ICU nurse who was accepted into a Christian university in Tennessee had his admission rescinded because he is gay – as one alumni claimed he was forced into ‘conversion therapy’

An ICU nurse accepted into an evangelical Christian university in Tennessee had his admission revoked because he was gay - as an alumni said he was forced to undergo 'conversion therapy.'

Alex Duron, 38, was optimistic about beginning his three-year nursing program at Union University to become a registered nurse anesthetist  - a job desperately needed as COVID-19 cases skyrockets and under-resourced hospitals struggle to treat patients.

But nine days before his graduate program began, Union University rescinded his admissions after investigating Duron's sexual orientation.

'I was caught completely off guard,' Duron told the Jackson Sun this week. 'I have altered my whole life. I had quit my job, sold a lot of my stuff and was ready move.'

In a Facebook post, Duron shared an email from Union University that accused him choosing to 'not adhere to and uphold the values and expectations set by the university.'

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Alex Duron, an ICU nurse with hopes of becoming a  'registered nurse anesthetist', had his admission to Union University rescinded because he is gay

'Your request for graduate housing and your social media profile, including your interest to live with your partner, indicates your unwillingness to abide by the commitment you made in signing the statement,' school officials wrote. 

The offer was specifically rescinded under a Title IX religious exemption Union University received in 2015 from the U.S. Department of Education because of its affiliation with the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

Title IX are rules regarding sex-based discrimination for any institution receiving federal financial assistance.   

There's an ongoing conversation about whether or not discrimination based on sexual orientation is covered by Title IX. 

Duron accompanied the post with a message explaining why the the move was not only hurtful to him, but why it was discrimination.

'It turns out that a faith-informed education from Union University is not God’s plan for me, because Union University is not “informed” enough to not recognized that bigotry masked as religion is not Christian at all,' wrote Duron.

'I am writing to let the public know that this is not ok. There are several words to describe what has occurred: Bigotry, Prejudice, Heterosexism, Homophobia.' 

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Duron shared a photo of an email he received from Union University rescinding his admissions nine days before he was set to begin school 

Despite what Union University said, Duron said he never planed on living with his fiance, who wasn't even planning on moving to Jackson. 

A school employee last week asked Duron if he had was engaged or had plans to be married, which would qualify him for Union University's family housing. 

But Duron said he never mentioned his sexuality or fiance during the interaction, and he's extremely private about his social life on social media. 

Duron, a nurse treating infected COVID-19 patients in San Antonio's University Health System, said he was going to live in a campus dorm with a number of other graduate students. 

He added that Union University had never asked him about his sexual orientation and, in fact, school officials reportedly said  his interview had 'blown them away.'

Duron told Buzzfeed News that when he interviewed with Union University last August, faculty said he would be a great fit for the institution.

'When I interviewed, they said, "We accept all types of different religious people. You don’t have to be Christian to come here,"' said Duron.

'To tell me, "You’re a good fit for this school," and not tell me all this other stuff — that should’ve been laid out in front of me.'

As part of his acceptance, Duron signed the university's community values statements but assumed that just meant he couldn't be open about his sexuality on campus grounds.

The Union University's community values ban students from premarital sex, drinking alcohol and, prohibit being part of the LGBTQ community for both students and faculty.

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Union University's decision to revoke Duron's admissions is legal and under a Title IX religious exemption Union University received in 2015 from the US Department of Education

'Union affirms that sexual relationships are designed by God to be expressed solely within a marriage between a man and a woman,' according to the community value statement. 

'The Bible condemns all sexual relationships outside of marriage (Matt. 5:27-29; Gal. 5:19). The promotion, advocacy, defense or ongoing practice of a homosexual lifestyle (including same-sex dating behaviors) is also contrary to our community values. Homosexual behaviors, even in the context of a marriage, remain outside Union’s community values.'

Something else that stuck out to Duron was that he doesn't know how Union University even found out about his fiance.

The only indication Duron had is that after his phone call with the Union University employee last week, his fiance revealed that a private profile connected to the school had viewed his LinkedIn. 

Union University did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication, but did release a statement with Buzzfeed News. 

Union University  has 'standards of behavior for its faculty, staff, and students that are consistent with biblical teaching and historic, orthodox Christian practice.'

'All students who apply to Union University sign a statement saying they will comply with the university’s values,' they wrote.

'Those students who fail to abide by those values – or who show no intention of attempting to do so – are subject to disciplinary measures that can include dismissal from the university.'

The threat of expulsion and social upheaval reportedly created a culture of fear among LGBTQ students at Union University, who fretted over being outed, losing their education and being ostracized.

Former student Scott McSwain claimed that when he attended Union University between 2006 to 2010, at one point he was given an ultimatum by school officials: attend therapy to address his sexuality or leave.

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Scott McSwain (pictured) attended Union University and said the school gave him an ultimatum after people began questioning his sexuality

McSwain told Buzzfeed News that he had already come out to his parents as a teenager, resulting in his first experience with 'conversion therapy.'

He earned a full-ride scholarship to another out-of-state school, but his parents believed they were helping their son by sending him to the Christian university in his hometown.

While at Union University, McSwain dated a girl, but came out to her after deciding it wouldn't be fair to continue the relationship.

Soon, rumors about McSwain's sexuality spread across campus and his fraternity until school administration caught wind of the whispers. 

McSwain chose to attend therapy after being given the ultimatum during a meeting with school officials. He says he was groped by one of his counselors. 

The experience made McSwaim feel 'dehumanized'. It sparked internal questions over if he could trust friends and rely on teachers to grade him fairly.

The stress caused McSwain to contemplate suicide. 

'I know of a lot of people that used my experience as a reason not to tell the administration about their sexuality ever,' said McSwain.

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Pictured: Scott McSwain and his husband Alex, who also attended Union University 

'It's horrible to have to choose between your safety and your identity.'

Tamarin Huelin, Union University's director of counseling services, told Buzzfeed News that she 'grieved' to hear McSwain's claims of groping.

But Huelin added that neither she, nor the former director, performed conversion therapy with Union University students. 

She instead described her work as 'care for students and their mental and spiritual needs.'

'I have served as the Director for Counseling Services since August of 2015, and no one on my staff has attempted conversion therapy with any student during that time,' she said.

Conversion therapy is a scientifically debunked practice that has been repeatedly criticized for being harmful and oppressive to LGBTQ individuals. 

At the moment. Tennessee has no law or policy blocking conversion therapy. 

McSwain on Wednesday uploaded a video to YouTube titled 'Being Gay at Union University,' in which he urged potential students to reconsider attending the school.

'I am a victim of Union University's bigotry and homophobia, and I'm saying it right now so you don't send your children there,' he said.

Alumnus Nathan Grimm, like McSwain, attended Union University at the request of his parents despite knowing he was gay.

'My parents more or less told me that they weren’t going to help support my education if I didn’t attend Union,' Grimm said.

'I wasn't excited to attend, but was not an out and proud gay man at the time ... I think it's honestly a way for parents to send their children to a place where 'God can cure you..'

Grimm admitted that he'd heard about the 'sessions' during his time at Union University, as well as stories about the school manipulating students to out each other.

For Duron, he feels like he 'dodged a bullet' by not attending the school. Since he's gone public with his story, nursing schools around the country are trying to find ways to admit him for the upcoming fall semester.

'My initial plan was to warn away people in the nursing community from Union if they’re gay or transgender,' he said,

'But it has totally changed now, people are taking it to the next level ... There's a light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t know where I'm going to end up, but I've gotten so much support.'