The University of Alabama has always been relatively free of the gender ideology cult that has been infecting most campuses.
Sadly, that changed last week.
A team of University of Alabama lawyers reworked the school’s non-discrimination clause, and my campus finally let leftist ideology stand in the way of conservatism on campus—and my YAF chapter was a clear target of this cult.
School administrators informed us the following clause is required for any club’s constitution on campus:
“Membership in registered student organizations shall be open to all students of The University of Alabama, without regard to race, religion, sex, ability status, national origin, color, age, gender identity, gender expression, sexual identity, or veteran status except in cases designated fraternal organizations exempted by federal law from Title IX regulations concerning discrimination on the basis of sex.”
According to leftist administrators, all student orgs on campus are required to use the “EXACT language” presented to form, renew, or operate their clubs on campus. This extends to Greek life, which has already had issues with biological men identifying as women trying to join sororities in the past.
Our YAF chapter refuses to validate gender ideology. Gender identity, gender expression, sexual identity, etc., are simply nice terms to hide behind when a man decides to wear a skirt into the ladies’ room and lie about what he is or to push people with psychological issues into harmful behaviors.
YAF stands for the truth, even when it is uncomfortable. So we informed the school we would not add a gender ideology clause to our chapter constitution. As such, the school promptly denied our renewal application. Furthermore, not only did they tell us we would not be renewed for next school year, but that we would not be permitted to host events or meetings on campus after February 21st unless we included the updated clause and resubmitted our constitution.
We were not about to be bullied by this new gender ideology cult infecting the University of Alabama administration.
The state of Alabama also has a particularly conservative government, so I reached out to some contacts who put me in touch with the state attorney general. National YAF helped our chapter draft a formal complaint to the president of the university, and the state attorney general requested he be added to the email chain for extra pressure.
The day after the complaint was sent, the department overseeing student orgs sent us an email stating that the president had shared our email with them, and that they would be providing an exemption to the clause for YAF. They now only require it to say: “Membership in registered student organizations shall be open to all students of The University of Alabama, without regard to race, religion, sex, ability status, national origin, color, age, or veteran status except in cases designated fraternal organizations exempted by federal law from Title IX regulations concerning discrimination on the basis of sex.” We will continue to fight to prevent the school from forcing gender ideology on any club.
Sometimes, all it takes is a little pressure for leftist administrators to back down, especially if that pressure is from state or local officials. In this case, I formed a connection with the former AL Secretary of State, and he helped me reach the AG. Making and utilizing bonds between the YAF chapter or its individual members and those in a position to do something can be a major benefit in getting problems taken care of. Going to local community meetings, calling officials, and seeing what connections your members may have been great ways to reach out to leaders in your local communities. It is important that we, as students, remember to use our connections and, most importantly, that YAF has our back!
