Baylor's gay ban protested: 200 rally in Waco to support former seminary student
Generally speaking, I try to be careful about taking on my darling wife's alma mater, but seeing as how she is the one who brought this to my attention...well, here goes nothing.
OK...first of all, what in the HELL were these people expecting?? Tolerance of homosexuality from one of the most Conservative Baptist universities in the country? Give me a break....
WACO -- Supporters of a former Baylor University seminary student who lost his scholarship because he is gay rallied Saturday to protest the school's decision.
Matt Bass and other gay students and alumni say they don't expect the world's largest Baptist university to shun the church tenet that homosexuality is a sin, but they want an anti-discrimination policy for gay students.
"I believe I am gay and that God made me that way," Bass told about 200 people at the gay-rights rally. "I believe this is a civil rights movement. We're not looking for any special class or treatment but equal protection under the law."
Bass, 25, said he had no choice but to quit George W. Truett Theological Seminary in December after administrators confronted him about his sexuality and revoked his financial aid.
Baylor officials declined to comment Saturday. The seminary's dean has declined to discuss Bass' case but said homosexual behavior is forbidden in the Bible and inconsistent with Truett's mission.
According to the university's policies handbook, punishment for any misconduct -- including homosexuality, drinking, gambling, premarital sex, cohabitation and using weapons -- ranges from a written warning to expulsion.
I agree with Bass' supporters, but the reality here is that Baylor's administration is perfectly comfortable with discriminating against Bass. The fact that they can base said discrimination on their interpretation of Scripture only solidifies their sanctimoniousness and self-righteousness. Of course, that's just my humble opinion...and it's not as if Baylor's stance should take anyone by surprise.
Just a suggestion: if you're gay, or even if you think you're gay, Baylor is probably NOT where you want to be going. To say that you will not be welcomed with open arms would be something of an understatement. Neither you or I are going to drag the Administration out of their 18th-century convictions. That is just the way it is. It's a deplorable attitude, but sometimes you just have to understand that the trolls will always be among us. You're not going to change them, and they're not going to change you. Why not spare yourself the aggravation of being held up to their smug self-righteous scrutiny while at the same time sparing yourself four years (or more) of hell in Waco?
