The [Biola] university’s board had actually been meeting at the time, talking about a new statement on human sexuality, which was adopted and which the university released. The new statement stands behind university teachings that the only allowable sex is between a married man and woman, but the statement argues that there is a place for openly gay people at Biola, and that those who abide by the university’s teachings should get support and respect.

Last week saw a vote against gay marriage in North Carolina and an endorsement of gay marriage by President Obama — both developments sparking considerable discussion nationwide.

But at Biola University, a nondenominational Christian institution in California, a very different kind of discussion was taking place — some of it in public, other parts only with the anonymous protection provided by the Internet. Biola, like many Christian universities, states that any sexual activity outside a marriage between a man and a woman is morally wrong and is a violation of the student code of conduct. While the university states that gay celibacy is entirely welcome, Biola’s policies have discouraged many gay students from publicly talking about their view that they can be good Christians and also have gay relationships.

On Wednesday, the day after the North Carolina vote and the day President Obama spoke out about his own views, a group of these students found a way to go public at Biola. They put up a website declaring themselves “The Biola Queer Underground,” and for those not looking for such a site online, the gay students had fliers placed around campus advertising the group’s existence. On the site, the students insist that it is the university that is violating Biola’s values by effectively forcing most gay students to hide the truth about themselves.

“Biola’s value statement reads, ‘We believe that integrity and authenticity should be hallmarks of every believer. Our relationships should be models of transparency, truth-telling and unwavering commitment to the example set by the Lord Jesus Christ.’ Although Biola may have good intentions in the way it handles homosexuality and related subjects, this does not foster the desired outcome of integrity and transparency among LGBTQ individuals,” says the website of the Biola Queer Underground. “We speak for our majority in saying that most LGBTQ people feel isolated and fearful of rejection should we act with integrity and come out of the closet. Biola needs to take a close look at its fundamental values, first to question whether they are carried out, and second to discuss if identifying as LGBTQ is in fact contrary to these values.”

The Biola administration responded by having the fliers taken down — saying that the group hadn’t received the required prior approval. (Members of the underground group, in turn, maintain that they can’t seek prior approval or do anything in public.) But before the fliers were down, word was out about the new website. The university’s board had actually been meeting at the time, talking about a new statement on human sexuality, which was adopted and which the university released. The new statement stands behind university teachings that the only allowable sex is between a married man and woman, but the statement argues that there is a place for openly gay people at Biola, and that those who abide by the university’s teachings should get support and respect.

“Sexual purity honors God. For those in our community who are attracted to persons of the opposite sex and struggle to maintain sexual purity, as well as for those in our community who struggle with same-sex behavior, same-sex attraction and/or sexual orientation issues, we aspire to be a gracious community that promotes openness and honesty,” the university’s statement says. “We pledge to extend compassion and care, providing accountability and assistance as we support all members of our community — students, staff and faculty — in their desire to live consistently with Christian teaching.”

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