Last year, volleyball players Drew Davis and Juan Varona took a leap of faith and let their teammates know they
are both gay. Expecting the worst, they were surprised when their teammates not only accepted the news, it seemed to make the team even closer and the squad from the small Division II Erskine College even made a run to the NCAA tourney:
"I've never had a team so close," Davis said. "They're like brothers to me. They are so accepting, and that has really made me more confident in myself."
Sounds like a fantastic ending to the story, no? Well, that was last season. For reasons that are hard to understand, the school has now adopted a resolution essentially
banning homosexuals from the school:
As a Christian academic community, Erskine seeks to treat all persons justly with grace, dignity, and compassion in the Spirit of Christ. Rooted in the historic Evangelical and Reformed Christian tradition, Erskine has always sought to show hospitality and respect to all members of its community, regardless of their religious or philosophical commitments.
The scriptural view of human sexuality is that God formed man and woman in His image (Gen. 1:27-28), and these two were to become one flesh (Gen. 2:23-24). Christ affirms that marital union is to be between a man and woman (Matt 19:4-6). The Bible teaches that monogamous marriage between a man and a woman is God’s intended design for humanity and that sexual intimacy has its proper place only within the context of marriage (1 Thes. 4:3-5, Col. 3:5-7). Sexual relations outside of marriage or between persons of the same sex are spoken of in scripture as sin and contrary to the will of the Creator (Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; 1 Tim. 1:9-11).
Erskine recognizes the complexity of current issues regarding sexual morality, marriage, and other expressions of human sexuality such as same-sex attraction, gender identity, and sex outside the covenant of marriage. Therefore, the Erskine community is advised to practice humility and prayerfulness when engaging in any conversations or other actions related to these topics. Erskine’s conduct policies and procedures seek to uphold biblical standards, promote repentance and grace, and point people to Jesus Christ.
In Action
We believe the Bible teaches that all sexual activity outside the covenant of marriage is sinful and therefore ultimately destructive to the parties involved. As a Christian academic community, and in light of our institutional mission, members of the Erskine community are expected to follow the teachings of scripture concerning matters of human sexuality and institutional decisions will be made in light of this position.
Perhaps they were worried the gay would spread? Or that more students might have taken the warm reception and acceptance that Davis and Varona received as a sign they might also be free to come out?
Davis and Varona are understandably disappointed and released a statement to Outsports:
"The release of this statement makes me disappointed because I have never received anything but kind treatment from everyone at this school, and my sexual orientation is no secret. So it took me by surprise.
"I feel that in the time that we are living right now, where even in the conservative state of South Carolina same-sex marriage is legal, the school took several steps back instead of progressing towards a future where everyone can be treated as an equal, which is a future most of the country is moving towards.