News
Alleged Homophobia Causes Outcry
Gay student asked to step down from leadership post by Christian group
April 22, 2009 - 11:00pmA campus Christian group that receives funding from the student activity fee is coming under scrutiny after a student was asked by advisors to step down from its leadership team when he told them that he had openly accepted his homosexuality. This incident is also raising questions about the effectiveness of campus mechanisms for addressing instances of discrimination.
Chris Donohoe ’09, who joined the Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship when he was a freshman, said he had been openly struggling to reconcile his sexuality with his faith in Chi Alpha before he was asked to step down from the leadership team by Matt and Tracy Herman, the organization’s pastors. The Hermans, both members of Chi Alpha at Missouri State University before graduating in 2002, became Cornell Chi Alpha’s campus pastors in 2006.
The leadership team consists of 12 or 13 especially dedicated students who lead bible studies, teach and are “good examples,” according to Danielle D’Ambrosio ’10, Chi Alpha’s president. The leadership team differs from titled leadership positions because students do not have to apply to be part of the team.
Before joining the leadership team, Donohoe was vice president during his junior year. To enter a titled position in Chi Alpha, students must apply through the Hermans and demonstrate that they uphold certain values, including not engaging in premarital sex, and refraining from drinking alcohol and taking drugs, according to Donohoe.
“I thought it would be an awesome opportunity to be an openly gay man in a Christian organization,” Donohoe said.
After Donohoe finished his term as vice president, he was going to be on the leadership team last fall. The Hermans told Donohoe that they were comfortable with his position as long as he did not engage in a relationship. However, after Donohoe met his boyfriend last summer and affirmed his acceptance of his sexuality, the Hermans asked him to step down from the team without consulting the rest of the organization.
“I told them I’ve thought about [my sexuality] and I’m 100 percent OK with my sexuality. … I wanted the opportunity to show them I love god and I’m gay and it’s OK,” Donohoe said.
D’Ambrosio explained that Donohoe was asked to step down because he no longer believed his sexuality was a sin and stopped actively working to overcome it, disregarding the Bible.
“The decision to ask Chris to step down was not that he did something wrong in having homosexual tendencies. [It was because] he no longer thought it was wrong. … I support the decision fully,” D’Ambrosio said.
Because Chi Alpha is an independent student organization registered with Cornell’s Student Activities Office, the situation has provoked a reaction from Cornell administrators.
“We are very concerned with what happened and we want to make sure this is a campus that does not discriminate in this way,” Dean of Students Kent Hubbell ’67 said.
Independent student organizations at Cornell are prohibited from discriminating membership on the basis of race, religion, gender and sexual orientation, according to the Student Activities Offices Independent Organization Contract. The anti-discrimination policy, however, does not extend to the leadership of independent student organizations.
While registered as an “independent” student organization, Chi Alpha still receives a share of the student activity fee, distributed by the Student Assembly Finance Commission.
This Spring, the SAFC allocated Chi Alpha upwards of $700, according to a source who asked to remain anonymous because he is not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Yuliya Neverova ’10, co-chair of the SAFC, explained that the SAFC does not investigate the specific goals or actions of groups as it allocates funds to different campus organizations.
Instead, the SAFC relies on the Student Activities Office to determine which groups are in “good standing.”
According to the SAO website, organizations are obligated to “operate in a manner consistent with the goals and standards of the [University],” which include a prohibition on denying a person admission to an activity on the basis of sexual orientation.
She said that the SAO and the SAFC may investigate the situation, though she conceded that there was little recent SAFC precedent to follow for handling these circumstances.
“We haven’t had to deal with this issue before,” she said.
Donohoe has a long-standing relationship with the Chi Alpha leadership and the decision to ask him to step down was made over a substantial period of time.
“The leadership of Chi Alpha and Chris have had a relationship and very in-depth now have been grappling with this particular situation, so this was not just an arbitrary sort of circumstance,” Kenneth I. Clarke, Sr., D. Min, Cornell United Religious Work director, said.
After he was asked to step down, Donohoe remained in the organization but sought to create a dialogue with Chi Alpha, to both hold the organization accountable for asking him to step down due to his sexuality and to educate instead of punish.
