Event Wholly Inappropriate For A Public University

Washington State University recently cancelled its June 19-21 “We Are Family” conference for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.

Melynda Huskey, Ph.D., director of the WSU Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Allies Center, described the conference as an educational and fun “Camp Queer experience.” WSU fliers targeted to public schools and youth agencies stated that the conference would offer workshops, networking and an ‘80s dance party. Additionally, WSU would provide dorm rooms for each student and his or her “preferred roommate.”

According to Huskey, a grant from the Seattle Pride Foundation, donations and students’ $70 registration fees would cover expenses. Nevertheless, state funds and facilities were used to promote the camp, “to attract as many junior high and high school aged youth from the Pacific Northwest as we can.”

When I first heard of the conference, I was stunned that state funds would be spent to promote sexual relationships among children aged 12-18 years. When legislators heard of the conference, a firestorm erupted, resulting in a successful campaign to cancel it. Joining legislators in their condemnation of the conference were citizens, parents, priests and ministers, business people, alumni and members of the WSU Foundation Board of Trustees, WSU-TC Major Gifts Committee, and WSU President’s Associates.

WSU did not acknowledge poor judgment as the reason for the cancellation, however. Huskey claims that “homophobic intolerance” and fears of a “media circus” stopped the conference. Vice Provost Ernestine Madison said officials feared that if the camp was held, there was “the risk of jeopardizing our students” by “causing them more psychological pressure and emotional pain” from citizen protests.

These official excuses simply divert attention from the legitimate issues of accountability, liability and public trust. Homophobia is not the issue. The core issues revolve around a public university’s obligation to respect citizens’ civic and religious rights and its privilege of overseeing young people’s safety and human development. The very premise of the workshops offends me because it promotes a view that reduces personal identity to one’s sexual behaviors - whether that be heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual or other. Public institutions betray young people if they celebrate sexual relations as a basis for personhood and pride. This view denies children the understanding of their dignity as persons with a supernatural destiny that transcends sex and the material world.

True or not, the university invited the accusation that it was recruiting teens into sexual relationships by encouraging housing with “preferred roommates.” Responsible adults would never purposely place adolescents into tempting sleeping quarters which could result in sexual activity and serious physical consequences such as HIV/AIDS.

The conference workshop on religion also alarmed me. Neither Madison nor Huskey have dealt with the thorny issue of a publicly funded university tampering with students’ religious beliefs. Neither have news reports. The WSU website states, “Many religious traditions have taught and some continue to teach that homosexuality is immoral. These condemnations are based primarily on a few isolated passages from the Bible which have been distorted from their original meanings and taken out of context.”

As a matter of fact, there is a clear consistency within scripture on the morality of homosexual behavior. Christian doctrine is not based on isolated phrases but on the solid foundation of a constant Biblical testimony.

That testimony was written in different times and places over thousands of years. It has an unbroken continuity throughout Jewish and Christian scripture. It has been continually lived out in diverse communities of faith.

In my Catholic faith tradition, the church teaches that the condition of homosexuality is not a sin. Rather, it is a disordered sexual inclination which can lead to sin. It also acknowledges that there may be factors requiring that the blame for homosexual acts be judged prudently. But, the demeaning assumption that homosexual acts are always and totally compulsive (and therefore lacking in personal responsibility) is completely rejected. By reason, faith, and experience, the church knows that when people act contrary to the creative wisdom of God, they prevent their own happiness and fulfillment. The bottom line (no matter what your personal beliefs are) is that WSU is a government institution. It has no right to interfere with religious beliefs.

Many people are outraged at the behavior of WSU officials. Legislators are questioning WSU’s budget. Some plan a full investigation into public educational institutions using state resources to promote sexual activity and to manipulate religious beliefs. Some citizens have even called for the resignation of President Sam Smith.

This demand is extreme. But, it should alert Smith to the intensity of public consternation - especially in light of Vice Provost Madison’s statement that WSU will continue to sponsor these events.

Private organizations such as Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays and The Spokesman-Review have the right to sponsor and publicize these types of conferences - using their own funds. It is wholly inappropriate, however, for tax-supported institutions to do so.

Legislators should hold WSU officials accountable to a higher standard. Public officials entrusted with our resources and our children should demonstrate responsible judgment, rich moral authority and respect for the public. They must challenge our young people with a higher vision and calling for their lives - but first, they must demand it of themselves.