Baptist College Kicks out Trans Student, Citing 'Sexual Perversion'

In case you forgot for one second that discrimination is alive and well in America, a Christian college just kicked a trans student out after learning he had undergone top surgery.

According to BuzzFeed, Yanna Awtrey arranged for his surgery in secret, after beginning hormone therapy earlier this year. His parents are missionaries, currently out of the country, and he had arranged to stay with friends of theirs for some time after the procedure since he couldn’t be alone. But he didn’t tell them what the surgery was for.

Somehow, while he was in the hospital, they figured it out, and called both his parents and the school he was attending, Welch College.

“Please be aware that because of the choices you have made we will not be able to allow you to come back to the dorm,” said an email from John Forlines, Welch’s vice president for student services, only hours after Awtrey’s surgery was complete.

“We’re praying for you that the love of Christ will speak to your every need in the coming days.”

The school ultimately had a disciplinary hearing last week, accusing Awtrey of breaking their rule against “sexual perversion.” They decided he would be suspended for two semesters, but Awtrey isn’t anticipating being allowed to go back.

“There was never another option [of college] for me to go to, and every time a new, non-Christian college was brought up, my parents would react negatively,” he said.

Awtrey says his parents are unsupportive of his transitioning, and that he’s had “homeless scares before two times, both related to [his] gender identity.”

The school has provided him with a hotel through August 12, but his future once fall comes around is uncertain.

“I just feel really powerless right now, and I just want people to know that these things happen,” he said.

A statement provided to BuzzFeed by the school said: "Welch College believes that individuals experiencing such confusion — and the distress that usually accompanies it — should be treated with love and compassion. The College also believes that attempting to alter one’s bodily identity constitutes a rejection of God’s design for humanity."

They also said they will "continue to pray for all people continuing to experience gender confusion."

If only there were something more concrete they could do to help trans students out.