Rice University in Houston, Texas, openly mocked Baylor University during a football game last weekend, where Rice:
"displayed dozens of rainbow and trans flag-waving students and alumni to bring attention to Baylor's insulting denial of recognition [of the LGBTQ community]."
A spokesperson for Rice University's marching band, Chad Fisher, said that Rice's band thinks Baylor's policy is absolutely ridiculous.
Baylor'spolicy states:
"biblical understanding of sexuality as a gift from God" and "Christian churches across the ages and around the world have affirmed purity in singleness and fidelity in marriage between a man and a woman as the biblical norm."
The Rice band (@ricemob) taking a shot at Baylor’s LGBTQ policies in its halftime performance vs. the Bears. They… https://t.co/MHFZctnoSm— Glynn Hill (@Glynn Hill) 1569113173.0
"We just think that's kind of ridiculous," Fisher, said to the Houston Chronicle.
"And so we all got to our show writing meeting Sunday, and we were like, 'Oh my gosh, this is like exactly what our show needs to be about. We absolutely need to call Baylor out for this.' From there, it just kind of happened."
Some of Baylor's own students cheered on the display:
@ricemob A lot of fans on both the Rice and Baylor sides cheered the performance (with a few boos from the Baylor s… https://t.co/cpdmLC1faW— Glynn Hill (@Glynn Hill) 1569113915.0
Thanks for a great halftime everyone! We’re so glad we got to stand up for equality with some amazing… https://t.co/w5BFDc9tIb— The MOB (@The MOB) 1569114492.0
@RiceChron @ricemob 🏳️🌈 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈 This Baylor alum agrees.— Lisa Marie (@Lisa Marie) 1569113605.0
@RiceChron @dontBhaydenonme @ricemob We love love. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤— BU Bears for All (@BU Bears for All) 1569120481.0
@RiceChron @ricemob Rice is the only private university in Texas with no religious organization affiliation. It has… https://t.co/5qwm4wMvDi— Wayne Hale (@Wayne Hale) 1569166321.0
On Sept. 6, Baylor's administration declined to officially recognize Gamma Alpha Upsilon, an LGBTQ student greek group that has been trying to be recognized by the Baptist university since it came about in 2011.
On August 27th, Baylor president Linda Livingstone said:
"Baylor is committed to providing a loving and caring community for all students — including our LGBTQ students."
But with the refusal to acknowledge the only campus LGBTQ+ group, this seems like it is not the case.
The Rice University band just concluded their halftime show with a bunch of diversity and rainbow flags, then the a… https://t.co/buPUPAP6ZU— Joseph Gonzales (@Joseph Gonzales) 1569113241.0
I think I legally have to transfer to @RiceUniversity now, this is the best halftime performance I’ve ever seen https://t.co/moF17SSQGc— Flora (@Flora) 1569126956.0
This is awesome! Bigotry ain't a good look, Baylor University! Good job Rice University Marching Band! Thank you f… https://t.co/7qMRMsaSYM— Gabriel Fuller (@Gabriel Fuller) 1569246937.0
I've never been a prouder former band geek. https://t.co/6Zpe1o1uT9— Daniel Reynolds (@Daniel Reynolds) 1569372473.0
The show inspired support and happiness from around the internet.
@ricemob @RiceUniversity Well done Rice Band! 🌈— JS (@JS) 1569346545.0
@ricemob @RiceUniversity I saw this on Facebook and I'm happy I did! As an LGBT+ person and a former marching band… https://t.co/GGbWsBRejW— Wynonna Mammel (@Wynonna Mammel) 1569351644.0
@ricemob @RiceUniversity Thank you so much for doing this! I started crying as I watched a video of your performance today. 🌈🌈🌈— Rachael Dickzen (@Rachael Dickzen) 1569335594.0
@ricemob @RiceUniversity So awesome! https://t.co/OG7MXdBQ5I— Tattooed Guru (@Tattooed Guru) 1569360400.0
@ricemob @RiceUniversity Great show, band people!! Proud of y'all for doing this!!— Dan Wooldridge (@Dan Wooldridge) 1569369746.0
Now that Baylor's anti-LGBTQ+ policies have been put on blast, perhaps the university will reconsider its damaging stance on LGBTQ+ people—students, faculty, staff and their families—within its walls.
And if Baylor does relent, its students may have Rice to thank.
Show your solidarity with the movement for equality for all with this shirt available here.
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