Christian Prep School Responds After Public Learns It Would Expel Students With Gay Family Members

Kansas School Says It Reserves the Right to Expel Any Student Who Has a Family Member Who Is Gay or an LGBT Ally

Trinity Academy is under fire after it was revealed this week that the Wichita, Kansas private Christian prep school forces applicants to sign a statement acknowledging the school reserves the right to expel students who have an LGBT family member or a family member who supports LGBT equality. The school’s anti-LGBT policy was first reported by Friendly Atheist’s Hemant Mehta.

The school’s Statement of Understanding reads, in part, “when the atmosphere or conduct within a particular home is counter to the school’s understanding of a biblical lifestyle, including the practice or promotion of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) lifestyle or alternative gender identity, the school should have the right, in its sole discretion, to deny the admission of an applicant or discontinue enrollment of a current student.”

The New Civil Rights Movement reported that statement and the full extent of its application, but Trinity Academy officials chose to respond only to a specific example some other websites have posed.

“Trinity would not and has not denied admission to a student simply because they have a sibling who is gay. Neither would we necessarily deny admission to a student with same sex attraction,” the school’s statement to KSN TV News reads.

The “necessarily” portion suggests Trinity would, in fact, possibly deny admission to a gay student. But its word choice is extremely narrow. What about a parent who is LGBT or supports same-sex marriage? 

Trinity’s response also notes, “Trinity’s whole intent is to make sure families know what we believe so we can partner together successfully for the good of the students.”

KSN TV News interviewed a former Trinity student who is gay. In the video above, he explains it was very difficult to attend the school, and says the administration appears to be moving in an increasingly less tolerant and accepting direction.

The school’s website has been offline since Friday. After NCRM posted a tweet from the School’s Twitter account, that account was either deleted or taken offline as well, as was its Facebook page.

 

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