WACO, Tex. — Battles for acceptance by gay and lesbian students have erupted in the places that expect it the least: the scores of Bible colleges and evangelical Christian universities that, in their founding beliefs, see homosexuality as a sin.

Decades after the gay rights movement swept the country’s secular schools, more gays and lesbians at Christian colleges are starting to come out of the closet, demanding a right to proclaim their identities and form campus clubs, and rejecting suggestions to seek help in suppressing homosexual desires.

Many of the newly assertive students grew up as Christians and developed a sense of their sexual identities only after starting college, and after years of inner torment. They spring from a new generation of evangelical youths that, over all, holds far less harsh views of homosexuality than its elders.

But in their efforts to assert themselves, whether in campus clubs or more publicly on Facebook, gay students are running up against administrators who defend what they describe as God’s law on sexual morality, and who must also answer to conservative trustees and alumni.

Facing vague prohibitions against “homosexual behavior,” many students worry about what steps — holding hands with a partner, say, or posting a photograph on a gay Web site — could jeopardize scholarships or risk expulsion.

“It’s like an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object,” said Adam R. Short, a freshman engineering student at Baylor University who is openly gay and has fought, without success, for campus recognition of a club to discuss sexuality and fight homophobia.

A few more liberal religious colleges, like Belmont University in Nashville, which has Baptist origins, have reluctantly allowed the formation of gay student groups, in Belmont’s case after years of heated debate, and soon after the university had forced a lesbian soccer coach to resign.

But the more typical response has come from Baylor, which with 15,000 students is the country’s largest Baptist university, and which has refused to approve the sexuality forum.

“Baylor expects students not to participate in advocacy groups promoting an understanding of sexuality that is contrary to biblical teaching,” said Lori Fogleman, a university spokeswoman.

Despite the rebuff, more than 50 students continue to hold weekly gatherings of their Sexual Identity Forum, and will keep seeking the moral validation that would come with formal status, said Samantha A. Jones, a senior and president of the group.

“The student body at large is ready for this,” said Saralyn Salisbury, Ms. Jones’s girlfriend and also a senior at Baylor. “But not the administration and the Regents.”

At Abilene Christian University in Texas, several students are openly gay, and many more are pushing for change behind the scenes. Last spring, the university refused to allow formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance.

“We want to engage these complex issues, and to give help and guidance to students who are struggling with same-sex attraction,” said Jean-Noel Thompson, the university’s vice president for student life. “But we are not going to embrace any advocacy for gay identity.”

At Harding University in Arkansas, which like Abilene Christian is affiliated with the Churches of Christ, half a dozen current and former students posted an online magazine in early March featuring personal accounts of the travails of gay students. The university blocked access to the site on the university’s Internet server, which helped cause the site to go viral in the world of religious universities.

At chapel, Harding’s president, David B. Burks, told students that “we are not trying to control your thinking,” but that “it was important for us to block the Web site because of what it says about Harding, who we are, and what we believe.” Mr. Burks called the site’s very name, huqueerpress.com, offensive.

Most evangelical colleges say they do not discipline students who admit to same-sex attractions — only those who engage in homosexual “behavior” or “activity.” (On evangelical campuses, sexual intercourse outside marriage is forbidden for everyone.)

Abilene Christian sees a big difference, Mr. Thompson said, between a student who is struggling privately with same-sex feelings, and “a student who in e-mails, on Facebook and elsewhere says ‘I am publicly gay, this is a lifestyle that I advocate regardless of where the university stands.’”

Amanda Lee Genaro said she was ejected in 2009 from North Central University, a Pentecostal Bible college in Minneapolis as she became more assertive about her gay identity. She had struggled with her feelings for years, Ms. Genaro said, when she was inspired by a 2006 visit to the campus of SoulForce, a national group of gay religious-college alumni that tries to spark campus discussion.

“I thought, wow, maybe God loves me even if I like women,” Ms. Genaro recalled. In 2009, after she quit “reparative therapy,” came out on MySpace and admitted to having a romantic, if unconsummated, relationship with a woman, the university suspended her, saying she could reapply in a year if she had rejected homosexuality. She transferred to a non-Christian school.

Gay students say they are often asked why they are attending Christian colleges at all. But the question, students say, is unfair. Many were raised in intensely Christian homes with an expectation of attending a religious college and long fought their homosexuality. They arrive at school, as one of the Harding Web authors put it, “hoping that college would turn us straight, and then once we realized that this wasn’t happening, there was nothing you could do about it.”

The students who do come out on campus say that it is a relief, but that life remains hard.

“I’m lonely,” said Taylor Schmitt, in his second year at Abilene Christian after arriving with a full scholarship and a hope that his inner self might somehow change. By the end of his first year, Mr. Schmitt said, he accepted his homosexuality. He switched to English from the Bible studies department, which, he said, “reeked of the past deceptions and falsehoods I’d created around myself.”

Rather than transferring and giving up his scholarship, he is taking extra classes to graduate a year early.

