University schooled by RuPaul star Jinkx Monsoon on discriminatory ban
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 09: Drag queen Jinkx Monsoon poses for portrait during the opening of PEG: The Store + PEG Records Artist Showcase at Arts District Co-op on June 9, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)
A group targeted by university officials have defended their right to exist with a little bit of help from Drag Queen Jinkx Monsoon.
Students from the queer-straight alliance (QSA) in Portland, Oregon found their right to exist targeted by Concordia University in Portland, Oregon after its charter was rescinded by school officials.
The group, which existed for three years, found that it was prohibited from existing, with administrators cancelling the club’s events at the last minute, tearing down its society posters and even forcing it to change its name, reported Willamette Week.
Although the university says it has a no discrimination policy, it is associated with the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, believes that homosexuality is “intrinsically sinful”.
Universities that are “controlled by a religious organization” can apply for an exemption to Title IX’s ban on sex discrimination if they believe that equality “would not be consistent with the religious tenets of such organization.”
After discovering that the club was forced to disband, Season 5 winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Jinkx Monsoon decided to step in and share her support on Facebook.
“I’m not stopping. Please share and use the emails below to contact Concordia,” she wrote, asking fans to petition the university over disbanding the group.
Just a day later, the university decided to allow the club’s existence “in the spirit of respect, love and humility”.
Since Donald Trump voted to scrap the Title IX protections, LGBT students have found themselves discriminated against with little route for solution.
The protections, which were argued and extended by former President Barack Obama, are considered to be the kingpin of ensuring that LGBT pupils and students have the same rights and opportunities and protections against discriminations as any heterosexual and cisgender pupil.
In the past six months, three transgender students have come forward to propose cases of discrimination in their educational establishments, but have found that their cases have been rebutted by the Department of Education who says that their concerns are outside of their remit.
