Samford University Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===LGBTQ rights=== Samford has been involved in several well publicized incidents in which the university rejected LGBTQ+ students' requests to form student organizations or refused to work with Christian groups that were LGBTQ+ affirming. In 2017, President Westmoreland rejected Samford Together, an organization that sought to create a space for students to discuss topics related to sexual orientation and gender identity “in an open-minded and accepting environment,” even though the organization had been approved by both the Student Government Association and the faculty.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Allen |first1=Bob |date=July 10, 2017 |title=Samford forfeits Baptist Funds but Pulls Plug on Gay-Straight Alliance |url=https://baptistnews.com/article/samford-forfeits-baptist-funds-pulls-plug-student-gay-straight-alliance/#.YyNU1S1OmfA |access-date= |website=Baptist News Global}}</ref> Similar actions occurred again in 2022. In late August, Samford administration “uninvited” representatives of Episcopalian and Presbyterian campus ministries from a campus event because these ministries were affirming of LGBTQ+ individuals. In justifying the move, Vice President of Student Affairs Phil Kimrey stated, “Throughout its history, the university has consistently subscribed to and practiced biblically orthodox beliefs," and "the university has a responsibility to formally partner with ministry organizations that share our beliefs.”<ref>{{cite web |last1=Garrison |first1=Greg |title=Samford defends rejection of Episcopal, Presbyterian campus clergy over pro-LGBTQ stance |url=https://www.al.com/news/2022/09/samford-defends-rejection-of-episcopal-presbyterian-campus-clergy-over-pro-lgbtq-stance.html |access-date=September 15, 2022 |website=Al.com|date=14 September 2022 }}</ref> On-campus protests against the change included a silent vigil outside a university-wide worship service on September 20.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wingfield |first=Mark |date=2022-09-21 |title=Samford students organize silent protest over LGBTQ discrimination |url=https://baptistnews.com/article/samford-students-organize-silent-protest-over-lgbtq-discrimination/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Baptist News Global |language=en-US}}</ref> On September 30, President Beck Taylor stated more explicitly in a video message that "we decided to limit Samford’s formal ministry partnerships to churches and to organizations that support Samford’s traditional view of human sexuality and marriage."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wingfield |first=Mark |date=2022-10-03 |title=Samford loves all people but won't advance 'other expressions of sexuality,' president tells students in video |url=https://baptistnews.com/article/samford-loves-all-people-but-wont-advance-other-expressions-of-sexuality-president-tells-students-in-video/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=Baptist News Global |language=en-US}}</ref> This ended Samford’s nearly thirty-year relationship with Birmingham Episcopal Campus Ministries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Garrison |first=Greg |date=2022-09-12 |title=Samford turns away Episcopalians, Presbyterians from event due to LGBTQ views, activist says |url=https://www.al.com/life/2022/09/samford-turns-away-episcopalians-presbyterians-from-event-due-to-lgbtq-views-activist-says.html |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=al |language=en}}</ref> In October, Taylor declined university recognition to a chapter of OUTLaw at Samford's [[Cumberland School of Law]]. OUTLaw is a national organization supporting LGBTQ+ law students. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Griesbach |first=Rebecca |date=2022-10-24 |title=Samford University denies student application to form LGBTQ group |url=https://www.al.com/education/2022/10/samford-university-denies-application-to-form-lgbtq-student-group.html |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=al |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodman |first=Sylvia |date=2023-03-28 |title=Demand Grows for Religious Colleges to Recognize LGBTQ Clubs. Often, the Chances Are Slim. |url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/stuck-in-the-closet |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=The Chronicle of Higher Education |language=en}}</ref> As of 2023, an off-campus student group, Samford Prism, had been formed to support LGBTQ+ students. Another group of alumni and other community members, SAFE Samford, also advocated on behalf of students.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Denham |first=Hannah |date=2023-12-17 |title=Samford LGBTQ+ students say they aren't protected from discrimination |url=https://www.al.com/education/2023/12/samford-lgbtq-students-say-they-arent-protected-from-discrimination.html |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=al |language=en}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page