Posted on 03/30/2012 7:40:54 AM PDT by TexasConservativeRepublican
Wow, this appened right here in southeast Texas.
A theater arts department professor, Linda Ozmun, at Lamar University in Beaumont, TX had no problem doing her job. She was teaching kids about theater arts. That was her job and she was doing it just fine. The school wanted more than that though. According to a lawsuit that the terminated professor filed, the school chairwoman Judith Sebesta, and eventually the Dean, told her that she had to attend a vulgar gay pride play, by Tim Miller, or else she would be terminated. The professor is a Christian who did not want to go to a vulgar gay pride play. It was not part of her job and she would not be working at the gay play. The school just wanted her to personally go see the play. This gay play had been planned once before at the college but it was cancelled after the community complained that it would be too offensive and vulgar. The play was brought back though and the professor requested a reasonable accommodation to be excused from attending this offensive production. The dean of her college refused this simple accommodation and threatened plaintiff with disciplinary action if she failed to attend the performance. Because of her religious beliefs, plaintiff failed to attend the performance and as a result she was disciplined for her religious beliefs. Lamar University has discriminated against this professor on the basis of her religious beliefs in violation of the Texas anti-discrimination laws.
As Americans, we should tolerate other lifestyles. If someone wants to be gay then that is up to them and we cannot force them not to be gay. on the other hand, Americans should never be forced to accept an alternate lifestyle as normal or be forced to go to a gay play in violation of that person's Christian beliefs. That is the homosexual agenda though. They claim they just want to be tolerated but in reality, they will not be happy until they have forced Americans to accept their lifestyle as normal and right. They will not be happy until they force Christian organizations to provide health coverage that includes sex changes. They will not be happy until they have indoctrinated out children that they are bad if they do not agree with homosexuality, like this Fort Worth, TX kids who got suspended for simply BELIEVING that homosexuality is wrong. They will not be happy until they have forced states to recognize their relationships as a marriage even though the people have voted that marriage is only between a man and a woman.
from Courthouse News Service: Gay Dances Were Too Much, Professor Says By CAMERON LANGFORD
BEAUMONT, Texas (CN) - A former tenure-track theater and dance professor claims in court that Lamar University administrators unfairly reprimanded her for refusing, for religious reasons, not to attend a gay performance artist's show on campus.
Linda Ozmun sued Lamar University and its Theater and Dance Department Chairwoman Judith Sebesta, in Jefferson County Court.
"In the fall of 2010, the Department of Theatre and Dance wanted to bring to campus an 'artist' named Tim Miller," Ozmun says in her complaint. "Mr. Miller is an openly homosexual man who advocates for normalizing sexuality and for homosexual marriage.
"His one-man show is about his homosexual lifestyle using obscene language and sexual gestures. As a result of complaints from the community, his visit along with his performance was canceled. "In response to the cancellation, several theatre students organized a show called 'Coming Out Collective.' It was billed as a celebration of homosexuality.
"Because of her religious beliefs, plaintiff did not attend the show. After the show in December 2010, defendant Judith Sebesta, chair of the department questioned plaintiff as to why she failed to attend the event.
"Plaintiff explained to Mrs. Sebesta that her religious beliefs prevented her from attending the event." Ozmun, who was in her fourth year teaching at the university, says that in her annual review, Sebesta "included plaintiff's failure to attend the event as part of her evaluation, and gave her a grade of 'unacceptable.'"
Ozmun claims she then "followed university policies and filed a grievance, which was returned and noted 'unheard.'"
When the university decided to bring Tim Miller back to perform his show, Ozmun says, the college dean "threatened plaintiff with disciplinary action if she failed to attend the performance."
"In the fall of 2011 semester, the University did bring Tim Miller ... to Lamar," the complaint states. "The purpose was two-fold: Perform his show 'Glory Box,' and conduct a workshop and student performance with students of Lamar 'to help them find their voice.' Plaintiff contacted defendant and requested a reasonable accommodation to be excused from attending this offensive production. The dean of her college refused this simple accommodation and threatened plaintiff with disciplinary action if she failed to attend the performance.
"Because of her religious beliefs, plaintiff failed to attend the performance and as a result she was disciplined for her religious beliefs.
"Defendants have discriminated against plaintiff on the basis of her religious beliefs in violation of the Texas anti-discrimination laws."
Ozmun says the university also retaliated against her for filing a discrimination claim against it. Ozmun no longer teaches at Lamar University.
She seeks, lost wages, actual damages, punitive damages and "reinstatement of her position with any adverse evaluations expunged from her record."
Ozmun is represented by Barry Bennett with Eddins & Bennett and Michael McGown with Benckenstein, Norvell & Nathan, both of Beaumont.
Except Christians, apparently.
Yes. And any other lifestyle the Leftist High Command deems unacceptable--i.e. marks for persecution.
Please explain to us why you couldn’t comment on this at work at a military installation. Also, detail what would happen if someone on base connected what you posted here with you.
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The homo-agenda is showing its true face more and more. They want total dominance over every single human being. The homo-agenda must be overthrown or we will have no rights at all. It will be overthrown or our country will collapse. The homo-agenda is part and parcel of the leftist "destroy everything good about America" agenda.
Oops - already pinged out, my apologies.
BTTT!
Resist Cultural Marxism! No Compromise! No Retreat! No Surrender!
Seriously, that is what we as civilian employees are told. Also, we cannot participate in political rallies or express our political beliefs while we are "on the clock." Even off the clock, if we participate in a political event that does not put the military or civilian workforce into a favorable light, then we can be disciplined and fired.
What if she boo’d and heckled him? Or was she also ordered to applaud?
What if she boo’d and heckled him? Or was she also ordered to applaud?
I’m not a lawyer, but I believe that the anti-discrimination laws apply to all workplaces with over a certain number of employees (50?), with certan narrow exceptions. They might want to look at the sexual harrassment angle on this one too - did they possibly create a hostile work environment because she refused to be subjected to materials of a sexual nature?
Even though this article is old now, I want to post an update for future people who may find it via Google down the road.
Much of the information in this article is inaccurate. Linda Ozmun was never fired (she is still very much employed in the same role at Lamar University). She never received a pay cut. She was not denied tenure.
As of recently, the case against the department chair (Judith Sebesta) has been dismissed, agreed to by all parties.
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