By: Paul Goldberg, Senior Editor | JRL CHARTS – LGBT Politics USA
WACO, TX — (July 15, 2025) — In a move triggering national headlines, Baylor University has announced it will return a $643,400 grant aimed at promoting LGBTQIA+ inclusion in Christian congregations, citing that the advocacy tied to the research conflicts with the university’s biblical principles.
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University president Linda Livingstone confirmed the reversal last week, stating that faculty from the School of Social Work had “voluntarily offered to rescind their acceptance” of the grant after facing intense criticism from conservative Christian voices.
“This decision is not about the research itself,” Livingstone said in a statement. “It’s about advocacy for perspectives on human sexuality that are inconsistent with Baylor’s institutional policies, including our Statement on Human Sexuality.”
The grant, awarded by the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation, was originally intended to study the marginalization of LGBTQIA+ individuals and women in faith communities. It would have funded “trauma-sensitive” training materials to help churches adopt more inclusive language and practices — materials which have now been removed from the university’s website.
Grant Reversal Sparks Debate Over Faith, Inclusion, and Academic Freedom
Once news of the grant surfaced, criticism poured in from evangelical leaders and social media commentators, some of whom accused the Baptist-affiliated institution of abandoning its Christian roots.
Livingstone reaffirmed Baylor’s doctrinal stance in her official remarks:
“We affirm the biblical understanding of human sexuality as a gift from God, expressed through purity in singleness and fidelity in marriage between a man and a woman.”
Still, she emphasized the university’s intent to maintain a “loving and caring community for all – including our LGBTQIA+ students.”
At least one Baylor professor came to the grant’s defense. English professor Greg Garrett took to social media to voice his support, writing on X (formerly Twitter):
“When the far-right media comes for me, my colleagues, or @Baylor? I serve the Jesus who said: ‘If you’ve loved the least of these, you’ve loved me.’ Grateful for this grant that will help us love better.”
Garrett later shared on Instagram that he faced personal attacks from conservative commentators, including calls for his termination, according to reporting from the Christian Post.
Stay tuned as JRL CHARTS LGBT Politics USA continues to cover the growing culture clashes at the intersection of faith, politics, and LGBTQ rights in America.
