Student government at Duke University rejects Young Life, citing its LGBTQ policy

Duke University's student government won't recognize the Young Life Christian group as a student organization because of its LGBTQ beliefs, The Duke Chronicle reports.

Young Life is a group of adults who work with middle and high school students to introduce them to Jesus Christ and help them grow in their faith, according to their website.

In a Sept. 11 Duke Student Government meeting, student leaders decided Young Life should not be recognized as a chartered student group at the university with a unanimous vote. According to The Chronicle, the school's independent news organization, the students rejected the group due to its LGBTQ policy.

A paragraph under the sexual misconduct section in Young Life's Statement of Faith reads, "With regard to the delicate matter of homosexual lifestyle and practice, in the light of biblical data regarding creation, Young Life believes such activities to be clearly not in accord with God's creation purposes."

The policy goes on to state, "We do not in any way wish to exclude persons who engage in sexual misconduct or practice a homosexual lifestyle from being recipients of ministry of God's grace and mercy as expressed in Jesus Christ. We do, however, believe that such persons are not to serve as staff or volunteers in the mission and work of Young Life."

The student government said the policy clashes with Duke's nondiscrimination policy, which prohibits discrimination in university programs and activities based on sexual orientation, gender identity, as well as race, religion, sex and disability.