By: Tyler Van Gordon

Disclaimer: Letter to the Editor does not represent the viewpoints of The Whitworthian, members of the editorial board or Whitworth University. 

As an ally of the LQBTQIA+ community, it has been difficult to see many of my fellow students worry about the safety of their own identities with the recent talk regarding Whitworth’s hiring policy. This policy does not only have negative consequences for the hiring of LGBTQIA+ staff but for preserving an atmosphere of safety for students who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.  

Seeing that others have used a biblical framework for the exclusion of LGBTQ+ staff not only aggrieves me but conflicts with my Christian beliefs. Being raised Lutheran, I was taught that the love of God has no boundaries. All are welcome to the table, there is nothing that encourages the exclusion of any community. Christ’s example commands us to love our fellow human beings, no matter their sexual orientation, skin color, or other social identities. The current hiring policy omits reference to sexual orientation from their discrimination policy (Employee Handbook, pg. 19), which can lead to avenues of exclusion and discrimination for staff identifying as queer. There should be no place to discriminate against any social identity of any kind when it comes to hiring, as this completely ignores the theme of Christ’s unconditional love. God’s love is not meant to be exclusionary (Romans 3: 21-31), so to welcome all in any circumstances is to follow Christ’s commandment – something that our university strives to model in their mission. 

To conclude, the current hiring policy at Whitworth leaves out one crucial detail, and that is to meet every candidate on equal footing, regardless of their background. I hope my support as an ally will not only help usher in a new practice for the hiring process but create a safe space for students of all backgrounds, so all are welcome. 

With Love, 

-Tyler Van Gordon, Class of 2024