“There was a consequence for my belief — that it’s OK [to] be a homosexual. … I believe you should be held responsible and accountable to your beliefs so that Chi Alpha is answering to everyone to the community,” Donohoe said.
Donohoe contacted Mary Beth Grant, the judicial administrator, to pursue an outlet. Grant informed Donohoe that no legal action could be taken through the J.A. since Donohoe was permitted to remain in the organization, Donohoe explained. Donohoe filed a bias report a month ago and contacted Dean Hubbell and Rev. Clarke.
Grant could not be reached for comment.
Donohoe met with Hubbell and Clarke to find the best avenue to pursue action, by addressing the issue as it relates to students rights — why outsiders are coming into a student organization and limiting students meeting with the Hermans and/or changing the campus code, Donohoe said.
“Student organizations are supposed to be by and for students. There are systems of having advisors, but they advise, they don’t supervise,” Hubbell said. “The students are the ones who make the final decisions.”
Since Chi Alpha is a part of CURW, the organization is held to a CURW covenant that permits religious organizations to make decisions based on doctrinal convictions, but also prohibits organizations from excluding members based on their sexual orientation.
“Certainly we do not support … discrimination of any sort. On the other hand, what makes this complex is the fact that according to the CURW covenant, organizations may be able to make decisions based on doctrinal convictions,” Clarke said.
Hubbell and Clarke have communicated the University’s position to the Hermans and the next step will be a meeting between all parties involved.
In the meantime, the controversy has spread across various campus listservs, and the Student Assembly will discuss on Thursday a resolution about the future of Chi Alpha.
“It is unfortunate that both a registered student organization and an SAFC-funded organization has mistreated its members and leaders in such an egregious manner. A resolution regarding the group’s current funding and funding eligibility in the future will be discussed at [Thursday’s] Student Assembly meeting,” Ryan Lavin ’09, S.A. president, said yesterday.
A vigil will take place Friday on the Arts Quad outside of Chi Alpha’s meeting.
“This is more than a slap in the face to one individual, this is a slap in the face to the entire LGBT community, especially those of faith,” Donohoe said. “Chi Alpha is basically saying that my sexuality — along with the sexualities of every other LGBT community member — is not legitimate in the eyes of god. Chi Alpha must recognize that this belief is hurtful and discriminatory. It’s time for Chi Alpha to face the Cornell community and own up.”
Homosexuality is considered a sin, which is “biblically based,” according to Jessica Longoria ’09, former president of Chi Alpha.
“If you’re committing sins you will not enter the kingdom of god,” Longoria said.
“My personal belief is that … I don’t believe it is a genetic thing,” D’Ambrosio said.
But despite these beliefs the situation has been difficult for all involved.
“I’m still friends with [Chris], I know a lot of people in Chi Alpha are friends with him. … Just to say that this is a really difficult situation for all of us. … I think we’re all struggling,” Longoria said.
Likewise, D’Ambrosio affirmed Chi Alpha’s relationship with Donohoe.
“I think that a lot of times Christian organizations do get a bad name for taking a stance against homosexuality because it looks like we are condemning a person but I want to make it clear that we have nothing against Chris or another person for choosing to be a homosexual,” D’Ambrosio said.
Matt and Tracy Herman declined to comment for this story until a meeting is held between all parties.
A parent, I fully support
A parent, I fully support the rights of the Chi Alpha group, to adhere to Biblical truths that form the basis of their group. Hallelulah, that Christians can believe in what they believe in, and if non-adhereing people want to join, then they should believe and practice what Chi Alpha adheres to..
or forget it, they aren't what the membership of Chi Alpha stand for, and should find another group to be a part of...such as the gay groups that are in Ithaca ...ok?..
Oh Hallelulah! You obvious
Oh Hallelulah! You obvious know your bible very well. (I'm not capitalizing bible intentionally.)
Believe what you will...
The point, especially to the parent who commented earlier, is that part of my and 18,000 other student activity fee is going to fund Chi Alpha, among many other groups. The University has a policy against discrimination of any kind, and this is discrimination. I have some more questions that I am itching to know the answers to: Has any particular head of Chi Alpha stated that you cannot be in leadership if you are gay? If this is a national policy, should any Chi Alpha chapter receive any public or university funding? People clearly interpret the bible in different ways - should one have precedence over another? Perhaps we should rather open the floor to discussion, as this is clearly an issue on campus.
