Lee University's Stance On Transgender Students

Lee University, a private Christian university in Tennessee, has been at the centre of controversy regarding its stance on transgender students. In 2021, a transgender student was suspended from the university after posting TikTok videos criticising what he perceived as a homophobic environment on campus. The student, Joie St. Hubert, claimed that the university's code of conduct was being unevenly enforced and that he was targeted for being an LGBTQ+ advocate. While the university denied these allegations, the incident sparked discussions about Lee University's policies and their impact on transgender and LGBTQ+ students.

Lee University's suspension of a transgender student

In August 2021, Joie St. Hubert, a transgender student at Lee University, was suspended for posting videos on TikTok that criticised what he called the school's "homophobic environment". St. Hubert's videos did not explicitly name Lee University. However, the school stated that St. Hubert had violated its code of conduct regarding language, internet use, and the inappropriate use of technological devices. This incident sparked debate about Lee University's policies and their impact on LGBTQ+ students.

Background on Joie St. Hubert

Joie St. Hubert is a transgender man and a vocal LGBTQ+ advocate who began his senior year at Lee University in 2021. St. Hubert chose to attend Lee University, an evangelical Christian school in Tennessee, because of its music program. However, he faced challenges during his time on campus, including instances of homophobia and feeling targeted for his advocacy. St. Hubert found support within a small community of friends and other LGBTQ+ students at the school.

Details of the Suspension

St. Hubert posted a TikTok video on August 18, 2021, in which he sat sipping an iced coffee beside a brick building with a caption referring to "homophobic sorority girls on campus." Nine days later, he posted another video announcing he had received 40 accountability hours from the school after being "reported for telling the truth." On August 30, St. Hubert received an official suspension letter from Lee University's Office of Student Development. The letter offered him the option to re-enroll for the spring 2022 semester.

Reactions and Responses

St. Hubert expressed frustration with the university's decision and felt that his speech was penalised unfairly. He also questioned the even enforcement of the internet policy among the student body. The Affirming Alum Collective, a group of Lee University alumni, accused the school of changing its policies to silence students like St. Hubert and removing protections for LGBTQ+ students. In response, Lee University denied specifically targeting any group and asserted that its policies were designed to create a safe and welcoming environment for all students.

The university's Statement of Beliefs Concerning Human Sexuality and Gender

Lee University, a private Christian university in Tennessee, has released a statement outlining its policies for banning students and faculty from identifying as transgender and suppressing students' speech related to LGBTQ+ issues. The statement, called the "Statement of Beliefs Concerning Human Sexuality and Gender," includes explicit rules and guidelines that community members must adhere to.

Firstly, the statement affirms the university's belief in the binary nature of biological sex, stating that "humans do not have the ability, or observed right, to choose a gender." Based on this premise, the policy stipulates that no member of the Lee University community may publicly identify or behave as a gender that does not align with their biological sex. This includes using or requesting others to use different names, pronouns, or forms of dressing that are inconsistent with one's biological sex. The policy also prohibits community members from promoting or advocating for sexual acts, behaviours, or lifestyles that contradict Scripture, the statement of belief, or any other university policies.

In addition to the restrictions on gender expression, the university also outlines expectations for student conduct. The policy includes rules for single-gender housing, locker rooms, and sports teams, reflecting the beliefs outlined in the statement. The university also reserves the right to uphold policies based on biblical standards in all areas.

The "Statement of Beliefs Concerning Human Sexuality and Gender" is an extension of the university's long-standing theological beliefs and is in keeping with the tenets of the Pentecostal Church of God, from which the university receives funding and theological framework. The statement has faced criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates and students who argue that it stifles freedom of expression and gives permission for discrimination.

Despite the controversy, the university maintains that the statement is an explanation of the beliefs underpinning existing policies and that it has been in the works for several years. The university is committed to treating each person with respect and dignity, regardless of differences in belief, while upholding its religious tenets and values.

Lee's removal of gender and gender identity from its student handbook

Lee University, a private Christian university in Tennessee, has been accused of removing "gender identity" as a protected class from its student handbook's anti-discrimination policy section. This has sparked concerns and criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates and allies, who view it as a discriminatory act targeting transgender and gender non-conforming individuals.

In response to the criticism, Brian Conn, the director of communications at Lee University, stated that the handbook is reviewed and updated annually to ensure compliance with relevant laws. He asserted that the changes neither remove protections afforded under Title IX nor single out any specific group of students. The university also emphasized its commitment to fostering a safe and welcoming environment for all students.

