Earlier this month, the University granted the UA chapter of Young Americans for Freedom permission to omit the terms “gender identity,” “gender expression” and “sexual identity” from its constitution’s non-discrimination clause. Multiple student organizations have since voiced their disapproval of the exemption.
After UA YAF applied to renew its organization with The Source, an annual requirement for student organizations, The Source rejected the application. A University employee stated in an email reply to UA YAF that it was required to include a non-discrimination clause in its constitution with the “EXACT” wording, noting that UA YAF would remain in “frozen status” until it complied.
However, after filing a complaint to the University — and including Steve Marshall, Alabama’s attorney general, on the email chain for “extra pressure” — the organization was granted the exemption.
As of publication, the executive boards of Not On My Campus, UA Planned Parenthood Generation Action and the Queer Student Association have voiced their disapproval of the University granting UA YAF the exemption via their respective Instagram accounts.
“If hate truly does not roll here, we implore the University to reassess their exception, and stand on the side of progress, not in the face of it” said the QSA executive board’s statement. “We also want to remind students that your voice matters, regardless of the forces trying to silence it.”
The statement YAF now uses is as follows:
“Membership in registered student organizations shall be open to all students of The University of Alabama, without regard to race, religion, sex, ability status, national origin, color, age, or veteran status except in cases designated fraternal organizations exempted by federal law from Title IX regulations concerning discrimination on the basis of sex.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated March 20 to correctly state the name of UA YAF. It is the Young Americans for Freedom, not the Youth Americans for Freedom.