Some of the gay students end up disillusioned with Christianity, even becoming atheists, while others have searched for more liberal churches.

David Coleman was suspended by North Central University in his senior year in 2005, after he distributed fliers advertising a gay-support site and admitted to intimate relations (but not sexual intercourse) with other men. He calls the university’s environment “spiritually violent.”

Mr. Coleman, 28, is now enrolled at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton, Minn., which is run by the more accepting United Church of Christ. He still dreams of becoming a pastor.

“I have a calling,” he said.

Our Response:

Often at great personal cost, the individuals profiled in this story are challenging the painful legacy of religion-based bigotry against LGBT people. Along with my fellow Faith in America board member Chely Wright, I have had the privilege of getting to know Lisa Howe, the lesbian soccer coach whose departure from Belmont University in Nashville has sparked a national dialogue about the shameful persecution of LGBT people at many Christian colleges and universities. Lisa and her spouse Wendy are incredible role models for the many LGBT students and staff who are struggling to win acceptance and respect on religious campuses. They are true heroes, and their courage is changing the face of history. We must do more to support the brave students and staff who are risking so much to pave the way for others by speaking out against the terrible harm caused by abusing religious teachings to justify discrimination.

Dear LGBT Community and Allies,

As I near the date of my one-year anniversary of coming out, my re-birth of sorts, I look back and reflect on the progress that has been made both personally and professionally as an LGBT advocate. I am proud to be engaged to the woman I love and to be planning a wedding for August in a state that will recognize our love. I am proud to be working as a spokesperson for GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network and a Board Member of the organization. I am proud to have founded my own non-profit, LikeMe, working to open the first LGBT center in Kansas City, and I am proud to be a dedicated board member of Faith in America, an organization fighting tirelessly to end religion-based bigotry towards LGBT people, particularly youth.

Coming out has made this advocacy work possible, it has enabled me to become an example for youth struggling for acceptance across the country and it has opened my own personal life up to experiences I never thought I would be able to have as a gay woman. I am so thankful for this year.

As you may know, several days ago, People magazine announced my engagement on their website. It is truly a wonderful thing for us to enjoy; that two women could happily wed and live the life all people deserve. As the hours went by we saw 60 articles come up on Google, then the next morning we saw 100, then 120. It just kept going and going. We were touched at the level of interest our engagement was receiving and happy to know that our wedding plans were being celebrated by so many.

Late last night, while looking at several of the websites that were sharing our big news, we started reading some comments that had been posted. Our friends and family, twitter friends and Facebookers were wishing us the best, sending love, acceptance and excitement through the world wide web – but the comments we were reading on sites like AOL, Yahoo and other National online media were not as friendly.

I knew when I decided to come out that I would be challenged with opposition, particularly from the cross section of people in the world who knew me best -the country music industry and country music fans. While I have had some support from people from my industry, it’s been largely through private communication- only a few people have had the inclination to publicly vocalize their support for me. Over the last year, I have tried to stay focused on emphasizing the progress that we are making, rather then the setbacks we continue to face. This letter is to make everyone aware that we still have a tremendous amount of work to do- so many hearts and minds to open and so many opinions to change.

In the words of Reverend Mark Tidd, from Denver, Colorado:

“Some straight people are comfortable not taking things in the bible literally that might apply to them (like plucking their eye out when they lust) but have no problem becoming literalists when it means telling gay people they are uniquely flawed and must not fall in love unless they change their whole orientation. It’s a cruel religion that would demand that people repent of something they can’t change.”

(Rev. Tidd is a straight evangelical preacher who recently “changed his mind” about LGBT issues in regards to biblical teachings. He leads Highlands Church that is entirely welcoming and affirming to LGBT people.)

I continue to read countless references to the Bible as a tool to attack my relationship and to attack my life. I want to encourage those who are able to help end this religion-based bigotry to make a donation by clicking here to Faith in America. Seeing my fiancee’s face turn from joy to sadness is not okay during a time that should be one of the happiest of our lives. Join me in supporting Faith in America and ending this type of bigotry today.

Thank you so much,
Chely Wright

Our response

Here’s a message we hope you’ll pass on to Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput who recently wrote this:

“The civil unions debate is finally about securing legitimacy for social arrangements and personal behaviors that most societies and religious traditions have found problematic from long experience—and that a great many people see as morally troubling, not because they are “haters” or “frightened” or “bigots” or “uneducated”—that kind of language is the real bigotry in this debate—but because they’ve carefully thought through the implications for society at large.”

Sorry Charles but your line about it is those advocating for the human dignity, worthiness and equality for gay, lesbian bisexual and transgender Americans who are bigoted is a lie and you know this.

Here’s a message we hope you’ll pass on to Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput who recently wrote this:

“The civil unions debate is finally about securing legitimacy for social arrangements and personal behaviors that most societies and religious traditions have found problematic from long experience-and that a great many people see as morally troubling, not because they are “haters” or “frightened” or “bigots” or “uneducated”-that kind of language is the real bigotry in this debate-but because they’ve carefully thought through the implications for society at large.”

