Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
A coalition of LGBT activist groups is taking aim at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and are demanding that the organization divest itself of all Christian colleges that are seeking Title IX exemptions due to their religiously-influenced views on sexual ethics.
According to the Christian Post (CP), dozens of Christian institutions have sought waivers from the U.S. Department of Education’s 2014 Title IX federal funding requirements which require schools to allow transgenders to compete.
In a letter sent to the NCAA by the LGBT group, Campus Pride, they are calling upon the organization to "divest from all religious based campuses" that asked for the waivers, which they claim are "discriminatory."
The group constructed a “Shame List” which lists these institutions, accusing them of “anti-LGBTQ religion-based bigotry.”
NCAA spokeswoman Gail Dent confirmed to the CP that they have "received the letter and will respond appropriately."
Dent also noted that the "Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights oversees, interprets and enforces Title IX and the OCR waiver process."
In response to the charges, the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) sent a letter to the NCAA pointing out that Campus Pride “mischaracterizes our institutions and their policies.”
"CCCU institutions do not inquire about a student's sexual orientation upon application, nor do they have policies of expelling LGBTQ students summarily," wrote CCCU President Shirley V. Hoogstra.
"Many do hold a view of marriage as between a man and a woman consistent with the view of all of the world's major religions, and they ask all employees and students to confine sexual activity to this context for as long as they are a part of the campus community. These policies in no way target LGBTQ members of the community but instead apply to all within the community."
She also expressed her displeasure for the so-called “Shame List”, pointing out that those colleges that received exemptions “have not done anything wrong.”
How the NCAA will respond remains to be seen, but Steve McConkey, president of 4 WINDS, a ministry dedicated to defending Christian athletes doesn’t sound too hopeful.
"The NCAA is full of politically correct individuals that have caved into the homosexual agenda in the past. Instead of standing up for the majority of athletes who oppose homosexuality, they could follow the politically correct road and come against Christian universities."
McConkey points out that allowing transgender athletes to compete is not as simple as it sounds. For example, allowing transgender males to compete in female sports would give those males an advantage because, as many studies have shown, it takes years for men to lose their strength while undergoing hormone therapy.
Should the NCAA cave to these demands, it could mean relegating Christian college sports to second class status, thus causing many gifted athletes to apply to other colleges and universities where they will be allowed to compete on a national stage.
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