Grace University suspends lesbian student Danielle Powell (VIDEO)

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The World

A Christian college in Nebraska has suspended a student and ordered her to return her scholarship money for being a lesbian.

Danielle Powell told The Associated Press she was close to getting her bachelor's degree when she was kicked out of Grace University, formerly the Grace Bible Institute, in 2012 after administrators discovered her same-sex relationship.

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This even after she underwent months of counseling, spiritual training and mentoring insisted upon by the school in Omaha.

Now, school officials have sent Powell a $6,300 bill.

And they're refusing to transfer any of her credits until she pays up, insisting Powell owes the money to the government because she didn't finish her last semester there.

Powell claims her tuition was covered by scholarships.

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Her wife, Michelle Rogers, has launched an online petition protesting the school's actions, accusing officials of "bullying at its finest."

Michael James, the school's executive vice president, told the Omaha World-Herald he couldn't discuss details of the case but said the student handbook clearly prohibits "sexually immoral behavior."

Officials at Chicago's Roosevelt University have extended an offer to Powell to complete her bachelor's degree at their school free of charge.

Others have also offered to pay the bill, while another has offered free legal advice.

More than 57,000 people had signed the online petition as of Monday night.

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