The Catholic Diocese of Davenport has denied the University of Iowa the right to present future student Keaton Fuller the presentation of the Matthew Shepard Scholarship at his graduation. The reason cited is that the organization issuing the scholarship goes against the Catholic Church.
Keaton Fuller is this year's recipient of the $40,000 Matthew Shepard Scholarship awarded by the Eychaner foundation to a student who demonstrates efforts to promote gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgender rights in their area.
The openly gay student was awarded the scholarship and it was originally decided that the scholarship would be presented to him at his graduation. The decision was overturned, though, by the overseer of the Prince of Peace High School.
The decision was made specifically because the scholarship directly honors a student that has demonstrated efforts for gay rights, which goes against the Catholic foundations of the community.
The school states that their reasons for not allowing the presentation involve a policy against guest speakers whose position contradicts that of the Catholic Church at their graduation ceremonies.
Keaton Fuller is this year's recipient of the $40,000 Matthew Shepard Scholarship awarded by the Eychaner foundation to a student who demonstrates efforts to promote gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgender rights in their area.
The openly gay student was awarded the scholarship and it was originally decided that the scholarship would be presented to him at his graduation. The decision was overturned, though, by the overseer of the Prince of Peace High School.
The decision was made specifically because the scholarship directly honors a student that has demonstrated efforts for gay rights, which goes against the Catholic foundations of the community.
The school states that their reasons for not allowing the presentation involve a policy against guest speakers whose position contradicts that of the Catholic Church at their graduation ceremonies.
"Everybody at the school has always been very accepting and extremely encouraging toward me," Fuller said when speaking with MSNBC. "That's why the latest turn of events has been such a surprise – I feel invalidated and unaccepted."
The decision is not a very popular one among gay rights groups, other recipients of the scholarship and even Fuller's own family, but it stands thus far. The founders of the scholarship foundation disagree with the decision as well.
The decision is not a very popular one among gay rights groups, other recipients of the scholarship and even Fuller's own family, but it stands thus far. The founders of the scholarship foundation disagree with the decision as well.
After opposition, the school conceeded their decision about the entire presentation, and said that the scholarship could be presented by a school official from the University, but not by anyone affiliated with the granting organization.
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