A senior at Oklahoma’s Southwestern Christian University has been expelled after publicizing her same-sex “marriage” on social media, in violation of the university’s “lifestyle covenant.”
The covenant, which all students sign upon enrollment, forbids homosexual relationships, sex outside of marriage, and other behaviors the university’s International Pentecostal Holiness denomination considers immoral.
Christian Minard, 22, and her girlfriend, Kadyn Park, traveled from their home state of Oklahoma to New Mexico in order to get “married” in March. Same-sex “marriage” is illegal in Oklahoma, so their marriage is not considered valid in their own state.
The pair had been dating for more than three years, but university officials were unaware of the relationship until the couple posted photos of their “wedding” – in which Minard played the role of the “groom,” sporting men’s attire and a close-cropped haircut – on Facebook.
When school administrators saw the pictures, Vice President of Student Life Brad Davis sent Minard a letter notifying her that she was being expelled for violating the lifestyle code.
“I was informed that you recently married someone of the same sex and saw a few pictures from Facebook,” Davis wrote. “Of course, this is opposing to our view as an International Pentecostal Holiness denominational university as well as the Lifestyle Covenant that all students must agree and sign.”
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“As an American and a Christian, I do respect your choice,” Davis added. “[But] I have to uphold the Lifestyle Covenant at SCU and confront you with our position. Due to this recent event, you will not be able to attend SCU in the future. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and I do wish you the best.”
Minard admits she broke the lifestyle covenant, but says she feels like she’s being targeted for punishment just because she is gay. She called Davis’ letter “degrading.”
“Even though I signed [the lifestyle covenant], so have hundreds of other kids, and there are rules that are being broken every single day,” Minard told KRQE Albuquerque. “They’re not punishing students who are having premarital sex,” she said in an interview with CNN.
Officials at SCU have refused to comment on Minard’s situation to the press, citing federal law that prevents them from sharing personal information about students without permission. However, Academic Vice President and Provost Connie Sjoberg confirmed to the Associated Press that Minard no longer attends the school.
“We are limited in what we can discuss,” Sjoberg told the AP. “We would definitely love to address [Minard’s expulsion], but we need permission from the individual to speak in depth.”