From the school that embodied everything wrong with rape culture:
The statement notes that "the university affirms the biblical understanding of sexuality as a gift from God" and that "Christian churches across the ages and around the world have affirmed purity in singleness and fidelity in marriage between a man and a woman as the biblical norm." Its sexual conduct policy also states that it is "expected that Baylor students will not participate in advocacy groups which promote understandings of sexuality that are contrary to biblical teaching," which include "heterosexual sex outside of marriage and homosexual behavior."
"With this said, we understand that we must do more to demonstrate love and support for our students who identify as LGBTQ," Livingstone wrote, adding that it has been suggested that the university provide "more robust and more specific training" for students, faculty and staff in regard to LGBTQ students, and more opportunities for civil dialogue.
"And, perhaps most importantly," she wrote, "we need to establish trust with our LGBTQ students so that, among other things, they might seek out the resources provided by Baylor — all of which must be done as a faithful expression of our Christian mission."
Rumors of the school's alleged loose ties to conversion therapy — treatments that are supposed to turn gay people straight — have also floated around among Baylor's LGBTQ community. They involve links between Dennis Wiles, a member of the university's Board of Regents, vice chair of the student life committee, and pastor of First Baptist Church in Arlington, and his partner church Living Hope Ministries.
