TL;DR
- Baylor University hosted an LGBTQ+ event called ‘All Are Neighbors’.
- Prominent LGBTQ+ Christian voices were featured, including Kelley Robinson.
- The event countered a closed-door rally by Turning Point USA.
- Attendance was strong, with around 350 people present.
- Debates continue over LGBTQ+ inclusion at the university.
In a groundbreaking move, Baylor University, the private Baptist institution nestled in Waco, Texas, opened its doors to the LGBTQ+ community with an event dubbed “All Are Neighbors.” This historic gathering brought together LGBTQ+-affirming Christian voices, standing in stark contrast to a nearby closed-door event hosted by the far-right political group Turning Point USA. Who knew faith and inclusion could make such a fabulous duo?
For the first time, students at Baylor were allowed to host prominent LGBTQ+ Christian advocates, including Kelley Robinson, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, and Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush of the Interfaith Alliance. This was not just a casual meet-and-greet; it was a bold statement in a place where questions of faith and identity have often been tightly policed. “We are here. On this campus, in this moment, together. Because this didn’t just happen,” Robinson declared. “This moment exists because people spoke up. Because students organized. Because a community decided that if harmful ideas were going to have a platform, then truth would have one too.” Talk about a mic drop!
While Turning Point USA’s event was closed to the press and the public, “All Are Neighbors” was a beacon of inclusivity, welcoming students, faculty, and the public alike. According to The Baylor Lariat, the university’s student newspaper, the event drew about 270 ticketed attendees and roughly 350 people in total, nearly filling the venue. The crowd was a delightful mix, skewing older than typical campus events, with faculty, staff, and local community members joining in the celebration of love and acceptance.
Speakers at the event emphasized that faith should not be a barrier to LGBTQ+ inclusion but rather a reason for it. Baylor English professor Dr. Greg Garrett, who once found himself on a “professor watch list” by Turning Point USA, used his platform to challenge the notion that faith and inclusion are at odds. “They don’t understand a Baylor education, and they don’t comprehend my deep faith,” he stated. But he also urged compassion, framing the moment as a test of values rather than a clash. “One of the things I needed to be reminded of is that the people over at the Turning Point rally are not our enemies. We are called to love them.” Now that’s the spirit of love we need more of!
As Baylor inches toward a more visible accommodation of LGBTQ+ students and programming, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, which has had a long-standing relationship with the university, is reviewing its ties. They argue that hosting LGBTQ+ Christian speakers contradicts traditional teachings. However, Baylor maintains that allowing such events reflects a commitment to dialogue rather than an endorsement of the views expressed. Still, the direction of travel is hard to ignore.
Robinson concluded the event with a powerful reminder: “You are making the change so many people only talk about. We are fighting for freedom without exception. We are fighting for democracy without exception. We are fighting for joy — without exception.” And with that, Baylor University has taken a significant step toward inclusivity, proving that love and acceptance can indeed thrive even in the most unexpected places.