This is not by any means a black and white issue. It is not about who an observer may 'support' or 'do not support'. People should be able to practice their faith no matter what.
-m
What part of the bible says
What part of the bible says that you should be judging people and their beliefs? All this man wanted was to be accepted as a Christian, and given the opportunity to worship and express himself. Do you honestly believe that the only good christians are the ones who accept your exact interpretation of the bible?
XA is clearly just playing to homophobia and bigotry. What harm comes of this man expressing his views? Would you support them banning someone who used an interpretation of the bible as an argument against capital punishment? What about soldiers who use parts of the bible to justify going to war?
But of course, this is a free country, and you can go be a judgmental bigot on your own time, but the fact is, I do not consent to my tuition dollars funding your hatred.
1 Corinthians 5:12-13 (New
1 Corinthians 5:12-13 (New International Version)
12What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."
If the young man says he is a Chrisitian than yes, buy the Word of God they are to judge those inside the church. The passage I added here states this. To feel this is hatred, I find that stament not to be true at all, they have asked him to step down from the leadership role, not out of the group. I see here a great deal of grace and mercey. I want to thank every soilder that is serving, that you and I can still have our freedom. Please accept in love my reply, by no means is this out of hatred. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
"Do you honestly believe
"Do you honestly believe that the only good christians are the ones who accept your exact interpretation of the bible?"
From Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure":
LUCIO: Thou conclud'st like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scraped one out of the table.
SECOND GENTLEMAN: "Thou shalt not steal"?
LUCIO: Aye, that he razed.
This is ridiculous.
The only "choice" that I see in this situation: a group is choosing to take a very literal interpretation of the Bible so that they can espouse discriminatory practices against someone who happens to be gay.
So much for open doors, open hearts, open minds?
LOL, The Bible is very clear
LOL, The Bible is very clear homosexuality is morally wrong, it has nothing to do with "interpretations".
Mr. Donohoe decided he no longer shared the same views as this organization so he should've just resigned. They had every right to remove him. Mr. Donohoe chose to become another homosexual activist and opportunist who thought he would try to use his position within the organization to denegrate it and Christianity as he stated “I thought it would be an awesome opportunity to be an openly gay man in a Christian organization,”. If Mr. Donohoe wants to preach his version of Christianity he certainly can, it's a free country. He can just do it under his own name, not try and use the CACF image.
This isn't about discrimination, well I guess really it is....religious discrimination. Another homosexual activist attacking a religious organization because it won't accept his views. It's obvious who the "intolerant" one in this situation is, it's Mr. Donohoe.
The First Amendment is not "rediculous"
A group of like minded individuals can organize how they seem fit. It's constitutionally protected.
What the "gay" student is trying to do here is force people to willfully accept him and to deny others their rights of conscience.
Freedom is worthless if you cannot do unpopular things with it.
Freedom vs. Discrimination
I'm sorry, but I don't want to live in a society that is anestitized. It is one thing to call people to respect others and especially in the wake of terrible churches that have protested funerals and such, there are certainly those in our society that have taken their convictions and beliefs and disrespected people. However, to tell people that they can never do or say something that will potentially offend somebody, this is a violation of my free speech.
you know maybe I don't know
you know maybe I don't know enough about Chi Alpha because I am only a freshmen, But I think that asking the kid to step down merely because of his sexual orientation decision is not right. Does the bible not say love your neighbor as yourself? and treat others how you would like to be treated?. Honestly saying that it's sining really doesn't cut it for me. Well all sin it is the downfall of being human on earth. So to say it is because he is choosing to sin isn't right in my mind at all.
Let's be more sensible about this
Listen, some churches are open to homosexuality, and others aren't. Some believe that it conflicts with their religion, which should be respected as a part of their belief system. If you are homosexual and want to be a leader of a group that doesn't support your sexual orientation, then join one that does. I feel bad that he feels betrayed if he really enjoys being a part of that group, but it's just a part of their belief system and it should be respected. I guess I just really don't see the problem here - setting up a vigil and in a way incriminating the organization for their beliefs is almost more of an issue to me. We all don't feel the same way about things: the homosexual community has to be more understanding of this - just as society in general should be more accepting of their lifestyle as a fundamental freedom that they rightfully possess.
it could also be said that
it could also be said that this organization should never have applied for funding from the safc if it could not comply with the non-discrimination policies of the university -- under which, sexual orientation is a protected status.
