Homosexual advocacy groups often compare themselves to the civil rights movement of the 1960s. They see their efforts as a continuation of the struggle for racial equality. Despite calling themselves a "rights movement", homosexual advocacy groups and their allies have often resorted to undemocratic means. Be it last article’s notice of their shutting down of a forum that would have included dissenting opinions, or their usage of unelected judges to strike down referendum legislation as recently seen in California, violating other people's rights sure doesn't seem to be a problem for them. Another case in point is noted below at the University of Toledo in Ohio. Associate Vice President Crystal Dixon wrote a rebuttal to a pro-gay piece in the Toledo Free Press only to find out the hard way that dissent against this "rights movement" is not acceptable.

A UT administrator has been placed on paid leave for opinions she expressed in a column posted on Toledo Free Press' Web site last month.

As first reported on WTOL TV, Crystal Dixon, associate vice president of human resources, wrote in her column posted on the newspaper's Web site April 18, “As a black woman … 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 … 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.”

Dixon wrote her column in response to an April 6 opinion piece written by Toledo Free Press Editor in Chief Michael S. Miller in which he mentioned UT's policy of offering domestic-partner benefits to university employees but not to those of the former Medical University of Ohio when the institutions merged in 2006.

A UT spokesman confirmed Dixon has been put on paid leave, but said and further comment regarding an ongoing personnel matter would be inappropriate.

Dixon could not be reached for comment as of this posting. An automatic reply from her UT e-mail address said she would be out of the office for the next few weeks.

UT President Dr. Lloyd Jacobs repudiated Dixon's opinions in a column he wrote for the May 4 edition of Toledo Free Press, saying, “ … Her comments do not accord with the values of the University of Toledo.”

Jacobs said in the column he has written a letter to Ohio legislators to support the passing of initiatives that would extend rights and privileges to domestic partners. He said the university would be taking action to align its policies with its own value system, which places “value upon persons of every variety.”

Miller said he strongly disagreed with Dixon's comments, but defends her right to say them.

“The university operates in an atmosphere of idea exchange, and while I recognize the institution's desire to distance itself from her, this is a basic free speech issue and I am disappointed she has been punished for expressing her views,” he said.

Kim Welter, program manager for education and outreach for Equality Ohio, an advocacy group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens, said in a statement, “I respect everyone's individual religious beliefs; however, this is an issue in the public sphere which involves law abiding, tax-paying citizens of this state, who often experience life as second-class citizens. It is unfortunate that someone who works in Human Resources for the University of Toledo would publicly express beliefs more appropriate for her place of worship.”

Source:

Kalmes, Justin R., "UT administrator suspended over TFP column", Toledo Free Press, May 2nd, AD 2008. Found at this URL: http://www.toledofreepress.com/?id=7710, accessed May 20th, AD 2008.