2008 Woodie Awards
Is Whitworth harboring discrimination?
College failing by avoiding the issue
Erika Prins, Staff Writer
Issue date: 12/5/06
Last Updated: 12/29/07
Lately, homosexuality seems more important to Christians than saving peoples' souls. The issue has split up churches and caused rifts in denominations. On our campus, homosexuality has been the source of hot debates, hate crimes and smaller incidents of discrimination, and exclusion for people who identify as or are stereotyped as homosexual. It is no wonder that Whitworth does not want to take sides on the issue.
As an educational institution, though, Whitworth has no choice but to grapple with these tough issues and Washington law has pushed schools to look further into the issue by passing a law that requires public schools to include sexual orientation in their non-discrimination policies.
Whitworth should include sexual orientation in its anti-discrimination policy regardless of whether Whitworth agrees on issues of homosexuality. Doing so is equivalent to including religion in the policy (which it does) and does not mean that Whitworth considers homosexuality right. It is simply consistent with Whitworth's inclusiveness of a diversity of people - Christian and non-Christian, with many different backgrounds and lifestyles.
"We do not want to send a message that we discriminate under any circumstance," President Bill Robinson said in the most recent board report.
On Oct. 12, Whitworth's Board of Trustees delayed the decision of whether to include sexual orientation in its anti-discrimination policy, according to the October 17 article in the Whitworthian: "Board delays anti-discrimination decision." The decision will be made next spring.
Washington state law now includes protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This amendment to the Washington Law against Discrimination became effective on June 7.
The legislation includes public educational institutions but excludes educational facilities "operated or maintained by a bona fide religious or sectarian institution."
Although it makes sense to exclude people from participating in a religious group that has rules they do not follow, that is no justification for discriminating against students at Whitworth for their sexual orientation.
As an educational institution, though, Whitworth has no choice but to grapple with these tough issues and Washington law has pushed schools to look further into the issue by passing a law that requires public schools to include sexual orientation in their non-discrimination policies.
Whitworth should include sexual orientation in its anti-discrimination policy regardless of whether Whitworth agrees on issues of homosexuality. Doing so is equivalent to including religion in the policy (which it does) and does not mean that Whitworth considers homosexuality right. It is simply consistent with Whitworth's inclusiveness of a diversity of people - Christian and non-Christian, with many different backgrounds and lifestyles.
"We do not want to send a message that we discriminate under any circumstance," President Bill Robinson said in the most recent board report.
On Oct. 12, Whitworth's Board of Trustees delayed the decision of whether to include sexual orientation in its anti-discrimination policy, according to the October 17 article in the Whitworthian: "Board delays anti-discrimination decision." The decision will be made next spring.
Washington state law now includes protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This amendment to the Washington Law against Discrimination became effective on June 7.
The legislation includes public educational institutions but excludes educational facilities "operated or maintained by a bona fide religious or sectarian institution."
Although it makes sense to exclude people from participating in a religious group that has rules they do not follow, that is no justification for discriminating against students at Whitworth for their sexual orientation.
For this reason, The Whitworthian asks readers to be responsible and respectful in any comments posted. The responsibility for statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not the whitworthian.com. Readers are also encouraged to report questionable comments by e-mailing editor@whitworthian.com.
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