Anti-trans right-wing groups called out Benedictine University (BenU), a Catholic college in Illinois, for hosting a Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR) event in November. While the university initially doubled down on why TDOR fit with their Catholic values, after Fox News recently picked up the story, the university apparently removed pages from its website claiming to offer safe spaces for diverse communities.

“At Benedictine University, we believe that honoring the dignity of every person and praying for those who have died are fundamental expressions of our Catholic and Benedictine identity,” the university said in its initial statement on November 20. “The recent event was first and foremost a prayer service to honor lives lost. It was a solemn remembrance rooted in Catholic social teaching and belief in the inherent and sacred dignity possessed by every person, created in the image of God.”

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TDOR, which occurs annually on November 20, specifically remembers trans people who lost their lives due to anti-trans violence. The university’s response aligns with various “love your neighbor” elements of Christian doctrine.

The day before TDOR, the Libs of TikTok account on X, an anti-LGBTQ+ hate account run by Chaya Raichik, posted the event’s flier. The event was hosted by the Benedictine University Campus Ministry and its Safe Space program.

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Benedictine University has observed TDOR anually since 2018. In its statement, the university said the annual observance demonstrates its “enduring commitment” to the principles that “everyone deserves respect, love, safety, and justice.”

“Every life deserves profound reverence,” the university stated, regarding the event. “Every life lost deserves to be remembered. When we witness suffering, injustice, and violence, it’s our duty to love. This is what our University stands for.”

In the days after the Libs of TikTok post, some small and local news sites ran stories based on outrage, complaining about the Catholic university’s recognition of TDOR and including the university’s statement. However, yesterday — nearly two weeks after the event took place — Fox News picked up the story and gave it more national attention.

Fox News noted that the university has a “Office of Belonging” and quoted the school’s site about its goals to “help faculty/staff develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to create safe spaces at BenU and make our campus more welcoming and inclusive to LGBTQ+ individuals and communities.”

The Fox News article also noted the university’s Safe Space program. Commenters on X and on Fox News’ social media accounts made general anti-DEI and anti-“woke” comments about the university and its TDOR event.

The university’s Safe Space page stated, “We work to be a community characterized by the highest standards of empathy and opposition to all forms of hatred. We welcome LGBTQ+ persons with sincerity of heart and generosity.” The page also highlighted the gender-neutral bathroom options for the school and how to access those facilities, as well as a list of teachers and staff who had signed up to be “Safe Space Ally.”

However, despite originally doubling down on their support for the LGBTQ+ and specifically the trans community, the university has seemingly removed its pages for its “Office of Belonging” and “Safe Space” program. The university has also removed links for information on the “Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (Campus Center)” and the university’s land acknowledgement.

While it has become a growing practice for universities to tone down or remove their DEI pages and LGBTQ+ support programs under the second Trump administration, this is notable for the shift in support, especially since the shift immediately followed attention from Fox News.

The university’s removal of its aforementioned webpages seems incompatible with the end of its original statement: “We remain committed to being a community where all feel safe, respected, and welcomed, and where we can come together in prayer, especially in moments of sorrow.”

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