Ex-Gays Do Exist
The comments written by anonymous are right on. Chris can strive to become a leader of an organization that accepts homosexuality as a lifestyle.
As a believer in Jesus (Yeshua) and struggling with SSA (same-sex attractions) for many years in my life, I have to say that when I became a believer in the Bible, I saw my homosexual attractions/lifestyle as conflicting with my faith. I've found that it's taken a lot of work, but if one wants to change there is help out there. Ex-Gays do exist and we deserve rights to pursue this life too! In fact, I've identified as one for over 14 years.
I support Chi Alpha and the wonderful work they do
I fully support the actions of Chi Alpha. This is a religious matter, and they have not violated the Campus Code in any way; Mr. Donohue was not stripped of his membership, just prevented from serving on the leadership board of a Christian organization.
Some people are talking about stripping Chi Alpha's funding away. Please go ahead. The organization only receives $700 from the SAFC, and there are students who will gladly raise money to replace any funds taken from the organization by the SA.
I like. Open up the
I like. Open up the fundraiser nationwide. I'll contribute!
Yes, the Bible says love
Yes, the Bible says love your neighbor, but it also says homosexual activity is wrong. In the eyes of a Christian, for someone to accept homosexuality as part of them selves is the same as accepting lying, cheating or stealing as part of who they are. Choosing to no longer fight it, choosing to give up, just demonstrates his inability to lead a Christian group in the right direction and as such he was asked to step down. Giving up his fight against this sin demonstrates his inability to lead by example in the Christian Faith. There is nothing against him personally, just that his actions are not those that are representative of the Christian Faith, particularly the flavor represented by Chi Alpha.
It is wonderful that he loves God and keeps the faith, he just needs to overcome his homosexual behavior before he can once again represent a group believing homosexuality to be wrong. It's like having the president of the United States prefer to live in another country--it wouldn't make sense.
I don't go to Cornell but
I don't go to Cornell but the last sentence of your entry had to be the funniest thing I've read in a while.
A+ to ivy league logic.
you kids are too too much.
They're not discriminating
They're not discriminating against the sin. Their problem is not his homosexuality, but rather his insistence that, in contradiction of their beliefs, he doesn't believe it IS a sin. I assume they'd have the same problem if a straight student announced that he did not believe homosexual activity was a sin. I'm sure they would welcome a (repentant) thief or a murderer or a polygamist into their leadership, but not if they kept insisting that Jesus says that theft, murder, and polygamy are okay. One of the hardest things for non-Christians to understand is the distinction between forgiving sinners and condoning sin.
Two other points are interesting. First, that a student wants Cornell to make him the leader of a religious group whose beliefs he does not share. Second, that Cornell thinks it can dictate to religious groups who their religious leaders ought to be.
Thank you for explaining
Thank you for explaining that forgiving sinners and condoning sin are different things! I have many friends that are openly homosexual. Although I do not agree with their lifestyle, it will not stop me from being friends and caring about them. I respect their beliefs and they respect mine. I wouldn't ask them to be in a position of authority in my Bible study, nor would they ask me to do the same in their LBGT organizations.
As someone who knows a
As someone who knows a certain leader of Chi Alpha both premaritally and very, very intimately (in the biblical sense, if you will), I must say that Chi Alpha's leadership team doesn't seem to discriminate against any other mortal sins. Why is it that homosexuality is singled out?
RE: As someone who knows a...
If you know anyone in the leadership positions in a "sin" that they think is right, then please go and tell the group. They shouldn't be in a position of leadership either.
Sin is sin.. continuing to lie, steal, cheat, gossip, smoke, get drunk, have premarital sex, speaking the truth without love, getting back at people out of hurt... and yes... homosexuality.
