The Young Americans for Freedom Chapter at the University refused to amend its constitution to align with the UA’s Title IX & Sexual Misconduct Policy, rejecting a required clause that would mandate the group to allow membership regardless of gender identity, gender expression or sexual identity. In response, the University denied the organization’s renewal application and barred it from hosting events after Feb. 21 unless it complied.
“We were not about to be bullied by this new gender ideology cult infecting the University of Alabama administration,” Trenton Buffenbarger, president of UA YAF, said in an article on the YAF.org.
Buffenbarger said in an interview with The Crimson White that he sees this as an attack on “basic free thinking students.” He also added that welcoming in someone who not only fundamentally disagrees with the organization on “ideology,” but encourages the opposing ideology, is wrong.
“UA tried to force us to not only comply, but to explicitly put something we disagree with in writing in our constitution,” Buffenbarger said. “It is a violation of the First Amendment.”
He said that the UA YAF chapter worked with the national chapter to draft a complaint to the president of the University. He also added that the state’s attorney general requested to be added to the email chain for “extra pressure.”
The University reached out to YAF a day after the complaint was sent, saying that it will be providing YAF with an exemption.
Braden Vick, president of UA College Democrats, said he wasn’t shocked by YAF’s actions.
“I can’t say I’m too surprised that they would pull a bigoted move,” he said. “I am surprised a little bit that the University would acquiesce to such a move, considering I’m pretty sure this violates the Capstone Creed.”
The Capstone Creed includes agreements to “act with fairness, integrity and respect; promote equity and inclusion.”
Buffenbarger said the exemption will require YAF to include in its constitution that “Membership in registered student organizations shall be open to all students of The University of Alabama, without regard to race, religion, sex, ability status, national origin, color, age, or veteran status except in cases designated fraternal organizations exempted by federal law from Title IX regulations concerning discrimination on the basis of sex.”
He also said that “requiring orgs to put in writing that they disagree with basic biology, and thousands of years of thinking isn’t protecting anyone.”
Vick said he believes the University “values sort of keeping things on the down low” in an effort to keep “state legislative funding over standing up for the values that it pretends to represent.”
Buffenbarger said they plan to challenge this policy until the school repeals it.
“It is a win for more than YAF, by proving that a simple email can break down the rule proves not even the administration believes the rule should be in place to begin with and it shouldn’t,” Buffenbarger said. “Any organization that disagrees with this rule should push back and make their voice heard until the rule is abolished altogether.”
The Crimson White contacted Alex House, associate director of media relations, for UA’s statement on the situation.
“Membership in registered student organizations is open to all UA students except in cases of designated fraternal organizations exempted by federal law from Title IX regulations concerning discrimination on the basis of sex.”
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