MISS CALIFORNIA, HEARTSTRONG & TRANSGENDER STUDENTS
While watching the Miss USA pageant to marvel at the shoes, it was not at all surprising to see Miss California, Carrie Prejean, a finalist to become a Deal or No Deal briefcase model, answer the gay marriage question the way she did. She is a current student at the anti-GLBT San Diego Christian College. San Diego Christian College is part of Shadow Mountain Community Church and shares space with the equally owned Christian Unified Schools of San Diego, and the Southern California Seminary.
San Diego Christian College is one of the rare (perhaps only) evangelical Christian colleges which not only has a written anti-gay policy but also an anti-transgender policy.
Many religious schools do not discuss transgender people. So it’s neither acknowledged or admonished. The closest response to transgender issues at religious colleges who are anti-t have been biblical quotes from the book of Genesis. (“5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; 5:2 Male and female created he them...”)
San Diego Christian College is different. Below is an excerpt from their Sexual Conduct Policy. It’s pretty standard for most religious schools to have this policy about homosexuality. However, it’s the last sentence that is notable.
“San Diego Christian College believes that marriage is a covenant relationship between a man and a woman, and that God has commanded that no sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage. We therefore believe that any form of homosexuality…are (is) contrary to God’s plan for His children. We also believe that God forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by medical and/or surgical intervention or appearance. (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 5:27-28; Rom. 1:21-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; 1Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)”
Christian Unified Schools of San Diego which is the k-12 part of this conglomerate illustrates our point. Their sexual conduct policy reads as follows, “We believe that the Scripture dictates standards of sexual behavior and that promiscuity, homosexuality, or other deviant sexual behavior is a sin.” No mention of transgender people for the k-12 crowd.
Alexander
Pangborn who is transgender and a member of the board of directors for
HeartStrong, Inc., said, "School
policies which specifically address and prohibit personal identity and
expression serve only to create a more dangerous campus climate. The idea that a
personal identity is not only considered morally reprehensible but is also
officially condemned by the institution encourages persecution."
"Policies are generally set in place to ensure a safe campus. It makes sense to
specifically address and prohibit activities such as harassment and assault. But
in specifically prohibiting personal identity and expression, an institution is
creating the antithesis of a safe campus climate for their students."
Prior to winning Miss California, Prejean was deeply involved in recruiting women from the adult porn industry to her religion. So, activism for her faith is not a new gig.
Now, her public high school is acting like a religious school. According to the North County Times, a Vista Unified School District trustee is suggesting the school board publicly honor Carrie Prejean. Trustee Jim Gibson said this week he wants to make June 1 "Carrie Prejean Day" in the district. He called Prejean, a 2005 Vista High School graduate, a "good, strong role-model."
"We're setting her up as an example. As far as I'm concerned, she's a great role-model, and she's a person who needs to be emulated."
Prejean said in a phone interview Tuesday that she was thrilled by the recognition and is proud of her North County ties. "I feel so honored," she told the paper.
Gibson is proposing the school board approve the proclamation at its May 14 meeting.
Vista High School is a PUBLIC high school with a written anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policy to protect students. And yet, someone wants to honor a former student who’s doing just that.
Back to SDCC and their anti-gay and anti-t policies. This school most certainly has the right to administer any anti-gay and anti-t policies they can think up and blame on their religious beliefs. But as the 13 year-old HeartStrong motto says, “having the right to do something, that doesn’t always make it right to do.”
Remembering that most students go to religious schools based on parental or church expectations and funding, think about how it would feel if you were a gay, lesbian, or transgender student at SDCC or at the Christian Unified School District. Think about the fear and anxiety produced by just a few words from a student’s mouth at a non religious event. The gang mentality which has followed Prejean’s statement, illustrated by her hero’s welcome back to SDCC and the standing ovation she received at the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Awards, can be severely intimidating to those students at SDCC and elsewhere who struggle to emotionally and/or physically survive their religious education environment.
Anyone at these schools even thinking about finding a way to accept themselves as a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person could clearly see the wave of support in their own religious community for someone denouncing homosexuality.
How could someone who was Miss Congeniality at the Miss California pageant become Miss Disconcerting? Her lack of compassion for classmates at SDCC who may be struggling with their own sexual orientation and gender identity is unfortunately typical in these environments.
Prejean, like me, is free to speak her mind. And HeartStrong, once again, is there to offer hope and help to any students at religious schools (including SDCC) who are in need of our message of hope.
California is the state with the most religious schools and the highest enrollment in those schools in the United States.
HeartStrong Mission Statement
HeartStrong is a non sectarian organization established to provide outreach to
gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and other persons adversely affected by
the influence of all denominations of religious educational institutions.
HeartStrong is also committed to educating the public about the persecution of
GLBT’s and others at religious educational institutions.