Hi all!

With over 500+ signatures, this outpour of love has been incredible. Grace, Lex, and I are so incredibly grateful for each and every one of you! With an article being published this week in The DePaulia, I wanted to reach out and offer some updates as a result of our voices being heard. 

We met with some DePaul officials last week and Vessel was indeed breaking a rule: not being registered on campus.

Not sure if there will be consequences for their unregistered meetings, but...

Their non-affirming beliefs and clear display of homophobia are allowed here at DePaul. In fact, as one of the deans made us aware, there are plenty of groups on campus who are (and are allowed to be) non-affirming. Expressing a belief that an entire group of individuals is inherently "sinful" in their lifestyle (although being LGBTQIA+ is not a choice and not a lifestyle) doesn't violate anything here at DePaul.

Isn't that crazy?! 

(The article also mentioned that in Vessel's given statement, they reached out to the creators of this petition in an attempt to have a productive and loving conversation. None of these members have reached out to us.)  

Although this news is heartbreaking, it's clear that religion and accepting the LGBTQIA+ community can and will coexist. The fact that there's no university policy against clubs and organizations that present beliefs including non-affirmation of the LGBTQIA+ community (calling us "sinful") is extremely appalling, especially considering how much emphasis DePaul likes to place on inclusion and Vincentian values.

Our words and actions taken aren't attempting to ostracize the religious community. Religion is based on the notion that love is unconditional. 

So continue to spread that love. We will too.

Please know that regardless of the rhetoric being spread, your identity is valid. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. 

Love,

Brigid