Houghton College, a Christian university in upstate New York, has sparked controversy after dismissing two of its employees for including their preferred gender pronouns in their email signatures. The university argued that including pronouns could be seen as promoting a political view and that its policy only allows employees to use professional titles such as “Mr.” and “Dr.” Students protested the decision, and alumni collected over 700 signatures for a petition demanding that Zelaya and Wilmot be reinstated. LGBTQ communities across the country are closely watching the case because it epitomizes a larger culture war over sexual preferences, gender identities, and transgender rights that is sweeping the US.
At Houghton College, Raegan Zelaya and Shua Wilmot, who served as area coordinators, refused an order by the administration to remove their preferred pronouns from their email signatures. Zelaya identified as “she/her” while Wilmot used “he/him” – in addition to citing their religious affiliations. Although the university has claimed that the two were fired for other reasons, the dismissals have been seen as part of a pattern of conservative Christian-affiliated universities resisting the secularization of American society. The situation gained national attention after the two former employees made a YouTube video called “Stand by Your Values”. Zelaya argued that adding her preferred pronouns had led to conversations about inclusivity and that it was a way of showing support for students who were struggling with their gender identity.
The case has wider implications for LGBTQ people in religiously affiliated universities in the US, who have faced pushback in several areas. In Oregon, 16 LGBTQ individuals have filed a lawsuit against Seattle Pacific University, challenging the institution’s employment policy, while in New York City, LGBTQ students at Yeshiva University are demanding greater legal protection against discrimination and exclusion from campus life. Evangelical colleges and universities in at least 17 Republican-led states are facing backlash over employment policies and efforts to curtail LGBTQ student groups and activities.
Efforts to address these issues have often been met with legal challenges, as is the case with the eight-year-old pupil’s religious discrimination case brought against a teacher from the UK. The UK’s Employment Tribunal is set to hear the case, in which the teacher, identified as “Hannah,” was suspended after refusing to affirm the gender identity chosen by children, citing religious grounds and fear that gender affirmation may be harmful. The school in question adopted a policy in support of gender identity chosen by children in September 2021, allowing boys identifying as girls to use girls’ toilets and referring staff to trans charity Mermaids as an authoritative resource. The teacher requested legal protection for similarly-minded staff.
As Houghton College faces backlash over its decision to dismiss Zelaya and Wilmot, the situation highlights the ongoing struggle between religious institutions and LGBTQ advocates. Conservative Christian universities are under scrutiny as they try to maintain their religious values while being part of a changing secular society that increasingly values inclusivity. While the situation at Houghton College is complex, it is clear that the issues surrounding LGBTQ rights will continue to be a subject of debate in American society.
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