Two Oregon Colleges Make the “Shame List”  for LGBTQ Students

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Monday, August 29, 2016

GoLocalPDX News Team

Campus Pride today releases its 2016 “Shame List,” highlighting for the first time a national list of “The Absolute Worst Campuses for LGBTQ Youth.”  The national listing includes 102 campuses that openly discriminate against LGBTQ youth in policies, programs and practices as documented on the site listing.   Two Oregon colleges made the list.

“Most people are shocked when they learn that there are college campuses still today that openly discriminate against LGBTQ youth. It is an unspoken secret in higher education, how they use religion as a tool for cowardice and discrimination,” said Shane Windmeyer, Executive Director of Campus Pride. “This lists uncovers the religion-based bigotry that is harmful and perpetuated against LGBTQ youth on these campuses,” continued Windmeyer.

The Oregon colleges are:

Multnomah University has qualified for the Shame List because it has applied for an exemption to Title IX in order to discriminate against its students on the basis of gender identity while still receiving federal funds.

George Fox University has qualified for the Shame List because it holds an exemption to Title IX, allowing the college to discriminate against its students on the basis of gender identity while still receiving federal funds.

The Shame List was first published last December in 2015 as a way to highlight fifty-seven campuses who had received or requested  Title IX exemptions to freely and openly discriminate against LGBTQ youth.  At that time, the campuses applying for these discriminatory waivers did so privately.  It was not public information.   According to Campus Pride, often times even faculty, staff and students did not know.

“I attended Westmont College in California.  While they have not applied for a Title IX waiver, it is clear that their past and current policies and practices are anti-LGBTQ,” said Donald Scherschligt, a Campus Organizer working on this project with Campus Pride. “Nobody should have to live my experience. I hope this listing will help colleges like Westmont realize the future is one of inclusion, especially within higher education.  We need to call out these shameful acts.”

Since then the United States Department of Education has published online the letters of campuses related to Title IX exemptions.   Campus Pride spent the last six months compiling a database and researching all public records related to anti-LGBTQ policies, programs and practices at these campuses.  The criterion to be the “absolute worst” campus includes either of the following: 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.  

“Ultimately these campuses are dangerous for vulnerable LGBTQ youth and others. All families and youth deserve to know this information – and so do corporations who do business with these campuses – from those who hire and recruit, vendors who contract food service, sell books, make donations and in any other way provides goods or services to a college or university,” Windmeyer said.

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