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Hope & help for gay, lesbian, bisexual & transgender students from religious educational institutions. |
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Hope & help for gay, lesbian, bisexual & transgender students from religious educational institutions. |
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Why are there GLBT students in religious schools? For the same reason there are GLBT students in public schools. The short answer is simple. No one gets to choose where they attend public grade school and public high school. Parents make that choice or it is dictated by where the student lives. The same is true for students (GLBT or otherwise) attending religious schools. Those decisions are made by someone other than the student. Even on the college and university level, most parents have an active role in selecting or influencing the decision of which school to attend. Many parents encourage their kids to attend the same college or university they attended. Some parents go to great lengths and even threaten financial isolation if their son or daughter does not attend the school they choose.The same is true for students attending religious colleges and universities. Parents play a major role in the decision. Many young men and women who are well aware of their struggle choose a religious college or university thinking that they can find change in a more structured environment.Still others sit in church youth groups every week and listen to youth ministers imploring the importance of attending a religious college or university that their church endorses. It is not uncommon for youth ministers to extend promises that "God" has the perfect mate waiting at the church-endorsed college/university. These pressures are tremendous. Young people (especially GLBT youth in religious environments) are at risk of believing what they hear from their peers and leadership. Conferences such as this one are no help either.
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FOR STUDENTS DID SOMEONE SAY YOU COULD CHANGE?
HeartStrong, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social justice organization. Copyright HeartStrong Inc. |
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