However, the removal of gender and gender identity from the student handbook has raised concerns about the university's stance on transgender and gender non-conforming students' rights and protections. The updated policy states that no student has the right to publicly identify or behave as a gender that differs from their biological sex. This includes restrictions on using different names, pronouns, or presenting outwardly in a way that does not align with their sex assigned at birth.

The policy has faced opposition from alumni groups, such as the Affirming Alum Collective, who advocate for greater support and inclusion of LGBTQ+ students on campus. They argue that the university's policies cause harm to LGBTQ+ individuals and fail to recognize and affirm their dignity and worth. The group has expressed disappointment in the administration's decision, stating that the handbook falls short of providing a safe and inclusive environment for these students.

The controversy surrounding Lee University's removal of gender and gender identity from its student handbook highlights the ongoing debate between religious freedom and LGBTQ+ rights in educational institutions. While the university defends its policies as consistent with its theological beliefs, critics argue that these policies stifle freedom of expression and give permission for discrimination against transgender and gender non-conforming students.

The university's response to criticism from alumni

Lee University has responded to criticism from alumni regarding its policies on transgender students and LGBTQ+ issues. The university has stated that it is committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all students, regardless of their differences in beliefs.

In a statement, the university denied targeting LGBTQIA+ students or engaging in any campaign to silence them. They emphasised that their policies do not single out any specific group and that they uphold the freedom of speech for their students, as long as it aligns with the university's values and objectives.

Lee University also clarified that the changes in the student handbook were made to better highlight the legal protections available to students and to point to the laws that provide such protections. They asserted that these changes neither removed existing protections nor specifically targeted any particular group.

The university further extended an invitation for open discussion to the Affirming Alumni Collective, a group of Lee alumni advocating for greater LGBTQ+ support. However, the university stated that the Collective has not been in contact with them since the initial discussion. Lee University maintains that their invitation remains open, and they are willing to engage in dialogue.

In response to the criticism over their anti-LGBTQ+ guidelines, Lee University spokesperson Kendra Mann stated that the leaked document was under review and did not represent any sweeping policy changes. Mann emphasised that the document explained the beliefs underlying existing policies and that the university planned to gather feedback before publishing the final statement.

The federal law exemption for religious schools

In 2021, a transgender student at Lee University was suspended after posting TikTok videos questioning LGBTQ bias on campus. The student, Joie St. Hubert, was in his senior year at the evangelical Christian school and claimed that the university was unevenly enforcing its student code. St. Hubert was suspended for violating the school's policies on language, internet and inappropriate use of technological devices.

Lee University is a private Christian university in Tennessee. In 2022, the university planned to release a statement outlining its policies for banning students and faculty from identifying as trans and suppressing students' speech related to LGBTQ+ issues. The statement, called the "Statement of Beliefs Concerning Human Sexuality and Gender," included explicit rules against publicly identifying or behaving as a "gender that does not correspond to" biological sex. This included rules against using different pronouns or names, "dressing or outwardly presenting" as gender non-conforming, and undergoing medical transition.

The university's statement was criticized by the Affirming Alum Collective, a group of Lee alumni advocating for greater support of LGBTQ students. They accused the school of changing its policies to silence students like St. Hubert. In response, the university stated that its policies do not single out any group of students and that the changes to the handbook were made to more clearly point to the laws that provide protection for students.

Historically, many faith-based schools in the United States receive a form of federal funding but can be exempt from certain legal protections if there is a conflict with the organization's religious tenets. This exemption is based on Executive Order 11246, which prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. The religious exemption to this order permits qualifying religious corporations, associations, educational institutions, and societies to prefer in employment individuals of a particular religion.

In March 2023, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) rescinded the 2020 religious exemption rule, which had created a test for qualifying religious organizations that deviated from the Title VII case law that governs the interpretation of the Executive Order 11246 religious exemption. The rescission returned to the longstanding practice of following the test from extensive Title VII case law to determine which organizations qualify for the religious exemption.

The ministerial exception, recognized by the First Amendment, prohibits the government from interfering with the ability of certain religious organizations to make employment decisions about its "ministers," which includes but is not limited to clergy. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) also applies to Executive Order 11246, and if a contractor seeks an exemption on these grounds, OFCCP will consider the request based on the facts of the case.

Frequently asked questions