School Silent on Expulsion of Homosexual Student; 'Boyfriend' Not
by Jim Brown
April 17, 2006
(AgapePress) - - The "boyfriend" of a student who was kicked out of a Baptist college in Kentucky because of his homosexual lifestyle claims the majority of students enrolled at the school are homosexuals.
Sophomore Jason Johnson was recently expelled from the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg after school officials learned he was involved in a homosexual relationship. The school, which is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, has a policy that says it can expel a student who "promotes sexual behavior not consistent with Christian principles," including homosexuality.
But Johnson's "boyfriend," Zac Dreyer -- a freshman at Eastern Kentucky University -- argues the Christian school is employing a double standard. "What I've been told is that 65 percent of the student body is either gay or bi[sexual], and they have gay and lesbian professors down there on the campus," he claims.
As for Johnson, Dreyer maintains the university "had no proof that he was promoting -- as it says in the handbook -- homosexuality or anything." He suggests the school is not enforcing the policy consistently. "If they're going to kick people out for being gay or lesbian, then why aren't they kicking people out for premarital sex, like it also says in the same rule?" he asks.
Dreyer, who says he has been "dating" Johnson for six weeks, suggests the expulsion of his homosexual partner was handled "poorly." He contends the rule that was violated was not included in the school handbook until this year, after Johnson had already attended for one year. He also questions the timing of the announcement.
"He had three weeks of school left before finals and everything, and then they kicked him out," he notes. "And the whole way that they tried to do it, they tried to do it discreetly and do it under the table." In addition, Dreyer asserts that school officials did not care whether Johnson had a new place to stay. "They just wanted him off campus," he says.
The university declined comment on Johnson's expulsion, citing threatening litigation. But school president Jim Taylor said in a statement that the school is "unapologetic about our Christian beliefs."
Meanwhile, Associated Press reported last week that a homosexual-rights group has asked Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher to veto state funding to the University of the Cumberlands for expelling Johnson. The Kentucky Fairness Alliance wants the governor to veto $11 million that state lawmakers have approved for scholarships and a pharmacy school at the university.
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