It would be one thing to "struggle and fall" but if there is no repentence and there is an acceptance of that particular sin, then that person can no longer be in leadership. I don't care what the "sin" is.
That is the view of this group. It's not just about homosexuality... it is about all "sin". Any sin that is accepted as being ok is not ok with them.
I feel bad for the group and I feel bad for Chris. I feel bad that Chris has to react out of hurt and can't go about this in a way that is more mature. All I see in this situation is pain.
It's not like Chi Alpha shouted this from the mountain tops. They never said that they would not associate themselves with him... in fact he was told to continue to go to the group. He even brought his boyfriend a few times after he was told to step down. He was NOT kicked out.
Anything that is being done out of hurt should not be done. Getting back at people is not the right answer.
This group has the right to
This group has the right to believe and teach whatever they want about homosexuality, but they should NOT be getting cornell funds to discriminate...
As a straight libertarian atheist, I fully support this.
Honestly, how could you NOT support it? We all know that Christians don't like gay people in their club, and so did the University when it started to give them funding. The University KNEW the group would discriminate against gay people, and yet it still gave them funding. You can't ask a Christian group to treat gay people equally. It would be similar to funding a Klu Klux Klan group, as long as they gave equal opportunities to black people; it is against one of their inherit beliefs. No matter what they say to get money, they will ALWAYS discriminate against them, and I'd be willing to bet my life this is not the first time this has happened with this group. It just happens to be the first time a member has gotten to a leadership position before it happened, and to keep with their traditions they're asking him to step down to where they believe he should be.
Personally, this is win/win. The Christians let him be in a leadership role, they lose some credibility to the fundamental group. They kick him out, the entire group gets looked down upon by others, some members might leave the group or Christianity in general.
There are Christians that
There are Christians that 100% support homosexuality and support full gay rights. Just because these Christians don't doesn't mean all Christians agree. So I don't think it's fair to make the KKK analogy.
And the university didn't KNOW that this group would discriminate against gays! This group AGREED to the SAFC non-discrimination policies. The group knew they were not allowed to discriminate, but chose to break those rules.
Another analogy
It would also be the same as funding a Muslim group, knowing full well that they will not accept a Jewish - or any other Religion - person. The Muslim group would be expected to have leaders that espoused Muslim beliefs. The University has no right to decide what those beliefs are, per the 1st amendment.
This guy was not kicked out - as a Jew would be from a Muslim group. Instead, he has removed from a position of leadership. It wasn't for having homosexual tendencies. It was the acceptance of those tendencies and a belief that homosexual sex is not a sin. That is against the biblical text that the group is supposed to represent:
Old Testament:
Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.
New Testament:
Romans 1:26-27:
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
These are only a couple of verses, from the New and Old Testaments.
So, in my view, I don't see how they could keep this fellow in a leadership position without changing their organization into something else.
the bible
One could argue that the bible says a lot of things about homosexuality because it is mentioned, or better yet, alluded to in more than one instance. You know what else the bible says? that slavery is cool, snakes talk, and god kills a lot of people. As a society, whether it is a christian organization or the united states government, we can not rely on the bible as a source of factual information or regulations. Those that believe in it, pick and choose what sections to believe in and as society evolves "believers" decide what parts of the bible "still apply."
The Bible does not condone
The Bible does not condone slavery; if you contextualize the issue you would realize that slaves were essentailly servants who were treated well. Many people went into slavery willingly and continued to be slaves even after their term was up, because they were treated well and able to provide for themselves. You opinion of the Bible is just that - your opinion. And it is not correct to say that those who believe use what they want, those are some believers not all.
In a nutshell:
"'The decision to ask Chris to step down was not that he did something wrong in having homosexual tendencies. [It was because] he no longer thought it was wrong. … I support the decision fully,' D’Ambrosio said."
This is the religious right today. Is Cornell really producing students with such an astounding inability to reason? There's nothing wrong in being gay; it's just wrong to not think it's wrong. What does that even mean?
"'I’m still friends with [Chris], I know a lot of people in Chi Alpha are friends with him. … Just to say that this is a really difficult situation for all of us. … I think we’re all struggling,” Longoria said."
Just another way of saying, "We need to hate something, it's a shame it turns out to be a 'friend' this time."
Understand the definitions of words before you speak.
