As an aid to anyone using this blog today to research the historic contributions HBCUs have made to dialogue about social justice in America, as well as the challenge HBCUs face today in dealing with homophobia, I have prepared the following guide.Section I lists Bilgrimage blog postings that have dealt with these topics, and that link to other research cited in these postings.
Section II is a brief listing of internet sites that specifically address the question of HBCUs and homophobia, and current attempts to deal with the problem of homophobia on HBCU campuses.
Section III links to official United Methodist Church statements forbidding discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in Methodist institutions, and calling on United Methodist institutions to implement non-discrimination practices.
Section IV links to statements of various accrediting bodies in the field of higher education, requiring institutions of higher learning to address homophobia in order to retain accreditation.
Section I: Bilgrimage Blog Postings
1. http://bilgrimage.blogspot.com/2008/09/hbcus-and-cdc-data-about-new-hiv.html
2. http://bilgrimage.blogspot.com/2008/05/soul-work-holy-conferencing-in_05.html
3. http://bilgrimage.blogspot.com/2008/05/holy-conferencing-as-love-building.html
4. http://bilgrimage.blogspot.com/2008/06/barack-obama-and-post-homophobic-models.html
5. http://bilgrimage.blogspot.com/2008/07/hate-crime-in-daytona-beach-continuing.html
6. http://bilgrimage.blogspot.com/2008/06/and-pilgrimage-continues_03.html
7. http://bilgrimage.blogspot.com/2008/06/race-and-our-transformational-moment.html
8. http://bilgrimage.blogspot.com/2008/05/democracy-ongoing-battle-shifting-faces.html
9. http://bilgrimage.blogspot.com/2008/02/week-in-review.html
Section II: Brief Listing of Internet Statements re: HBCUs and Homophobia
1. “Gay and Black: They Don’t Mix at Too Many Historically Black Universities,” www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1284
2. Human Rights Campaign’s “Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program” www.hrc.org/news/5087.htm: a network of HBCUs who have gathered with HRC to combat This homophobia on HBCU campuses following a wave of violence against LGBT students from 2002 forward.
3. On Florida in particular, and the struggle to combat homophobia there, I recommend the new Bilerico Project blog focusing on Florida, http://florida.bilerico.com.
Section III: Official United Methodist Statements about Homophobic Discrimination*
1. The Social Principles of the United Methodist Church, § 162
http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=1753: “Certain basic human rights and civil liberties are due all persons. We are committed to supporting those rights and liberties for homosexual persons.”
2. Petition 80845, 2008 UMC General Conference, “Opposition to Homophobia and Heterosexism” (passed by vote of 544 vs. 369)
http://calms.umc.org/2008/Menu.aspx?type=Petition&mode=Single&number=845: “THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the United Methodist Church strengthen its advocacy of the eradication of sexism by opposing all forms of violence or discrimination based on gender, gender identity, sexual practice or sexual orientation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the General Board of Church and Society develop resources and materials aimed at educating members of the local churches about the reality, issues, and effects of homophobia and heterosexism and the need for Christian witness against these facets of marginalization.”
3. UMC University Senate, “Marks of a United Methodist Church-Related Institution”
http://www.gbhem.org/site/c.lsKSL3POLvF/b.3871459/k.9279/Marks_of_a_United_Methodist_ChurchRelated_Academic_Institution.htm: “A Church-related institution recognizes the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church and seeks to create a community of scholarship and learning which facilitates social justice.”
Section IV: Higher Education Accrediting Bodies re: Homophobia
1. National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), Accreditation Standard 4, “Diversity”
http://www.ncate.org/public/unitStandardsRubrics.asp?ch=4#stnd4: “Candidates are helped to understand the potential impact of discrimination based on race, class, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and language on students and their learning. Proficiencies related to diversity are identified in the unit’s conceptual framework. They are clear to candidates and are assessed as part of the unit’s assessment system.” See http://bilgrimage.blogspot.com/2008/03/teaching-youth-not-to-hate.html for further information.
*These are included since the open letter published on this blog today calls on Mr. Obama to address homophobia at HBCUs as he speaks tomorrow at a United Methodist university, Bethune-Cookman. Similar statements are often available for other church-sponsored HBCUs.