Harvard Christian Group suspended for asking bi leader to resign
A Harvard University faith group are to be supervised for a year after they removed the leader of their group for revealing that she is bisexual.
The group, named Harvard College Faith and Action, have been placed on probation by the prestigious institution for removing their leader following her decision to date a woman.
The bisexual Bible course leader was said to have been expelled when she emailed her fellow society members to say that she had found “inexplicable peace.”
“This person really makes me laugh, makes me feel safe, and can get me to breath[e] again during times of hyperventilating in a really bad panic attack, challenges me to be a better person for myself, others, and God,” she wrote of her romantic partner, reports The Crimson.
“I know a person or relationship doesn’t ‘fix you,’ but I can honestly say that having this relationship has been an incredible support that has helped me get to the point that I am at now,” she continued.
In response, two of the group leaders were said to have had a meeting with the student, in which she was then expelled from the society.
“In light of [my same-sex relationship], I have been asked to step down from my leadership position as a ABCL,” the woman wrote in the email.
“I cannot express how much this saddens me.”
Under university policy, recognised campus student groups cannot discriminate on the basis of “sexual orientation”.
“After a thorough review and finding that HCFA had conducted itself in a manner grossly inconsistent with the expectations clearly outlined in [the Office of Student Life’s] Student Organization Resource and Policy Guide, OSL has placed HCFA on a one year administrative probation,” wrote a spokesperson.
“We reject any notion that we discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in our fellowship,” said an email from the religious group.
“The student in this case was removed because of an irreconcilable theological disagreement pertaining to our character standards.”