""'The decision to ask Chris to step down was not that he did something wrong in having homosexual tendencies. [It was because] he no longer thought it was wrong. … I support the decision fully,' D’Ambrosio said."
This is the religious right today. Is Cornell really producing students with such an astounding inability to reason? There's nothing wrong in being gay; it's just wrong to not think it's wrong. What does that even mean?"
What she (and other Christians who take this stance) means is that having same-sex attractions is sin that comes out of our natural selves; you don't decide how you are tempted and what your "sin patterns" are (someone can be inclined to quickly become angry, lie, be lazy, etc.), so he didn't do anything wrong in being tempted. But he was being tempted to SIN because homosexuality is something the Bible (thus God) clearly speaks against. And in acting on those temptations (thus sinning) and having no regret and even promoting the sin he now committed, he acknowledged that he didn't think homosexuality was wrong anymore. Of course all Christians are tempted to sin, and they even fall prey to those temptations a lot of times, but they recognize they were wrong and seek forgiveness from God.
"[He didn't do anything] wrong in having homosexual tendencies" DOES NOT EQUAL "there's nothing wrong in being gay." Having homosexual tendencies is not the same as being gay to a Christian (at least the ones who follow the Bible more closely). See my explanation above- there's a fundamental misunderstanding of definitions here. Christians see temptation where others see an aspect of identity.
It may be obvious, but I support Chi Alpha for taking a stand for what they believe is true and following God in spite of opposition from the world. God's opinion is far more important than those of classmates or school officials.
Its OK to join other groups besides Chi Alpha
Just so I'm clear, Chris joined a christian organization that believed that homosexuality is a sin. They allowed him to be part of the group with this knowledge and even gave him a leadership position until he decided to embrace his homosexuality. Once he did that, they acted on their long standing convictions and asked him to step down from the leadership position, without kicking him out. So where is the problem? One cannot be an economist without accepting the basic tenets in economics. A religous organization has every right to act on its convictions. He was allowed to join the group (no discrimination here) but not allowed to be a leader because they don't believe their leader has to be a homosexual. It sounds like it's more to do with biblical principles than civil liberties. Its ok to join another group other than Chi Alpha rather than make them appear as terrible as this article is written.
Tolerance.... Betrayed
Tolerance. As long, that is, as you agree with me.
That is the position taken by those railing against Chi Alpha. Chi Alpha is a Christian organization (in this case, affiliated with an internationally recognized denomination). That implies a creed, a code of conduct, and especially high standards for leaders. This is the nature of ANY social group: There are convictions, creeds, practices that are the covenant of participation. So sports team are allowed to impose curfews, Student Democrats can deny a leadership to a College Republican, ethnicly defined associations may constrain leadership positions to those fitting the demographic, and religious organizations may establish creedal and behavioral terms for leadership to be considered "in good standing."
Mr. Donohoe has chosen to come out and be sexually active. He did that, knowing he was crossing the line of covenant for the group. That is his prerogative. To uphold the standards of group covenant is also the prerogative of the group.
How sad, then, to hear such disturbing pre-judgment across campus: “We are very concerned with what happened and we want to make sure this is a campus that does not discriminate in this way,” (Dean of Students Kent Hubbell). Can the Hermans and Chi Alpha expect a fair hearing when they finally meet with the Dean of Students?!
The question every student has to ask (it's YOUR Student Affairs Office) is "What does it mean to be a campus community?" Do you really believe in people's right to assembly and to freedom of religion and conscience? Or only when they agree with you? Should Chi Alpha be able to limit it's leadership to those who uphold it's covenant, or should it and every other group on campus be completely neutered (this would include all the LGBT community as well)? Should SA dollars only go to those who "think like us", even though they are taken by mandate from all? If as a community or nation we cannot respect those who think differently than we do (Mr. Donohoe was never asked to leave the group, just a position of leadership on behalf a covenant he rejected), then we are well on the way to the despotic control of thought and speech of the most repressive regimes known to man.
To suggest the university must control all mind-think on campus is against everything the Academy has ever stood for in history. Funny how "tolerance" can become a synonym for repression.
