University Employee Suspended Over 'Anti-Gay' Column
A University of Toledo (UT) employee was suspended last week following publication of a column she wrote opposing gay "marriage" in the local Toledo Free Press.
Crystal Dixon, associate vice president of human resources at the University of Toledo, wrote in the paper in response to a column that compared the efforts to legalize same-sex "marriage" as equal to the struggle for racial equality among African Americans.
"As a Black woman who happens to be an alumnus of the University of Toledo's Graduate School, an employee and business owner, I take great umbrage at the notion that those choosing the homosexual lifestyle are 'civil rights victims. Here's why. I cannot wake up tomorrow and not be a Black woman. I am genetically and biologically a Black woman," she wrote.
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"Daily, thousands of homosexuals make a life decision to leave the gay lifestyle evidenced by the growing population of PFOX (Parents and Friends of Ex Gays) and Exodus International just to name a few," she added.
After the column's appearance, Dixon was promptly punished with a suspension by UT faculty for what they described as values that "do not accord" with the University of Toledo.
"The University of Toledo welcomes, supports and places value upon persons of every variety. Disability, race, age or sexual orientation are not included in any decision making process nor the evaluation of worth of any individual at this university. To the extent that appearances may exist which are contrary to this value statement, we will continue to do everything in our power to align all of our actions every day with the value system discussed," said UT President Lloyd Jacobs following his "repudiation" of Dixon's views in a subsequent column following her suspension.
The Family Research Council (FRC), however, noted that Dixon's suspension was itself, ironically, an act of discrimination.
"In one fell swoop, Jacobs was informing the world not only that the University of Toledo denies its employees a private right of speech but that an African American employee has no right to assert her opinion regarding her own civil rights heritage," expressed the pro-family group in a statement.
Dixon will reportedly remain on suspension until further notice by the university.
