On May 17, 2022, a beautiful Seattle day, the Seattle Pacific University campus was ringing with the chirping of birds — and the chanting of Gay rights activists calling for change. SPU has been the center of controversy since January 2021, when Jeaux Rinedahl, an adjunct professor of nursing, sued the school for hiring discrimination after being denied a full-time position because of his sexuality.
Since then, students, alumni, staff, and faculty activists have committed to bringing attention to SPU's homophobic policies and hiring practices. They have been frustrated from and exhausted by their work, which has included demonstrations, protests, and lawsuits, resulting in yet no huge change of heart and policy by SPU's administration and board of trustees.
Chloe Guillot, vice president of ministries in the Associated Students of Seattle Pacific and an activist, said, "It's my senior year, and it doesn't feel great to have to keep [protesting] every year."
This year, a LGBTQ+ work group was created with the goal of bringing about change that would best serve the campus. In April, it concluded its research and made recommended that the board of trustees change the employee-lifestyle expectations to no longer prohibit same-sex relationships.
The protest
With the school year drawing to a close and the May 18-20 board meeting approaching (in which a decision will be made in response to the above recommendation), campus activists wanted to plan a protest as one last effort to make policy changes this year.
The protest started at Tiffany Loop, the location of the many previous protests. It then moved toward the nursing building, to recognize the department that Rinedahl was denied a full-time position in. Then it moved to the First Free Methodist Church across from campus, where advocates chanted "Two, four, six, eight, time to disaffiliate!" (The Free Methodist Church has threatened any affiliated university that changes its policies regarding LGBTQ+ issues with expulsion from the church.)
At this point, protesters walked to the Ames Library building, where the board of trustees meets. Finally, the protest perched outside of the president's building, chanting "SPU is Gay — correct!" During the chants, SPU President Pete Menjares could be seen looking down on the protestors.
Out of sync
For students, one of the most frustrating aspects of this fight is that the homophobic policies don't represent the thoughts and desires of the SPU community. According to a 2021 survey, around 80% of students, faculty, and staff support removing the employee-lifestyle expectation from hiring policies. In addition, the survey showed that 75% of the Christian SPU students do not believe that the statement on human sexuality aligns with their views.
Caitlin Thomas, a SPU seminary graduate student in her last quarter, is questioning her future. She has been offered a full-time position by the university, but because of the employee-lifestyle policy, she can't accept it. She said she appreciates the undergraduate community heading up the fight: "I'm so proud of what they've been doing. I hope it can keep going without people experiencing burnout."
With many of the current student activists graduating in just a matter of weeks, the future of the fight is unknown. Raegan Figgins, an SPU junior and former activist leader, has taken a back seat this school year due to burnout and exhaustion. She is hoping that the summer will allow her to return in the fall rested and able to contribute at a higher level. "I'll be ready to go again if need to, but I'm praying I won't have to," she said.
Although student leaders are exhausted from the uphill battle for inclusivity, Guillot is thankful for the strides that they have made during her time at SPU. Student activists have been burned before, and Guillot and other students are worried that they will be let down by the response from this week's meeting of the board.
But still, Guillot is feeling hopeful after seeing the turnout at the protest. "I deeply care about my professors and the students here, and I believe that SPU can be a Christian school that's radically progressive, if we just keep pushing," she said.
Next steps
The Associated Students of Seattle Pacific has started a petition to "hire and protect LGBTQ+ staff and faculty and SPU" with the goal of 2,500 signatures. Student activists hope to show the petition to the board of trustees this week as a way to emphasize and highlight community support for this issue. As of Wednesday morning, the petition has over 1,700 signatures.
To include your name and help SPU activists reach their goal, go to https://www.change.org/p/hire-and-protect-lgbtq-staff-and-faculty-at-spu