"Mr. Donohoe has chosen to
"Mr. Donohoe has chosen to come out and be sexually active"
I highly doubt that you know the details of Chris' sex life. Even if you do, it is very impolite for you to air that publicly. Chris was not stripped of his leadership position for engaging in sexual activity, but for accepting his orientation.
I recommend that you not speculate about the sexual activities of people you do not know--beyond being incredibly rude and tacky, it's none of your damned business.
You're correct - my apologies.
Your point is well made.
Reading, "After Donohoe finished his term as vice president, he was going to be on the leadership team last fall. The Hermans told Donohoe that they were comfortable with his position as long as he did not engage in a relationship. However, after Donohoe met his boyfriend last summer and affirmed his acceptance of his sexuality, the Hermans asked him to step down from the team without consulting the rest of the organization."
Between that and the previous paragraph outlining conduct terms for organizational leadership, I inferred (incorrectly)that the relationship had been taken to a level not explicitly stated in the report. My apologies to all of you and Chris.
Will the broader failings of due process toward Chi Alpha be redressed as well?
Am I missing something?
Nowhere does it say that he became sexually active. It says he had a boyfriend, and that was what warranted his removal from the leadership team. It wasn't his sexual activity, it was his acceptance of his own sexuality. They were fine with him battling his own sexuality, and he could be a leader as long as he didn't accept it and enter into a relationship.
Say what?
"Mr. Donohoe has chosen to come out and be sexually active."
Nowhere in the article did you read that he became sexually active. Indeed, it's not a topic that should ever be mentioned in an article. But perhaps you were revealing your own prejudice so common to neo-conservative ideology that being gay is synonymous with being a sex pot. Not that there is anything wrong with being a sex pot, of course. I just wanted to point out that your statement is nowhere supported by the article so you would do well to make sure your arguments are grounded in some semblance of reality.
The very framework of your
The very framework of your belief treats any sexuality other than heterosexuality as a disorder that should be isolated and held up for public shame. These beliefs are, in fact, tolerated. But you wonder why others don't tolerate dehumanizing, debasing actions? The line is drawn when personal beliefs turn into an excuse to harm others.
Very well said. there's no
Very well said. there's no argument in this article. if people want to protest the decision of Chi Alpha, their beef is with the Bible and all other Christian (and most religious) groups on campus. As was stated in the article, Chris wasn't kicked out of the group, he was just asked to step down from leadership. I've seen this happen in other Christian fellowships on campus for various reasons. The article is very biased and I would say, almost anti-Christian when it includes such ridiculous headlines as "Christian Pastors Oust Student Leader Due to His Sexual Orientation." Didn't this same article quote a member of Chi Alpha as saying, "The decision to ask Chris to step down was not that he did something wrong in having homosexual tendencies."
Big brother is mandatory,
Big brother is mandatory, Christianity is voluntary. No comparison.
in other words,
you can be gay as long as you're (at the same time) ashamed of it. the radical right seems bent on creating a generation of schizophrenics and double-thinkers. big brother would be proud.
Big brother is mandatory,
Big brother is mandatory, Christianity is voluntary. No comparison.
The Cornell administration
The Cornell administration and the SA have always had only two consistent options for awarding SAFC funding:
1.) Fund basically everyone and accept that some groups will do things you don't agree with, or
2.) Fund no one and let many (perhaps most) groups die.
Any sane person would agree that the first option is the better one. To selectively defund certain groups, or to meddle with their policies and leadership would make Cornell's claims to encourage diversity and dialogue hypocritical.
Groups which engage in hate speech or intimidation obviously have no part in civil discourse, but Chi Alpha was not engaging in either of these practices. They felt their message would be undermined by having this person on their leadership team, and they acted accordingly. The fact that this is an emotional issue does not change the fact that they did not violate university policy.
I disagree with what you say, but....
Imagine person x joins an LGBT organization. Now person x at the time of joining the organization is a very active and proud homosexual. Suppose person x even becomes so involved that he is elected the Vice President of the club.
Now what if he changes his mind? Suppose his bigoted parents send him to one of those brain washing camps where homosexuals are beaten until they become 'normal' again. After this experience, person x is so traumatized that he can no longer be a homosexual, and even goes as far as to say that it is a 'sin'.
