Taylor Schmitt, junior English major from San Antonio, recieved an email in early April, saying The New York Times was interviewing gay students on Christian campuses.

Schmitt, who made public his homosexuality about a year ago, thought he could provide contacts. The reporter had other plans. On April 18, the newspaper ran Schmitt’s picture on the front-page above the article: “Even on Religious Campuses, Students Fight for Gay Identity.” Schmitt was a spotlight example.

Feedback was immediate and opinionated.

“My Facebook wall and email were flooded with various messages,” Schmitt said. “It was mostly positive feedback.”

The article has sparked attention to students in Schmitt’s position, as well as how Christian universities handle them. ACU has responded by publicly affirming its statement of faith, while student reactions have been mixed.

The Story

The article told the stories of homosexual students who, for various reasons, attend colleges and universities with policies condemning homosexual practices. Schmitt came to accept his sexual identity after coming to ACU, he said in the article, and continues to attend the school because of his scholarship.

Jean-Noel Thompson, vice president for student life, also was quoted in the article. He said in the Times and, later that week, in The Abilene Reporter-News, that the university wants to engage discussion on same- sex attractions.

But while ACU offers students help and guidance on the issue, it will not advocate gay identities. The Times reported that the university refused to allow formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance.

However, this does not mean ACU is taking a withdrawn approach, Thompson told the Reporter-News. The university respects students’ right to express their opinions, controversial or not. The student handbook only mentions homosexuality in the contexts of sexual immorality, which equally applies to heterosexual acts, Thompson said in the Reporter-News.

Schubert’s Response

Dr. Phil Schubert, president of the university, also responded to media coverage. He wrote an op-ed piece that appeared in The Abilene Reporter-News and The Christian Chronicle and sent out an email to the university’s constituents about the Times article.

“This is a topic we have openly discussed for many years, and it’s an opportunity to share the love of Christ with those who may not agree with our stance,” Schubert said in the email.

Schubert said in the email that ACU affirms that the Bible reserves sex for a married man and woman, and the university holds to that standard. He also stressed that the university has “a zero-tolerance policy with respect to bullying or offensive speech.”

While Schmitt doesn’t agree that homosexuality and Christian values are mutually exclusive, he said ACU’s stance against harassment was important to him.

“Even if I disagree with some of the policies surrounding homosexuality on the campus, I appreciate the respect that was given me by upholding policies that ensure my wellbeing,” Schmitt said.

Student Reaction

Schmitt said he hadn’t experienced much reaction from the student body, but Thomas Griffin, junior marketing major from Marble Falls, said word of the article was getting around. He read the story after hearing about it from a friend.

“I was really impressed by the strength of that student to be honest about the things going on in his life,” Griffin said.

Elizabeth Bernhardt, junior English major from Pearland, said she hoped the article would open real conversations. Bernhardt said she was surprised by the scope of the article and was glad to hear the perspective of students struggling to reconcile Christianity with a homosexual identity.

ACU’s commitment to its policies may offend some who read the article, Bernhardt said, but not everyone understands the perspective of Christian universities.

“Christian universities see homosexuality and Christianity as being separate,” Bernhardt said. “I know that this is an issue of controversy now in the Christian community, but I hope when people are searching for answers, that ACU can stand by its beliefs but be open to discussion.”

Griffin hoped the article would not drive a wedge between Christians and non-Christians or heterosexuals and homosexuals, but rather provide an avenue to get to know one another.

“It’s really our duty as Christians to meet people where they are and walk with them through whatever they are going through,” Griffin said. “My greatest hope for this is that it stirs people’s hearts and pulls them to reach out.”

Schmitt said he took a public stance on this issue to encourage comradery among students in his position, not to change any specific policy.

“Far too often, I hear from students that they have no voice, that the culture expects them to remain silent,” Schmitt said. “Students need to be comfortable coming to grips with sexual identity.”

If his advocacy can help students be comfortable in their own skin, despite what others may think, then the media circus was well worth it, Schmitt said.