Students at B.C. Christian university push for LGBTQ chaplain

LGBTQ students and alumni of a private Christian university in Langley are hoping to bring a chaplain onto campus as an ally for those exploring questions of their faith, gender and sexuality.

This comes after Trinity Western University denied an independent group’s request to hold a storytelling night on campus, which they’d done for the past eight years.

The event’s refusal, which came from university administrators, has drawn criticism from local politicians including the mayor of Langley City.

“While Christians move forward, it saddens me that some organizations haven’t — including one that’s not letting One TWU hold a storytelling event that supports their student community,” said Nathan Pachal.

The mayor was one of 200 people who attended the event, which was moved to Fort Langley’s community hall. Organizers moved to the larger venue after ticket sales ramped up following outcry over TWU’s decision to deny a space on campus.