Would we view it as discrimination if the LGBT organization asked him to step down from the leadership role he had taken on? No. It is perfectly understandable that he now disagrees with one of the core tenants of the organization. It is even understandable if they ask him to leave the organization all-together, though they need not do so.
If one agrees with such a case, then one must similarly allow Chi Alpha to continue with their decision undisturbed. But if this case seems discriminatory, then perhaps we ought to hold vigils for other sorts of reverse discrimination against Christians as well.
Excuse me?
As the President of MOSAIC for queer and same gender loving People of Color, I can assure you that we and other LGBT student groups do not discriminate against heterosexuals. Our core tenants do not require our members or leadership to identify as LGBTQ. So please do not employ that tactic and suggest that we are as intolerant and discriminatory as Chi Alpha.
Chi Alpha can continue to operate and discriminate however it wants, but it cannot operate as a university organization and still receive funding. The organization has violated Campus Code, the Student Activities Office anti-discrimination policy, and the core values of this university. If they won't be held accountable for violating those policies, then any organization can openly discriminate.
really?
You'd really let someone lead your group who actively disagreed with your core philosophy? Not just someone who was hetero, but who went around saying that gays would burn and should repent? You'd let someone like that lead your group? I find that difficult to believe.
...Wow
Way to take it too far. This argument would only be valid if Chi Alpha made Chris step down because he was going around telling people that Christians suck, which was not the case at all. Chris is gay, but he's also (from what I know) a good Christian, which is why this is an issue. He has done nothing wrong except, in the eyes of the group, come out and accept his sexuality. If the above poster said that she wouldn't let a heterosexual person lead the group despite being fully supportive of gays, then you could pretend to be clever and smart when arguing back.
I'm sorry but...
I'm sorry, but being a "good" member of a certain organization should imply accepting their beliefs
Thus, being a "Good Christian" should imply treating homosexuality as a sin.
"Good Christian"?
I just wonder what is your definition of a good christian? Should we base it off the Baptist, Protestant,Mormon, or Catholic faiths. What one would be a good choice?
We can use the United Church of Christ as an example. This church does not condemn and many even support full marriage equality. So in their eyes Donohoe is a good Christian.
How about the Mormons? Up until 1970 they thought that African-Americans were cursed with the "Mark of Cain" and actively through RACIST polices denied them priesthood. So by your own argument you would have supported the RACIST policies of the Mormon Church in the 1970's.
Furthermore, the club uses student funds. I DO NOT pay 45,000 a year in law school tuition to have those funds used against me.
Maybe even some racist students should petition Student Services to start a chapter of the KKK.
Had Chi Alpha kept Donohoe
Had Chi Alpha kept Donohoe in his ELECTED position, they would have taken the opportunity to send a great message to the Cornell community--that god loves us all equally. However, they ruined that opportunity and instead sent the message to Cornellians that they believe it is acceptable to discriminate.
It boggles my mind how in this day and age, some people still find homophobia acceptable. We all understand that racism is inexcusable, so what makes homophobia okay? Does a gay person have any less right to be a steward of god's message? Of course not!
Chi Alpha chooses to believe that the bible expressly disapproves of homosexuality. However, they fail to embrace other important tenets the bible gives us, that tell us we all are god's children and should be loved equally. Why would a god who loves everyone make exceptions? "I love all human beings...except the gays." Seriously, what century are we living in?!
And to the president of Chi Alpha, Danielle (I'm really disappointed in you by the way; I didn't realize when I met you that you were an ignorant hatemonger), homosexuality is NOT a choice. Just look at all of those closeted pastors we see in the news, who marry women but have secret lives as gay men that they cannot stop. If nationally-known religious figures who preach against homosexuality could "choose" not to be gay, don't you think they would? In fact, I'm surprised that as a biologist, you would rebuff something that clearly has a scientific basis; homosexuality IS dictated by genetics.
Are you a geneticist? What
Are you a geneticist? What research do you have to support your emphatic claim that "Homosexuality is NOT a choice...homosexuality IS dictated by genetics"? Emphasis or louder volume rarely implies more truth.
And it's sad that you would take the time to talk about the Chi Alpha president in such a demeaning way. Would you say that to her face?