Belmont University Says No Gay Groups on Campus

For two years, students at Belmont University in Tennessee have tried to form a gay student group on campus. They've got hundreds of students who said they'd like to see the group form, and they also have the blessing of other student groups on campus, who would welcome a student group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students, as well as straight allies.

But one roadblock has always been in the way: university officials who believe that an official gay student group would violate the University's Christian legacy.

The group that wants to form is called Bridge Builders, and it's led by Belmont student Robbie Maris. He spoke with Nashville's News Channel Five about the resistance at Belmont over the gay student group.

"I know a lot of the gay community at Belmont feels marginalized and feels like they don't have a place to meet on campus," Maris said. His goal is to change that, but to do so in a way that tries to bridge the divide that exists between the University's religious tradition and the desire to accept the existence of LGBT students.

Indeed, the Bridge Builders mission statement sounds like something Belmont University would want to welcome, given that the basic premise behind it is a biblical principle: blessed are the peacemakers.

"Bridge Builders will strive to foster the discussion and examination of the Christian faith and LGBT-related issues, both as an intersection and a divide, through respectful means and diverse cultural, social, and faith-based perspectives. We uphold Jesus Christ as our ideal standard and model, and revere Christ’s promise: 'blessed are the peacemakers,'" their mission statement reads. "B. Bridge Builders will put forth means that will engage and transform our campus, and the world, with intellect, compassion, courage, and faith."

Yet that statement keeps drawing a rebuke from University officials, who have time and again told the group that they're not welcome to launch.

According to Dean of Students Andrew Johnston, the school has such a history of religious tradition that it would be counter to their religious values to accept the existence of LGBT students.

"Given the history of the type of campus that we are, we didn’t want to create a group to start a campus-wide organization around things that could be potentially divisive or difficult for the institution at this point," Johnston said.

Ah, well, perhaps that makes sense. No groups that deal with divisive issues are allowed to form on campus. Oh wait... there's a pro-life student group that was totally allowed to form. Because the issue of reproductive rights isn't controversial or potentially divisive at all.

But this isn't about pitting one organization up against the other. It's really about Belmont University recognizing that LGBT students attend the school, and that no harm would be done by letting them form an official group. In fact, one could easily argue that it would only strengthen Belmont's mission by allowing diverse groups of students to build community on campus.

So send the University a message. There's no universal rule that says Christian schools and LGBT students have to be mutually exclusive. Belmont could be a shining example of how tolerance can shine in some unlikely places. Let's see if the school is willing to take the plunge.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons