A Minnesota student is defending her right to wear a controversial, custom-designed T-shirt expressing her opposition to same-sex marriage.
As Minnesota Public Radio is reporting, Concordia College senior Rebecca Julius created a black T-shirt that reads "Sin is Sin" across the front, followed by three Bible passages about truth and evil on the back.
"I don't identify with all these people that say homosexuality is a perfectly acceptable way to live; that's not me," Julius, a devout Wisconsin Synod Lutheran, tells writer Sasha Aslanian. "So the reason I wanted to do this T-shirt was one, to stand up for God's word because I feel like it's getting completely trampled in this place that's supposed to be Christian and two, to just separate myself from it and not give anybody the impression that this what I believe."
Aslanian notes that Julius' design was made in direct response to Concordia College's Straight and Gay Alliance, members of which have been selling "Love is Love" T-shirts in celebration of National Coming Out Week. While the design has received a mix response from fellow students, Julius remains firm.
"I've definitely felt alone at more than one point on campus and I feel like I don't necessarily fit the 'Cobber mode' but that's OK with me because I know where I stand with my faith," she said, before noting that "I also know that God is proud of what I'm trying to do for him."
Julius' case mirrors those of other students who have sparked controversy after expressing LGBT-related sentiments on their clothing. In May, an Ohio high school student fought his high school for prohibiting him from wearing a T-shirt which read "Jesus Is Not A Homophobe," according to the Associated Press.
Earlier this month, a bisexual New York teen was sent home after school officials deemed her "I Enjoy Vagina" T-shirt too distracting. Brianna Demato, 15, said the school violated her rights to free speech.
"It's hypocritical," Brianna told the New York Daily News. "They use the word in class -- why can't I, on a shirt?"