Tennessee College Legally Kicks Out Student For Being Gay

A graduate student enrolled at a private Christian college had his admission revoked when the school learned he was gay! What's more: the Jackson Sun is reporting that even though the evangelical Union University in Jackson, Tennessee,accepts public funding, the school used a religious exemption to legally remove Alex Duron from their three-year nursing program.

"It turns out that a faith-informed education from Union University is not God's plan for me," Duron posted on Facebook Tuesday. "Because Union University is not 'informed' enough to not recognized [sic] that bigotry masked as religion is not Christian at all."

The 38-year-old Duron posted a copy of the letter, which claimed his "social media profile" and "intent to live with your partner" showed he was unwilling to "abide by the commitment you made in signing (the university's community values statements)."

"Did you know that this is 100% Legal?" he continued in his post. "Did you know that Union University is not a fully private school and accepts federal funding? Did you know that your taxes are allowing them to discriminate against LGBTQ+ and their allies?

It turns out that it's perfectly legal for schools like Union University to get special religious exemptions from Title IX regulations that normally would forbid such blatant discrimination.

Union University told the Jackson Sun in a statement that "as a Christian institution, Union University has standards of behavior for its faculty, staff, and students that are consistent with biblical teaching and historic, Orthodox Christian practice." It went on to state students who don't adhere to the rules and beliefs are subject to disciplinary action and even expulsion. According to the school's Community Values Statement, same-sex sexual activities qualify as "sexually impure relationships."

The decision by Union University caught Duron by surprise, but he's not going to let it hold him back.

"Friends understand that I am doing fine and I have moved on from this," Duron wrote. "I have strong support all around me and I know my worth. Continuing to push forward but recognizing that gay discrimination lies all around us."

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