All students at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI wanted to do was hold a bake sale to help Fierce Chicago, a non-profit organization that assists homeless LGBT youth. But when college administrators learned about it, they demanded the sale be cancelled. Evidently, helping disenfranchised gay children is in direct “conflict” with the university’s “mission and practices.”
The bake sale was being organized by AULL4One, the university’s unofficial gay-straight alliance, which has approximately 80 members, but is forbidden from advertising on campus due to the school’s affiliation with the antigay Seventh Day Adventist Church.
In an e-mail to the students, AU Dean of Student Life Steve Yeagley said the university was forbidding the bake sale because “funds may be raised for non-profit organizations ‘whose mission and practices do not conflict with those of the University.’”
Yeagley continued by saying that there was “a perceived conflict between the mission and practices of Andrews University and those of Fierce Chicago — certainly not in their efforts to aid homeless youth, but in their approach to the LGBT issue, at large.”
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“As a result,” the e-mail concluded, “we can and will support LGBT homeless youth through organizations whose mission and purpose clearly align with the religious mission and purpose of our university and its sponsoring church.”
In other words: Andrews University is happy to help raise money for homeless youth, just so long as they’re not gay or being served by an organization that doesn’t take a proactive stance against “the LGBT issue.”
So instead of a bake sale, students at Andrews University have created an IndieGoGo page to send donations to Fierce Chicago. They hoped to raise $2,000. So far, they have raised nearly $10,000 with 26 days to go.
Sorry, administrators, you lose.
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Ladbrook
One statistic that keeps coming up when surveys are done on LGBT rights and marriage equality is that conservative Christians under the age of 25 are much much more likely to support equality than are their parents and grandparents. This is a stat that the NOM crowd doesn’t like to admit to or even acknowledge. I think it’s why they are fighting so hard and with such urgency. They know that a growing majority of their own children are supportive of equality… and it’s killing them.
Congrats to the kids at AU. Good job!!!
polarisfashion
Who would Jesus discriminate against? This is a new low for the religious right. So they think homeless LGBTQ people don’t deserve a bed and some food?!!! Shame on them, I give them two fingers up!
scottalger
I went there in 82-83 thinking I was a good christian boy, needing to escape being gay. That was the last place to try to not be gay because the place was full of them. There would all ways be some guy knocking on my door at night, and it wasn’t to study.
Captain Obvious
@Ladbrook: The youth thing works both ways. Everyone keeps acting like younger generations are more progressive, but I’ve had more F-bombs aimed at me by them than people my own age(31) and over.
I dunno where these more progressive kids are, but they’re not vocal. There are tons of vocal kids who are full of hate, believe that. Homophobia just like racism is not going anywhere. As long as it’s taught it will thrive.
Bauhaus
Okay, so the college “can and will” support LGBT homeless youth, but only if the youth will undergo conversion therapy. Got it.
Giancarlo85
@Captain Obvious: A personal sample of something you may have heard may not match up with the actual reality overall. I’m sure there are some intolerant kids… of course. And with more acceptance overall the intolerance gets more vocal… but lets not misstate the reality.
And I’ve seen many vocal progressives, especially on college campuses.
The Village Elder
I donate to a lot of different cause’s that benefit LGBT youth, the environment, educational cause’s because I think its the right thing to do. Hearing the Xtian right is against something make me want to look deeper and help out if the cause seems good. Had those fool administrators just left well enough alone I would never have heard of these kids. Thanks Haters, I just sent $50.00 even though I didn’t get a cupcake out of the deal.
jwtraveler
It’s wonderful to see that even kids at a conservative Christian college like this reject the older generations’ homophobia to do the right thing. It’s one of the few stories I’ve read on Queerty that give me hope. Kudos to the students of Andrews University.
Minnie Wood
Ha! Beautiful.
Minnie Wood
Ha! Beautiful.
mezzacanadese
Speaking as a Christian, cancelling the bake sale was a very un-Christian thing to do. A true Christian embraces those of all orientations. Gay youth on the street are in great danger of exploitation, and need all the help they can get. Shame on these people.
SteveDenver
These kids are learning a very important lesson: religion is bullsh!t.
It would be lovely to know how they raised the funds, what a great thing to do!
Our local youth organization for homeless kids raised camp funding in a weekend through IndieGoGo. People want to give, they just don’t know about a specific need or how to give.
mlbumiller
@Captain Obvious:
how ppl act and say in public doesn’t always reflect whst they will say in a anonymous survey.
GayEGO
The religions that want to continue will become inclusive of LGBTs and stop calling them sinful. Some of the religious right refuse to learn and evolve with civilization. They are losing as they dig their heels in to bury themselves.
tricky ricky
I used to live in berrien springs for a short while and now live in a town near there. you would not believe how many gay Adventists I’ve known.
Harley
Christianity……..where beating your slaves and raping 12 yr old virgins is okay but eating shrimp and bacon lands you in hell. What a religion.
chuck
GOD IS FAKE!
Maude
@Harley:
Harley, You’re describing Islam not Christianity.
chuck, He may be fake to you, but you’re not fake to Him.
It’s not He who condemns us, it’s the mindless twits that have twisted, and are twisting His word to fit their narrative that He most certainly condemns.
Paton41
Jesus, if you believe in him, fed the hungry, healed the sick and made friends with the out casts of society! Sounds like the political ideology of most gay men I know! How come Conservative Christians want to deny food stamps to the hungry, deny healthcare to those who don’t have the ability to pay for healthcare, and lets call a spade a spade, Evangelical and fundamentalist Christians, for the most part, hate gay people. Sounds contrary to the teachings of Jesus, if he ever existed! Seems like my friends follow the teachings of Jesus more then these so called Christians and many of my friends don’t even identify as Christian!
Giancarlo85
@Maude: You are mindless. A bad troll. Who is him? That make believe being in the sky? Every religion says the same thing as you in an attempt to discredit the other. Clueless man, really clueless.
yaletownman
Well, if there is a God it certainly works in mysterious ways. If it can turn water into wine, feed the masses with a couple of loafs of bred and 7 fishes, it’s certainlyknows how to turn 2 grand into 10 grand and it’s obvious that it doesn’t discriminate!
michaelmt1009
Once again I am repulsed by the actions of so called Christians. This administration should hang its head in shame. To deprive food and shelter to a fellow human being because they do not mirror your idea of human is despicable. I would encourage everyone to contact this administration and tell them how revolting this action is. I also think that someone should research and determine if this school is receiving any federal funds and if so then the appropriate government agencies should be notified of this situation.
Giancarlo85
I agree. They should help the homeless, regardless of their sexual orientation. But the administration gave the students more power and the ability to gather more money. Their homophobic actions backfired significantly.
jwtraveler
@Maude: If “He” exists, he certainly isn’t doing a very good job.
JJinAus
@mezzacanadese: Explain what a “true Christian” is. You? How can we tell? None of you seem to be able to agree. What is that? How come you seem to disagree with millions of others who also claim to be Christians?
It’s all crap. You don’t have special powers or knowledge.
Maude
None are so blind as those who won’t see.
The man that won’t read, is just as ignorant as the man that can’t read.
With your remarks, you betray your ignorance on the subject of religion.
There is no fool like an ignorant fool who skims the surface, and decides he knows the full depth of the pool of knowledge.
scottalger
@Maude: You speak in meaningless cliches, which comes across as unintelligent, and moronic.
Paton41
@Maude: and everybody who doesn’t believe EXACTLY like you is going to HELL, Right?