To the Editor:
The clarification of the Tufts nondiscrimination policy was a salutary achievement of the protestors in Bendetson, however incredible their methods may have been, as relevant concerns about the possibility for hate-groups on campus were addressed. The place of the Tufts Christian Fellowship (TCF) on campus is not affected, however. The TCF and its members on the Tufts campus do not advocate that those of homosexual or bisexual orientation should be "self-loathing," however, many posters may be put up to the contrary.
All individuals must be accepting of themselves while trying to live by the Bible. A self-accepting homosexual could serve as an excellent leader, while not engaged in a homosexual relationship. One's identity is not, by nature, one's sexual acts. Does a virgin lack a sexual identity? Is a heterosexual suppressing his identity if he is not involved in a relationship? Obviously not. Trivializing an individual to such a level would be demeaning and insulting. One protester said, "[TCF] now essentially has to treat a lesbian who is running, or any other sexuality, with the same cadence that they would a heterosexual. Essentially, they have to adhere to the nondiscrimination policy." Exactly correct, and exactly what is in the TCF constitution.
If a heterosexual were not reconciling sexual activities with the Bible, she would also not be an acceptable leader. At an undergraduate university, where, chances are, a student is not married. This means no sexual activity. This does not conclude that the orientation is wrong or must be changed, or that the individual cannot be self-accepting, but that behaviors should be Biblically focused. I thank the protestors for confirming that "self-loathing" will not be a requirement for leadership in any organization, but also remind the campus that it was never a required condition in TCF.
Tina Marsh, LA '03
