"My hope has been with a new President and new administration, that there might be be a season of change."

Hello Beck,

I hope all is well for you. Suzan and I so enjoyed seeing you in New York City.

I am writing to express my dismay and sadness in regard to the article in yesterday’s al.com titled “Samford turns away Episcopalians, Presbyterians from event due to LGBTQ views”.

Today I speak to you not only as a Samford graduate, but also I speak as an Episcopalian and as a Father in an LBGTQ family and member and advocate of the LGBTQ community in Alabama, in New York and in the world.

The first thing that came to mind was Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave or free, nor is there male or female, for you are all one in Jesus Christ”. I would hope that Samford has not lost sight or would ever lose sight of this theological cornerstone of our faith.

I have not shared with you that Suzan and I quietly “stepped away” from Samford several years ago. We had proposed to Samford that we would fund a scholarship for an LGBT student or LGBT purpose. It did not go well. After more than a year, we withdrew the proposal. It had become evident to us that there would not be a place for our son, or anyone’s son or daughter who might identify with being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer at Samford as a student, faculty member or on staff. We determined if there was not a place for those, there was not a place for us. It cannot be those and us, it is we, “for you are all one in Jesus Christ”.

My hope has been with a new President and new administration, that there might be be a season of change. My hope has been that Samford University would become more reflective of the greater world in which we live. These are sentiments I had planned to share in the NYC strategic planning session. Even the recently created and often touted Office of Diversity and Intercultural Initiatives sadly omits the LGBT community. It is held up to say “look at us, we are diversified", when in fact that is not the case. There is not a place at Samford.

Matthew Shepard was tragically murdered in 1998 because he was gay. His parents were never able to find a place for their son’s ashes for fear of desecration. More than 20 years later his ashes were interred at the Washington National Cathedral (yes, a cathedral of the Episcopal Church). On a recent visit, I asked where I could find his crypt. I was told to look at the alter, and he is interred directly below, in the safest and most holy place in the church. Place is important.

I still have hope. You are in a place to make a difference. I still have confidence in your leadership. I continue to wish you the best.

Sincerely,

Tommy Armstrong

Thomas Duncan Armstrong (’73)