Read on Twitter
The U.S. Department of Education just granted Baylor University a Title IX exemption for sexual harassment.
This is the first time that a university has requested a religious exemption to permit sexual harassment and the first time the DoED has granted such a request. (🧵)
This is the first time that a university has requested a religious exemption to permit sexual harassment and the first time the DoED has granted such a request. (🧵)
In a 2021 letter to the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights, @Baylor requested a religious exemption for the following three claims: 
They were granted an exemption for all claims, including the claim about sexual harassment.
The footnote states: Specifically, the University requests assurance “that the belief in or practice of its religious tenets by the University or its students” would not constitute “unwelcome conduct” under the Department’s definition of “sexual harassment” under Title IX.
Baylor University specifically sought assurance that the university and its students could not be accused of sexual harassment for their behavior towards LGBTQIA+ people.
Your religious tenets should not require you to act in a way that may be classified as sexual harassment.
Your religious tenets should not require you to act in a way that may be classified as sexual harassment.
Baylor wrote:
“The University does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression per se, but it does regulate conduct that is inconsistent with the religious values and beliefs that are integral to its Christian faith and mission.”
“The University does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression per se, but it does regulate conduct that is inconsistent with the religious values and beliefs that are integral to its Christian faith and mission.”
Evidently, controlling people’s ability to live into their sexuality, gender identity and/or gender expression does not qualify as discrimination in the eyes of Baylor University. And neither does sexual harassment.
The outrage is not only that Baylor University would go so far as to request a religious exemption to sexual harassment, but also that the Department of Education would grant their request.
The U.S. Government continues to permit taxpayer-funded religious colleges and universities to harm and abuse LGBTQIA+ students without accountability.
Full letter from the Department of Education responding to Baylor’s request
Read about REAP’s lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education regarding the use of religious exemptions at taxpayer-funded colleges:
Donate to support our work: https://t.co/dmS7N5IYsWthereap.org/lawsuit
secure.actblue.com/donate/reap-fu…
Donate to support our work: https://t.co/dmS7N5IYsWthereap.org/lawsuit
secure.actblue.com/donate/reap-fu…
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
