Black University Employee Fired for Stating Homosexuality Not the Same as Colour

[The Straight Story]

Black University Employee Fired for Stating Homosexuality Not the Same as Colour

TOLEDO, May 14, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Crystal Dixon, associate vice president of human resources at the University of Toledo, was first suspended then fired after writing a letter to a local newspaper. In it she responded to a previous article released by the paper that compared the discrimination of homosexuals to that of African-Americans. Dixon, an African-American, challenged the civil rights comparison of race with homosexual behavior, saying that science has never found a genetic cause or DNA for homosexuality. She said many gay people have overcome unwanted homosexual feelings as evidenced by the growing population of PFOX and ex-gay organizations.

Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX) says the University of Toledo's firing of administrator Crystal Dixon for speaking out about PFOX and the ex-gay community is an act of bigotry.

"African-Americans like Dixon have the right to defend their race without being subjected to punishment," said Regina Griggs, Executive Director of PFOX. Dixon was responding to an article by Toledo Free Press Editor Michael Miller, who had compared gay rights to the African-American civil rights movement. Miller also wrote that three women he had dated subsequently declared themselves gay.

The University of Toledo reportedly has a "Safe Places Program" designating space for "lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning individuals." According to Lloyd Jacobs, president of the university, there is a Safe Places sticker on his door of the president's office. "Mr. Jacobs needs to add ex-gays and African-Americans to that list of campus 'safe spaces," said Griggs. "His firing of Dixon creates an unsafe environment for minorities."

http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/may/08051405.html

"African-Americans like Dixon have the right to defend their race without being subjected to punishment," said Regina Griggs

Ummmm....It wasn't the race defending part that caused the issue.

Jeebus..

[angstlessk]

1. if she had not been in human resources just some job in the cafeteria

fine, but she has access to personel records and if she has that type of attitude I don't think she needs to work in that job. That would be like working in a welfare office and writting op eds about how poor people are lazy bums! Not good for your resume, dear!

[Hidey]

2. She's got a point..

If there's no scientific evidence that homosexuality is anything more than a behavior, then it would be insulting to blacks to compare their plight to that of gays.

I know it's not going to be a popular point, and she's going to get barbecued for it.. But the fact remains that behaviors are choices and can be influenced. Race is not.

[cynatnite]

3. You think homosexuality is a choice?

Are you kidding me?

One of my best friends is gay and there is NO doubt whatsoever that he was born gay. It was not a choice for him. He's not ashamed of it like he used to be, but it doesn't change the fact that he is gay by design and not by choice.

[Hidey]

7. I never said that..

What I said was, from a policy perspective, there's no evidence that this isn't a behavior.

This proof does exist for Race, however,

Her point is a valid one. Why punish her for telling the truth?

And I think it's horribly insulting to blacks.

[Bluebear]

8. What coriolis said downthread.

[coriolis]

9. Fuck off, asshole

ES&D

[MNBrewer]

13. There's proof for race?

Race is an artificial construct, it's not a discrete character, it's a continuous variable.

There is no evidence that races exist.

[cynatnite]

15. You are saying that now...

You are saying that homosexuality is a choice and it's not.

Why would anyone choose to be gay in a society where it's mostly looked down upon and where discrimination against gays is law by denying them the right to marry?

My friend is gay because that's how he was born. I was born straight. I can't suddenly decide I'm gay.

It's not a matter of choice.

He should have been fired. What he said was wrong.

[LostinVA]

30. She was in a position of hiring people

The university has a non-discrimination policy against gays. Obviously, her viewpoints are in direct conflict with the policy she has to enforce.

Would you want a KKK member in charge of hiring? Do you think that would effect hiring in regards to black people?

[Clintonista2]

4. Hun, I'll let you in on a little secret

We can no more choose to have heterosexual feelings than you can choose to have homosexual feelings.

[hokies4ever]

39. The real issue is that people define homosexuality differently

The pro-gay crowd defines it as feelings of attraction (whether or not you are attracted to the same sex) whereas the anti-gay crowd defines it as specific actions of love/sex with the same gender (actions are always controllable by definition, even if the attraction isn't). I think recognizing the fact that different people define homosexuality differently helps to explain some of the very divergent views on this issue.

[Deja Q]

42. Everyone misses the obvious.

Is it the feelings, or what one DOES with the feelings?

I am technically bi (per a different post from a few months ago) - urges exist for both, but I restrain certain feelings. Is it a crime to not react on feelings? Some around here actually think it is.

Nor am I ashamed to say that.

[Bluebear]

5. Go back to the right wing hole from whence you came, Neanderthal

[Hidey]

10. Instead of a witch burning..

Perhaps you can simply prove the lady wrong, instead?

She's right..

We shouldn't make policy on a lark.

Those Right Wingers you mentioned, that's their approach.

[Bluebear]

11. Go away, disruptor.

[Hidey]

12. Fine..

I never would have expected a simple statement of fact to be met with such hostility.

Just flame away then. This will be my last reply to this thread.

Thanks for your tolerance and objectivity.

[Bluebear]

14. Tolerance sought from someone who says homosexuality is a choice and a behavior LOL

Idiot.

