Ep. 28 - Yo! Your Taxes Are Funding Anti-LGBTQ+ Universities w/ Paul Southwick of REAP

Growing Up Christian

I've got good news and bad news for you. The bad news is that billions of taxpayer dollars are propping up religious universities that actively discriminate against LGBTQ+ students. The good news is there's an elite team of legal professionals, activists, creators, and victims of discrimination that are leading the charge to cut government funding to those schools!

Our guest this week is Paul Southwick, Director of the Religious Exemption Accountability Project. REAP empowers queer, trans and non-binary students at more than 200 taxpayer-funded religious schools that actively discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Through civil rights litigation, documentary film, oral history, research and public policy, we work towards a world where LGBTQ students on all campuses are treated equally, with safety and respect.

REAP has garnered attention with their class action lawsuit against the Department of Education that aims to cut federal funding to schools with discriminatory policies. This is a BIG undertaking, and they need your support! If this cause resonates with you, go to www.thereap.org to pledge your support and make a donation. This is a cause that so many of us were blind to while studying at Christian universities, and it's time we did our part to support our LGBTQ+ friends. Take it to 'em, and enjoy our talk with Paul Southwick!