Call for SPU to Address LGBTQ+ Policy Failure

You idolize money at the expense of loving God’s people. You deeply pervert God’s intent and it is shameful.

I’m signing for the people I love, for the people who I strive to be an ally for; I’m signing this for my LGBTQ+ students and families I now serve with my school counseling degree I received from SPU. Because to leave out any person from the LGBTQ+ community based on their sexual orientation or gender identity would be to leave out a valuable member of the educational and Christian community - robbing students of a more rich learning experience.

Dear all, I don’t know all of the letters addressees, but I do know Dr. (Dr. Dr.) Dan and Mr. Jordan. I’m wondering a few things. I know that many faculty members are totally fine with having gay/queer colleagues and that many students would indeed demand to have gay/queer profs. And I thought from my time working with Let’s Talk About Sex, Faith, and Relationships that the staff was largely on board, too, but that things were complicated due to donors and the denomination. I would most like SPU to address those pressures head on because Christian faith demands solidarity with the oppressed and overturning unjust social orders rather than upholding them for financial reasons. In lieu of bold action, I would prefer to believe that SPU’s staff would at least *like* to do better when it comes to gay/queer issues, but that desire is increasingly untenable, because when push comes to shove, you push out queer people. Why? Those of us who were led to believe that we are seen as (functionally, though not formally) equal members of the SPU community deserve to know the precise reasons we do not have equal opportunities for employment. SPU is an ecumenical community that can tolerate many kinds of theological differences amongst its faculty. Why should sexuality be singled out over other areas of theological disagreement? That is a serious question that needs to be answered. This behavior creates financial distinction between straights and gays: straight people are worth recognition and pay; gay people are not. Straight people are worthy of being part of the community in any roll to which they are called and for which they are gifted, but not gays. Where exactly is grace in this? Does this sound like the beloved community? We are in an important historical moment that demands Christians to face our investment in societal phobias that force certain people into positions of precarity, including financial precarity. SPU isn’t immune. SPU isn’t above homophobia and tran

I am a 2014 alumni. I am also bisexual. SPU was a place where I learned to explore the many ways that faith can be expressed, and a place where I was comforted by my community through changes and growth and even through the deep darkness of the 2014 shooting. I was a UScholar, graduated with honors, and was invited to speak several times after graduating about my book. It is DISGRACEFUL that now that I am out and accepting of my true identity, I would not be welcomed back. Think hard about the consequences of your actions - not just in the school’s reputation, but on the young hearts of LGBT+ students and faculty who are being denied the same comfort and love I received when I believed I was straight.

We should be role modeling to our students what inclusion looks like by leading with love, acceptance and tolerance.

Far past time to face the harm these policies cause. Signed, An exasperated 2017 grad

As a former SPU alumni and an LGBTQ+ ally, I full heartily stand by this petition. SPU must change their ways, they need anti-discriminatory practices throughout their hiring process. A person’s sexual orientation does not change how professionally qualified they are for a job or how good of a professor/teacher they are. A person’s marriage and/or sexual orientation should not disqualify them from any potential job on SPU campus.

Sexual orientation does not make one unfit to full time teach students how to care for others as a nurse. I hope and pray that the university and nursing program which I loved, attended and graduated from in 2017 will make things right.

I am so weary and tired of working, land learning at SPU with some of the most loving and accepting people in my life, only for that to be undercut by a situation like this again and again. It is incongruent with the love of Christ that this university espouses, and alienates so many. I am tired of the disconnect between the institution and the people that have called this place home.

I am so weary and tired of working, land learning at SPU with some of the most loving and accepting people in my life, only for that to be undercut by a situation like this again and again. It is incongruent with the love of Christ that this university espouses, and alienates so many. I am tired of the disconnect between the institution and the people that have called this place home.

This is so saddening to me, as an alumna of the nursing program in 2017. Be better. Do better. You need to literally engage the culture to change the world, so act like it

Reform or BUST

It's long past time.

As a graduate of SPU Nursing who came out as gay during nursing school, I know this story all to well. Yet, I am taking my time out of the current pandemic having worked in Emergency rooms and now as a nursing instructor teaching future nurses how to care for Covid patients to again condemn the bigotry of SPU and supposedly Free Methodists. I am proud to work for a college that values and supports my queerness and excellence in sexuality education. I am ashamed of my alma mater and the board/leadership of SPU. How dare you offer scholarships to LGBTQ students while not fully employing the very same community. As an ER nurse who has provided counsel to adults and youth related to queerness and mental health, I am ashamed to be connected to a community that would not include all. Jesus was clear. SPU policies are not. Though we can all see through the mud. Religious bigotry aside, it is antithetical to the nursing profession to limit the employment of queer people. SPU nursing faculty will be called upon to stand up for their colleague. A Tired Queer Nursing Instructor, Caleb Gustin RN BSN CEN

If spu claims to be a inclusive community that preaches Gods love then we shouldn’t reject anyone based on who they are.

I’d like to continue to tell people SPU is a university worth attending. Please see that I can do so in the future by acting as this petition instructs.

SPU is behind the times by decades. Their policies hurt the entire community and things have needed to change for a long time now

As a nursing student alum I am disappointed by the choices of the university that have denied their students the benefits of a diverse faculty. Nursing is a diverse practice that requires compassion and care for all people and the choices of the university have not reflected those values.

As an LGBT alumn, I am very disappointed to see SPU using religion to justify discrimination. We are better than this.

SPU alumni that will not considering donating to the university or further participating in alumni events until SPU addresses the lack of lgbtq+ affirming policies.