Atticus Circle’s Board of Directors ask St. Edward’s President to accept EQTX in their Internship Fair

Equality Texas learned through an email that their participation in St. Edward’s Internship Fair was cancelled. Lou Serna, who serves as both Director of the Office of Service and Community Involvement and Assistant Director of Campus Ministry, stated, “In reviewing the mission of Equality Texas it has come to our attention that promoting your organization and volunteer opportunities will be in direct conflict with the mission of St. Edward’s University. As a Catholic University, we are rooted in and uphold Catholic Church teaching.”

Atticus Circle has sent the following letter to St. Edward’s President George Martin and to its Board of Trustees:

Dear Dr. Martin: 

As Board of Directors of Atticus Circle, we are writing to you to express our concern for a recent action taken by the University. Atticus Circle is a non-profit organization. Our mission is to educate and mobilize straight people to advance equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) partners, parents, and their children. 

Equality Texas is a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate and advocate for the elimination of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. 

Atticus Circle and Equality Texas work closely together to educate and advocate for the rights of all LGBT Texans. The organizations share the vision of a state where all Texans are treated equally, with dignity and respect. 

Atticus Circle recently learned of St. Edward’s decision to “dis-invite” Equality Texas to its campus Internship Fair that is to be held on September 15th. Attached is an email that very eloquently describes the effect of this decision on one of our LGBT citizens who also happens to be Catholic.

St. Edward’s University’s mission statement states:  “St. Edward’s expresses its Catholic identity by communicating the dignity of the human person as created in the image of God, by stressing the obligation of all people to pursue a more just world . . . St. Edward’s seeks to provide an environment in which freely chosen beliefs can be deepened and expressed.”

In light of St. Edward’s University’s mission and the important mission of Equality Texas in our state, we ask you to reconsider the university’s position and allow Equality Texas to participate in the Internship Fair.

Many of us have long standing relationships with St. Edward’s University. Our Board Chair and Founder, Anne Wynne, served on the St. Edward’s Board for eleven years and chaired your Board as well.

Atticus Circle believes the way to change hearts and minds often begins with a conversation. We would be pleased to engage a conversation with you about this important matter.

Respectfully,

Anne Wynne                                                                 Ruth Gardner-Loew

Founder                                                                        Executive Director           

On Behalf of Board Members:  Mary Herman, John Hildreth, Bill Ikard, Susan Longley, JoAnn McKenzie, Lucas Schaefer