ABOVE: Alex Duron and his fiance (Photo courtesy Alex Duron’s Facebook.)
A Christian university in Tennessee has revoked the admission of a gay student because of his same-sex relationship, according to a report from PinkNews.
Alex Duron was accepted to Union University’s master degree program in nurse anesthesia. A few days before the semester was set to begin, Duron received a letter from the school informing him that he would not “be welcome to study at the institution.”
In the letter, the university reminded Duron of a community values statement that all students are required to sign, which stipulates that students’ enrollment is contingent upon their adherence to the school’s values. The letter goes on to state that Duron’s same-sex relationship is an apparent violation of this agreement.
“As a Christ-centered educational institution, we welcome all academically qualified students who seek the academically-rigorous and faith-informed education we offer and who are willing to uphold our community values,” the letter states.
“Your request for graduate housing and your social media profile, including your intent to live with your partner, indicates your unwillingness to abide by the commitment you made in signing this statement,” the letter continues.
The community values statement from Union University clearly outlines its disapproval of LGBTQ+ identity, discouraging students from engaging in same-sex relationships.
“The promotion, advocacy, defense or ongoing practice of a homosexual lifestyle (including same-sex dating behaviors) is also contrary to our community values,” the statement reads.
The school extends its disapproval to transgender students as well, stating that students are not allowed to deviate from the gender they were assigned at birth.
“Identifying oneself as a gender other than the gender assigned by God at birth is in opposition to the university’s community values,” the statement reads.
Duron took to social media to express his grievance with the decision. In a Facebook post, he accused Union University of “bigotry, prejudice, heterosexism and homophobia” and also lamented the fact that the institution receives federal funding, which facilitates its exclusion of LGBTQ+ students.
“Did you know that Union University is not a fully private school and accepts federal funding?” Duron wrote. “Did you know that your taxes are allowing them to discriminate against LGBTQ+ [students] and their allies?”
Duron called on his online peers to raise awareness of this incident and the underlying issue it represents.
“If you think this is wrong, if you are shocked, if you don’t want your taxes supporting an institution of higher education that is legally allowed to discriminate, then please like, share, spread the word,” Duron wrote.
In a statement to PinkNews, Union University said that it believes that these anti-LGBTQ+ prohibitions help promote the success of its students. The university also maintained that any student who refuses to uphold the school’s values is liable to be punished accordingly.
“We love our students and want them to thrive and succeed, and we believe that a standard of conduct that honors God and submits to his authority is an important part of that success,” the university told the outlet.
“All students who apply to Union University sign a statement saying they will comply with the university’s values,” the university continued. “Those students who fail to abide by those values – or who show no intention of attempting to do so – are subject to disciplinary measures that can include dismissal from the university.”
Duron shared that while his sense of self is unfazed by the incident, the entire experience has also been eye opening for him.
“Friends, understand that I am doing fine and I have moved on from this,” Duron wrote. “I have strong support all around me and I know my worth. Continuing to push forward but recognizing that gay discrimination lies all around us.”
