Oklahoma girl, 8, kicked out of Christian school over 'crush' on female classmate, asks ‘does God still love me?’
OWASSO, OKLAHOMA: When an 8-year-old girl confessed that she had a crush on another female classmate of hers, she was expelled from her Christian elementary school last week.
Chloe Shelton, a former student at Rejoice Christian School in Owasso, was kicked out of the institution after she told another female student she had a crush on her, Chloe's mother Delanie Shelton told CNN. The young girl was removed from the playground and taken to the principal's office where she received counseling without the presence of a guardian. "Before I was even called, the vice principal told Chloe that the Bible says that women can only have children with a man," Shelton told CNN. "(The vice-principal) asked me how I feel about girls liking girls and I told her that I see no issue with it." Shelton told another outlet that the vice-principal looked appalled by her response.
On Thursday, January 28, Shelton picked up her daughter from the school and she was immediately informed that she did not need to bring Chloe back to school on the following day. Then, on Friday, the superintendent called Shelton, saying that the school was "ending their partnership" with her family, which also meant that her 5-year-old son, who went to the same school, was also effectively expelled from the school. When Shelton asked for an explanation behind the school's move, she was simply told her beliefs didn't align with theirs.
"I was so blindsided. I was angry, hurt, betrayed, sad... so many different emotions. I just couldn't believe it," Shelton said. "I asked him to have a sit down meeting to discuss it and process it better and he refused, saying that 'nothing more needed to be discussed.'"
Shelton told FOX 23 that the expulsion left quite a negative impact on her daughter. “My daughter was crying saying ‘Does God still love me?’” she said. “They ripped my kids out of the only school they’ve ever really known away from their teachers and friends they’ve had over the past four years over something my daughter probably doesn’t know or fully understand."
In a statement to CNN, Superintendent Joel Pepin refused to publicly comment, stating, "Due to privacy and other factors, it is the school's policy to refrain from public comments regarding any particular student or family."
The school's handbook states that "any form of sexual immorality" goes against its beliefs, including "professing to be homosexual/bisexual". Students would forfeit the "privilege" of attendance if they do not "conform to the standards and ideals of work and life" at the school the handbook states. They are also forbidden from expressing public displays of affection, including holding hands, hugging or kissing, the handbook states. Pregnancy is also grounds for dismissal. In that case, it says that the student may be "placed on homebound," so other students aren't "drawn by bad example to do likewise".
Since the news of her expulsion came out, Chloe has received hundreds of encouraging letters from across the United States. Many of the over 150 messages of support she received also assured Chloe that she was indeed loved by God. "She's feeling so loved and supported now because of so many amazing people that have reached out to us," Shelton said. "She's excited for a fresh start at a new school."
“I feel so loved and supported, thank you so much to everyone who helped me feel better for being who I am," Chloe said.