[gatorboy]

16. You're welcome, troll.

:hi:


Whoops! Did I say that?

[TZ]

36. You stated a falsehood, a BLATANT falsehood

Thats why you are getting flamed, asshat.

[Richard Steele]

49. "Tolerance..." Seems that's always the last & most PLAINTIVE cry of the common troll. nm

[LostinVA]

34. It's RW to discriminate against gays, btw

[Deja Q]

40. All I know is, the world is made up of all types.

Otherwise I'm staying out of this argument.

[coriolis]

6. Fuck off, asshole.

:grr:

[The Straight Story]

17. Threads like this bring em out of the woodwork it seems

Growing up gay for my best friend was not easy, why would anyone do that if it was a choice?

[ColbertWatcher]

21. dupe. Mods please delete. Thank you. n/t

[ColbertWatcher]

22. ?

"If there's no scientific evidence that homosexuality is anything more than a behavior..."

True, but only if you ignore the existing scientific evidence.

Good job and welcome to DU.

Oh, by the way, I'd like you to meet http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayard_Rustin">Bayard Rustin.

[LostinVA]

26. Longshore, is that you?

When did you choose to become straight?

[TZ]

31. What makes you think there 's no evidence for genetic based homosexual behavior?

There is TONS of it. Same as tons of it for evolution..something I bet you don't "believe" either right?

[Squatch]

32. No wonder you wanted your "account" closed.

:eyes:

[JackBeck]

43. So would you then, therefore, agree that heterosexuality is a behavior?

And is a choice that can be influenced?

I'd love a response before your tombstone.

[KitchenWitch]

44. There is no scientific evidence that states that homosexuality IS a behavior either

You want to go around and around all night on this?

Take a wild guess where the pink triangle symbol for homosexuality came from. I would venture to say that gays have been discriminated against for thousands of years.

[MonkeyFunk]

51. LOL

yay! a live one!

[hulklogan]

55. Militant strates make me want to puke.

Their heterosexual choice is so disgusting.

[Marrah_G]

18. Good- she can definitely "choose" to stay ignorant

[registerdem]

19. Bravo!

It may be an unpopular statement (in some circles). How can you compare the plight of Blacks; forced into bondage and the discrimination since emancipation, to the plight of those who simply aspire to "sexual preference" in the bedroom?

[MNBrewer]

20. Not really "simple"

but you seem to be.

[cynatnite]

23. *sniff* I smell something n/t

[TZ]

25. yeah

something like the stinky underbelly of a bridge....

[superduperfarleft]

24. Barely literate, a bigot, and an asshole.

You're a triple threat!

[hippywife]

27. It's not simply about sexual preference.

It's about who you love emotionally, as well. Society never has been able to control such things...ever.

[Deja Q]

41. And never will.

I know many people of many persuasions. When telling a friend that I prefer to love a person emotionally, she then talks of what I prefer sexually. She also has some interesting predefined notions as to what people do in bed too; not all people of a certain persuasion like to do the same things.

Again, the world is made up of all types...

[malta blue]

28. really?

[KamaAina]

29. I find the choice of the word "bondage" particularly intriguing

in this context.

Enjoy your pizza!

[LostinVA]

38. Keep bondage where it belongs!

In the bedroom!

[coriolis]

35. Oh, great, another fucking idiot. Where are you assholes coming from?

:eyes:

[Lex]

45. I like to think it's just one, re-registering over and over

here at DU.

[LostinVA]

37. When did you choose to become straight, Longshore?

[JackBeck]

46. Maybe you can get your answer from Desmond Tutu and

Coretta Scott King and how they see the comparissons.

[Bluebear]

48. You're a completely unenlightened assclown (in every circle).

[LostinVA]

50. Your post is highly offensive

to assclowns everywhere.

I can't believe that I stay away from DU, come back here, and run into THREE people saying homosexuality is a choice in one day.

[Jamastiene]

54. Yup, that's what it has degraded to lately.

The day you see the same ones later crossing the 1000+ posts mark is truly disheartening. It's disgusting.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[VotesForWomen]

47. good. nt

[Jamastiene]

52. Well, she could have said she felt the two experiences were different

without resorting to homophobic tripe to do it. That's the simple truth.

[JackDragna]

53. There are differences..

..but that doesn't mean homosexuality doesn't likely have a genetic component. Like many behaviors, sexuality is most likely a product of both environmental and genetic influences. In terms of physiology/genetics, studies have shown gay men have smaller interstitial nuclei in their hypothalamus, share certain markers on their X chromosomes and occur more frequently than expected by chance in twin studies.

Ultimately, however, the big issue to me is this: homosexuality could completely be a personal choice, yet the person's civil rights should be inviolate. Nobody should be discriminated against for any behavior that isn't injurious to other people. The whole discussion of nature vs. nurture is scientifically interesting, but it shouldn't affect public policy.

[LeftyMom]

56. There's some evidence for a non-genetic biological component as well.

I'm thinking of the study that showed men later in the birth order were more likely to be gay than firstborns. If I recall correctly, the thinking is that hormonal effects in utero from previous pregnancies can change brain development.

But I agree, even if sexuality was only a matter of choice, it would still be nobody's business.