Expelled for getting married?

Christian Minard says she received a letter from Southwestern Christian University in Bethany, Okla., notifying her of her expulsion after marrying her partner, Kadyn Parks, in Albuquerque, N.M., earlier this year.

The school, which is affiliated with the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, forbids “homosexual behavior” as part of its covenant, which Minard signed. Other offenses listed in the school’s code include harassment, sexual misconduct, and use of alcohol, tobacco and pornography.

As a queer Christian I have what will surely be some very unpopular questions about this case.

Why on earth would one choose to be a part of, even pay to be a part of a community that dehumanizes you?

As queer woman seeking a higher education in the world why would you subject yourself to or even remotely trust the education you would get from such an institution?

If you signed the contract and you live in that community every day how could you not know this would be the outcome?

And knowing this would be the outcome and professing your degree to be so important, why would you not wait one more semester, until after you had graduated, to get married?

Regardless of whether or not other forbidden behaviors were occurring on campus you are only responsible for your actions and the consequences of them if you choose to openly engage in the evangelical lifestyle.

Let’s discuss.