Christian University's Residence Hall Gets 'We're Here! We're Queer!' LGBT Mural

At Emory University, they’re decorating the dormitory with change.

As reported by Campus Reform, the school has permitted a local artist (and Emory graduate) to paint murals in one of its residence halls.

Alabama Hall now features art dedicated to Gay Pride.

The work portrays an assortment of multi-colored people with raised fists.

One figure is holding a sign heralding “The Kiss.”

A couple bear Rainbow Pride flags while the group collectively holds a banner exclaiming, “We’re Here! We’re Queer! Get Used to It!”

The mural seems noteworthy, as Emory is a Christian college.

Also painted in the dorm: A characterization of two Democratic politicians.

Pictured are late Democratic Georgia Rep. John Lewis and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

The pair are standing beside Martin Luther King, Jr.

Christian university commissions pro-LGBTQ, pro-Democratic murals for dormitoryhttps://t.co/GE889NXtHL

— Campus Reform (@campusreform) August 30, 2021

The murals are perhaps an accurate sign of the times. Culture is changing, education is changing, and the same can be said of religion.

The United Methodist denomination — Emory’s official affiliation — is leading the way where Protestant progressive transformation is concerned.

As I covered in December, Southern Methodist University’s Human Rights Council wrote an open letter lamenting that the last three homecomings had been “dominated by Greek organizations with mostly white members.”

The Council also demanded the notion of a “king” and “queen” be put to rest.

It vowed to boycott homecoming ’til Southern Methodist met 4 demands.

The official list:

Abolishes all uses of gendered language in the Homecoming process, including the phrases “Homecoming Queen” and “Homecoming King”;

Enables all participating organizations to nominate up to two candidates for Homecoming Royalty, regardless of sex or gender identity;

Provides all students the opportunity to cast votes for up to two candidates for Homecoming Royalty on a single ballot page that is not separated by sex or gender identity; and

Selects winners and runners-up for Homecoming Royalty in a gender-neutral manner.

In mid-2019, Durham, North Carolina’s Calvary United Methodist church hosted a drag show in support of gay marriage.

The event’s title: Drag Me to Church.

And in Kentucky earlier this year, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler condemned Hope United Methodist Church.

The Bloomington, Illinois congregation’s leadership was considering an openly-gay drag queen for ordination.

Isaac Simmons has delivered messages as his Penny Cost alter ego:

Of course, as times change, so do customs.

And customs are informed by the morality of the day.

In 2021, the LGBT contingent is mainstream.

And Emory University — a mainstream college founded upon a mainstream faith — is showing its colors on the walls of a residence hall

The murals were shared on Instagram by the school’s president, Greg Fenves.

He captioned, “All the murals in Alabama were painted by Emory alum, @fastredcar!”

Emory in particular has a powerful history of leading the cultural pack.

In 2015, The Georgia Voice named it “the most LGBT-friendly college” in the state.

The school has an Office of LGBT Life.

In collaboration with the Emory University Office of LGBT Life for Sexual Assualt Awareness Week, we are sharing some statistics on how sexual violence affects members of the LGBTQ+ community.

If you or anyone you know needs support you can call the Respect Hotline: 470.270.5360 pic.twitter.com/sg99KtTv3P

— Office of Respect (@RespectWell) April 24, 2019

And in 2012, Emory explained the following as part of a statement:

Emory University has a long history of creating access, inclusion, and equity for Emory’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer students, faculty, staff and alumni. Recent public statements by Dan Cathy, President of Chick-fil-A, do not reflect Emory’s values as an institution.

Fast-forward to…