Campus Pride has released its list of the worst places for LGBTQ+ youthand several Illinois colleges and universities are on it.
According to a press release, "the Worst List identifies the 'absolute worst, most unsafe campuses for LGBTQ youth' in the United States. The colleges and universities listed have chosen to openly discriminate against LGBTQ youth and/or have requested Title IX exemptions to perpetuate the harms of religion-based bigotry."
To be the "absolute worst" campus, a school has: 1) received and/or applied for a Title IX exemption to discriminate against LGBTQ+ youth and/or 2) demonstrated past history and track record of anti-LGBTQ+ actions, programs and practices.
The Illinois schools listed include:
Judson University (Elgin): This school holds a Title IX exemption, allowing the college to discriminate against its students on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy or receipt of abortion while still receiving federal funds.
Lincoln Christian University (Lincoln): This school also holds a Title IX exemption.
Moody Bible Institute (Chicago): Members of the school's staff signed onto the Nashville Statement condemning LGBTQ+ people. In addition, the campus employs faculty who promote "ex-gay" conversion therapy.
Olivet Nazarene University (Bourbonnais): Olivet Nazarene has an extensive and well-documented history of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, including promoting"ex-gay" speakers.
Trinity International University (Deerfield): Trinity staffers also have signed the Nashville Statement. In addition, the student handbook reads, in part, "Trinity has established the following behavioral guidelines for all full and part-time students while being both on and off-campus (unless otherwise stated): 1. Practices, which are specifically forbidden in Scripture, will not be condoned, such as dishonesty, theft, pre-marital sex, abortion, adultery, homosexual behavior, and use of pornography, profanity, gossip, racism, and infringement upon the rights of others…"
Wheaton College (Wheaton): A school with a student population of 3,000 has a long history of anti-LGBTQ+ actions. Windy City Times has documented some of them and, in 2012, reported on a documentary that explored homophobia at Wheaton.
In 2022. Wheaton officially recognized Refuge, an LGBTQ+ student support group, but an FAQ stated, "There is an expectation that student groups will be formed and led by students who desire to be biblically faithful... If/when concerns arise that relate to the behavior of an individual student within a student group or that relate to the activities of a student group as a whole, the concerns are addressed in a spirit of listening and learning; if the concerns are validated, the College takes corrective action with the hope of redemption and change."
The complete list is at CampusPride.org/WorstList.
Andrew Davis