LGBTAA challenges religious groups' membership policies
Thomas E Nelson – Iowa State Daily Staff Writer

Ames, IA – October 28 – The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Ally Alliance is working on a petition to stop student organizations from using religious privilege.

"No student organization should be allowed exemptions from the current ISU nondiscrimination policy based on their religious beliefs," according to the Student Organization Recognition Policy Petition. The petition was created by the LGBTAA to challenge groups such as the Cyclone Bible Fellowship that do not allow non-Christian or homosexuals as members, or The Salt Company, which does not allow Jewish or Muslim people in leadership positions.

"It [the religious privilege] affects our membership because there is a conflict between us and religious groups - because some of our members are also religious," said Matthew Fender, junior in Spanish and LGBTAA publicity chairman. “The LGBTAA wants to help make a difference by having everyone who is opposed to religious discrimination sign the petition,” Fender said.

"We don't want exemptions for the nondiscrimination policy," said Ryan Delperdang, junior in psychology.

The Cyclone Bible Fellowship and The Salt Company have both said they allow anyone of any religion to go to their meetings, but differ on their membership policies. The Cyclone Bible Fellowship has a membership that does not allow homosexuals or those of differing religious beliefs.

"As a church group we abide by the church first, then the school," said Jason Hamrick, senior in operations and supply chain management and president of the Cyclone Bible Fellowship. The Cyclone Bible Fellowship believes in the separation of church and school, and said if this policy is passed it will become church-based as opposed to university-based.

The Salt Company doesn't have a membership, just a Christian message to give, said Cody Cline, senior in agricultural business and youth pastor at Cornerstone Church, 56829 U.S. Highway 30. The Salt Company has more than 800 students attend its meetings and also has leadership positions that can only be obtained by people who show the ideals that the group promotes. "Bible-believing Christians should abstain from such [homosexual] activities," Cline said. Cline sees logic in The Salt Company's leadership policies.
"A steak-eater can't be the president of the vegetarian club, just like we can't a have Muslim or Jewish person be in a leadership position," Cline said. However, homosexuals and people of different religious beliefs, can and are encouraged to attend meetings, Cline said.

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