October 10, 2013

Following are excerpts from the article “George Mason University Admits to Discrimination Towards Students with Unwanted SSA” written by Christopher Doyle and published on the Voice of the Voiceless website: “Earlier this week, George Mason University’s (GMU) official student newspaper, Fourth Estate, reported on the discrimination happening at their LGBTQ Resource Center. ‘During his experience at Mason’s LGBTQ resource center, Doyle said he witnessed discrimination in these centers that he thinks has been going on at college campuses across Virginia. Doyle also said he received medically inaccurate advice and biased counseling.’”

“In his defense, Ric Chollar, Director of GMU’s LGBTQ Resource Center said the following: ‘We don’t give students advice, we give options, and I did that with him. As soon as someone asks me for information about these groups, I tell them we have the information and if they would like some, I’ll get that for them. He (Doyle) and I sat in the office and I turned and I pulled the file drawer out and I have them sitting in my file drawer.’”

“… What Chollar stressed was that ex-gay therapy was harmful, and a better choice would be to attend a gay-affirming place of worship such as the Metropolitan Community Church, accept one’s homosexual feelings, and read a book called ‘The Lord is my Shepherd and He Know’s I’m Gay.’” …

… “’While the LGBTQ Resource Center educates the entire university on gay issues with its activities, events, and messaging, they are, at the same time, discriminating and marginalizing students who experience unwanted same-sex attraction and may want to seek change,’ commented Estella Salvatore, President of PFOX. ‘Therefore, the focus should be on diversity and tolerance for formal homosexuals (and students with unwanted SSA), because the center was founded for tolerance and diversity on sexual orientation.’”

“The larger issue here is the inherent bias against those whose faith and values guide them not to act on homosexual urges, but rather, encourage them to explore the origins of those feelings and seek change.”

“’At the very heart of this issue is discrimination and bias towards those who do not believe in the so-called mainstream view that people are born gay,’ commented Doyle. ‘The GMU officials are justifying their discrimination based on the so-called prevailing attitude, yet they will fight against the prevailing attitude on other issues as long as it suits their political agenda.’” …