Today The Advocate published an article about the tension that exists between institutions of higher education and pro-LGBT organizations on college campuses.

The issue was highlighted because of ongoing tension between four Tufts University students and the Tufts Christian Fellowship group. The four students approached the university's judicial committee alledging that the Tufts Christian Fellowship group violates the school's nondiscrimination clause because the group requires "sexual chastity" for members with different chastity requirements for heterosexual/straight and lesbian, gay and bsiexual (LGB) students. According to the Daily's interview with one of the four students who filed the complaint, heterosexual/straight students can kiss and hold hands, while LGB students must refrain from any romantic contact in order to remain chaste.

At this time there has been no decision by Tufts on the matter.

However, this scenario raises several interesting points about the relationship between colleges' LGBT and religous organizations. First, within the same article by The Advocate an anti-LGBT organization TFP Student Action, an affiliate of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property, reports that 43% of 244 Catholic affiliated universities and colleges have pro-LGBT organizations. TFP Student Action uses this statistic as a battle cry to ban pro-LGBT organizations on Catholic campuses. That being said, I think that this is a promising and positive statistic that indicates a shift toward more positive attitudes on Catholic campuses nationwide toward LGBT students and a more accepting attitude toward LGBT student organizations.

Another point I would like to make about the relationship between religious campus organizations and LGBT clubs on college campuses is that although there can be tension between these organizations, they can also form significant alliances and partnerships. As a recent college graduate I have several positive memories of support from several religious clubs at my alma mater who's presidents pledged support and a continued presence when a very anti-LGBT evangelical protester arrived at our campus. The leaders of these groups as well as their members showed up, held signs and shared our rainbow banner. They even had significant conversations about religion and LGBT identity with passersby. Their actions prompted support for our LGBT organization and LGBT students in general. The partnership between the religious clubs and our LGBT organization helped to send a unified message that our campus would not tolerate the protestor's hatred.

That experience led me to believe that  religious organizations can be signficant allies for pro-LGBT student roups if their leaders inform themselves and set positive examples for their members.