Trans student suspended from religious college in Tennessee for undergoing gender confirmation surgery
Yanna Awtrey was suspended for two terms
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
A transgender student was suspended from a religious college in Tennessee for undergoing gender confirmation surgery.
Yanna Awtrey, 21, was suspended from Welch College, in Gallatin, near Nashville, this month after he had top surgery, an operation to remove breast tissue.
After the surgery, Awtrey was supposed to move in with a couple, however they revoked their offer after learning of the operation.
Luckily, he had a trans acquaintance who took him in but his situation got worse after he received a letter from the college telling him he would not be allowed to return because of the nature of the surgery.
The college offered to put him in a motel for a week and pay for his food but said he would be on his own.
Awtrey had a hearing before a disciplinary committee and was suspended for two terms.
In a statement to Buzzfeed News, the college made it clear they do not support transgender people.
They said: “The College holds that God created humanity in two distinct and complementary sexes: male and female.
“The College acknowledges that the Fall of humanity into sin has introduced brokenness into God’s good creation, including in the realm of human sexuality.
“Welch College believes that individuals experiencing such confusion — and the distress that usually accompanies it — should be treated with love and compassion.
“The College also believes that attempting to alter one’s bodily identity constitutes a rejection of God’s design for humanity.”