Sorry Charles but your line about it is those advocating for the human dignity, worthiness and equality for gay, lesbian bisexual and transgender Americans who are bigoted is a lie and you know this.

The ones who use mistruths, fear and misunderstanding to oppress a minority with prejudice, hostility and discrimination are the those who wield the sword of bigotry – not the sword of truth. Again, you know this Charles.

That is why the Catholic Church and anti-gay religious professionals keep asking Faith in America to please quit saying that they are bigoted.

But if these people would take a moment to really listen to our message they would understand that we are not calling them bigots nor are we accusing them of espousing “bigotry.”

We are accusing them, as well as you Charles, of much worse. What you and others are espousing is religion-based bigotry – and it is one of the most vile forms of bigotry because of the religious and moral stamp of rejection and condemnation it places on the lives of LGBT people, especially LGBT youth and their families.

Religion-based bigotry has been used by the church and so-called religious organizations against other minorities many times in our past. Charles, do you recall the apology the Catholic Church issued to Native Americans for using misguided religious teaching to justify treating them as morally inferior? Do you recall the Catholic Church apology in 2000 to women for using misguided religious teaching to promote the attitude that they are inferior to men?

And let’s not forget, Charles, your now cozy anti-gay friends on the Religious Right and how the Southern Baptist Convention apologized for using misguided religious teaching to justify bigotry toward African Americans and interracial couples.

Do you really expect the American public to believe that you actually believe it was those fighting the oppression of those minorities who were the ones expressing bigotry.

And finally, please remember Charles how your Religious Right buddies have for years used misguided religious teaching to say Catholism is a Satanic cult. As an evangelical, I recall many Sunday School lessons and sermons in which that attitude was espoused and promoted.

Can you defend your faith against the religion-based bigotry that has maligned Catholics? Would your defense be an expression of bigotry?

You know not. And we know you know it.

From Faith in America
www.faithinamerica.org

Action:

Forward this article to Charles at info@archden.org

This is not Ratliff’s first attack on the LGBT community, and it directly counters his leadership role at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), whose mission clearly states, “is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.”

Ratliff’s anti-gay actions also go directly against the teachings of the NACCP’s president, and Chairman, Benjamin Jealous, and Jealous’ predecessor, Julian Bond. Additionally, Dr. King’s right-hand man, Bayard Rustin, who planned the historic march on Washington, was openly-gay.

Our response

Religion-based bigotry against LGBT people is wrong…just as it was wrong to use religious teachings to justify discrimination against Native Americans, African Americans, minority religious groups, woman and interracial couples.

The majority’s religious teachings cannot be used to deny minority groups their civil rights in a democracy. California Supreme Court Justice Joyce L. Kennard said it best in her concurring opinion in the May 2008 ruling for marriage equality:

“The architects of our federal and state Constitutions understood that widespread and deeply rooted prejudices may lead majoritarian institutions to deny fundamental freedoms to unpopular minority groups, and that the most effective remedy for this form of oppression is an independent judiciary charged with the solemn responsibility to interpret and enforce the constitutional provisions guaranteeing fundamental freedoms and equal protection.”

Religion-based bigotry’s history as a justifier and promoter of oppression against African-Americans is undeniable. Talking about religion-based bigotry’s past doesn’t equate the LGBT community’s struggle with the Civil Rights Movement – rather it only points to religion-based bigotry as a common denominator for injustice toward most minorities in American society’s past.

This Baptist preacher’s religion-based bigotry is causing him to ignore its dark history in oppression of African-Americans. In doing so, he is doing a disservice to African-Americans and a disservice to history.

Statement: Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors:

“It is outrageous that the leadership of the Crystal Cathedral is requiring choir members to pledge to discriminate as a condition to joyfully worship. This mandate will do real harm to LGBT people and particularly to the LGBT youth in the church and in the community.

“The church’s declaration that LGBT people are unwelcome creates a toxic environment that leads to bullying, hate crimes, and even suicides. It must stop. Out hearts go out to the many LGBT members of the church who are being demonized.”

Statement: Faith in America founder Mitchell Gold:

“This type of societal bullying by religion-based bigotry toward gay youth and other LGBT individuals must no longer be afforded any degree of respectability in America. The harm caused by such prejudice, discrimination and hostility toward LGBT individuals must no longer find comfort within the church or be justified and promoted under the guise of religious teaching.”

Equality California (EQCA) is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights advocacy organization in California. Over the past decade, Equality California has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for LGBT individuals to a state with some of the most comprehensive civil rights protections in the nation. Equality California has passed more than 70 pieces of legislation and continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy, electoral work, public education and community empowerment. www.eqca.org

Faith In America was formed as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization in 2005 to effectively counter-message the bigotry, prejudice and hostility toward the LGBT community being sold to the public for several decades under the guise of religious belief and religious teaching. www.faithinamerica.org