College Reverses Decision to Fire Lt. Gen Boykin Over Transgender Bathroom Comments
The Hampden–Sydney College in Virginia has reversed its decision to fire retired Army Lt. Gen. William "Jerry" Boykin, a devout Christian, as a visiting professor after reports that he had been removed over his comments on transgender bathrooms.
"I would like to thank the leadership of Hampden-Sydney College for the courage they have demonstrated in reversing their decision and allowing me to remain a part of the Hampden-Sydney community." Boykin, an original member of the Delta Force who served as undersecretary of defense for intelligence under President George W. Bush and who has taught on faculty at Hampden-Sydney, told Fox News.
"Hampden-Sydney College is a fine school with a proud history of young men who have led our country, and I am honored to be a part of shaping the next generation of leaders," Boykin, who is the executive vice president of the Family Research Council, said.
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The all-male college was pressured by LGBT groups to fire Boykin due to his comment, "… the first man who goes in the restroom with my daughter will not have to worry about surgery."
"Because some of you already know and are contacting me about it, let me make it official and let you all know that I have been terminated from teaching at Hampden-Sydney College after nine years there," Boykin wrote on Facebook Tuesday.
"Hampden Sydney is the 10th oldest college in America and is one of the two men's colleges left in #America. … The bottom line is that I oppose these so called '#Bathroom' bills that let men go into women's locker rooms, showers, and toilets and I have been very public about it. When I said in Orlando that '… the first man who goes in the restroom with my daughter will not have to worry about surgery,' the LGBT community once again came after me, claiming that I was calling for violence against #transgender people."
He explained, "Well, that is simply not the case and I have never called for violence against anyone. I was referring to perverts who will use these policies to get into locker rooms with girls and women, and I object to that. … Nonetheless, I gave the LGBT community just what they needed to pressure the college leadership to terminate me and they did."
Numerous people publicly defended Gen. Boykin. "There is strength in unified numbers," he was quoted as saying after the college reversed its decision to fire him. "The radical left and LGBT activists completely underestimate the impact of freedom-loving Americans banding together to protect our First Amendment freedoms."
Boykin continued, "Never cave in when you know that you are standing for what is right and true, for these are the principles that made this nation great. Stand, even if it means you lose your job. Stand, even if it means you lose your life. The founding principles of this nation are worth defending, even if it costs you."
Boykin also commanded the Army's Green Berets and Special Warfare Center and School. He retired in 2007 after spending four years as Deputy Undersecretary of Defense and Intelligence under Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Whether people should use bathrooms corresponding to their biological sex or gender identity has become a major debate in the country ever since North Carolina's House Bill 2 became the target of criticism by LGBT groups and some celebrities.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Education released a "guidance" saying that all federally funded schools must allow students to use restrooms, locker rooms and other facilities and activities according to their self-proclaimed gender identity.
An online petition started by Family Research Council against the Obama administration's "overreach in bullying parents and local school districts" to allow students to use restrooms and other facilities as per their gender identity has gained more than 95,500 signatures, and the number is increasing by the hour.
