Current Affairs

Christian school threatens to EXPEL students if they have a gay family member

May 20 2016
Written by Nick Duffy

A private Christian school in Kansas is reserving the right to expel students who have gay family members.

The policy of Trinity Academy – a private Christian high school in Wichita, Kansas – was exposed after a document leak.

Patheos obtained a copy of the school’s ‘Statement of Understanding’, which all students and parents must sign before admission.

The document specifies: “Given the debate and confusion in our society about marriage and human sexuality it is vital that Trinity families agree with and support the school’s traditional, Christian understanding of those issues.

“Therefore, when the atmosphere or conduct within a particular home is counter to the school’s understanding of a biblical lifestyle, including the practice or promotion of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) lifestyle or alternative gender identity, the school should have the right, in its sole discretion, to deny the admission of an applicant or discontinue enrollment of a current student.”

The policy is not made publicly clear by the school.

Its website features a more ‘friendly’ faith statement that says: “We believe in a biblical perspective for all areas of life. In the social arena, Trinity Academy seeks to impart a respect for the sanctity of life and an abhorrence for the sins of idolatry, abortion, euthanasia, sexual impurity, racism, lying, stealing, gossip, slander, greed, injustice, prejudice, and the abuse of the body through the use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.”

Title IX of the Education Act, written in 1972, means schools with public funding cannot discriminate against LGBT students.

However religious schools are able to request exemptions – while private schools are not always bound by the legislation.

A release from the federal Department for Education revealed last month that a shocking 232 religious institutions had received exemptions from anti-discrimination rules – with 31 pending requests.

No request for such a waiver has ever been denied.

Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin warned: “The alarming and growing trend of schools quietly seeking the right to discriminate against LGBT students, and not disclosing that information publicly, is what spurred our call for greater transparency.

“We believe that religious liberty is a bedrock principle of our nation, however, faith should never be used as a guise for discrimination.”