Exciting things are underway as students at Eastern University organize to raise awareness and support for LGBT+ students and faculty at Eastern. Refuge (Eastern's Gay-Straight Alliance club) and PAC (Political Activism Club) have teamed up to host a week of events the week of March 13th-17th to celebrate and support the LGBT+ community on Eastern's campus. In addition, PAC and Refuge are strongly encouraging the Eastern's Board to take action in support of the recommendations put forth by the Human Sexuality Task Force. These include changing some of the language used in the student and faculty handbooks and making it so that current and future faculty at Eastern can be out as an LGBT person on campus without being afraid of being fired. Professors should not have to face this kind of discrimination, and it is important for LGBT+ students to have open and supportive mentors who are familiar with their experiences as LGBT+ students in a Christian community. Plus, if Eastern does not choose to make these changes, there maybe problems with maintaining accreditation for the Social Work department and other "healing professions" departments in the future. Here is the statement put forth by Refuge and PAC:

What the Solidarity Movement is Advocating For:

This movement is incontrovertibly a full out celebration and affirmation of Eastern University, the commitment it has shown towards encouraging respectful dialogue that affirms the personhood of every individual regardless of their creed or sexual orientation and a statement of solidarity with the University if it chooses to make the changes we’re promoting for below.

This movement would like to advocate for changes that it does not feel are at controversial, so as to make Eastern a more inclusive place for LGBT+ students. This includes:
-Providing sensitivity training for all Eastern University faculty members.
-Recognizing Refuge as a safe space instead of a controversial group.

Furthermore, this movement would like to suggest that the University accept the Task Force’s recommendations to:
-Remove “between a man and a woman” from the definition of marriage in the student handbook. (The majority affirmed Motion #1 in the Task Force’s recommendation) Note:This is simply asking the University to not to define marriage as between a man and a woman. Not asking the University to define the institution in some other way.
-Remove the phrase “referring to the anatomical sex of the student” in the Student Handbook that is used when referring to housing placement. (The unanimously affirmed Motion #2 in the Task Force’s recommendation)
-Remove the phrase “homosexual conduct” from the examples of “moral turpitude” in the faculty handbook. This is in hopes that no faculty members will be fired or not hired on account of their sexual orientation. (The unanimously affirmed Motion #3 in the Task Force’s recommendation)

Here is the body of the email that has been sent out by Refuge and PAC to professors to explain the purpose for the week of events and to set the tone for the Stand in Solidarity event that will be taking place on Friday, March 17th:

The week of March 13th-17th, Refuge (Eastern’s Gay-Straight Alliance) and Political Activism Club are partnering to host a variety of events that aim to show support for the LGBT+ members of Eastern’s community, educate the Eastern community about LGBT+ issues, (specifically focusing on terms and vocabulary, how the LGBT+ community as a whole and at Eastern in particular have faced unfair treatment, and what resources and supports are available for LGBT+ people), and to encourage Eastern’s Board to make changes to the student and faculty handbooks to remove outdated and discriminatory language. We are calling this movement “LGBT Stand in Solidarity.” Throughout the week of events, we want to make it clear that we aim to come alongside Eastern University’s community to become trailblazers as a Christian college who welcomes LGBT+ students and faculty. This is not meant to be a divisive political movement, and we want to stress that regardless of anyone’s personal religious convictions about LGBT+ political issues, we can all agree that we should not discriminate against the LGBT+ members of our community, but rather extend love and support to this marginalized group. We are appealing to Eastern’s commitment to Faith, Reason, and Justice to make this happen. We are excited to invite all members of Eastern’s community and the wider regional community to our events this week. One of the events that we have planned for Friday, March 17th, is a block time that is specifically reserved for supporting the LGBT+ community. This is not a protest, but rather a demonstration of solidarity with the LGBT+ community encouraging the Board to vote to support the changes to the student and faculty handbooks that we are advocating for. This event will take place from 11am-2pm outside the Jammin’ Java.

When Eastern students return to school after spring break, there will be a calendar of events for the LGBT+ Solidarity week and information on ways to get involved with this movement on campus. In the mean time, spread the word about LGBT+ Stand in Solidarity Week and bring your rainbow gear from home to show your support!