Therefore, we ask the Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership Team to follow the lead of student government by removing harmful language which singles out and targets LGBTQIA+ students, faculty, and employees.