University officer fired for criticizing homosexual politics files lawsuit

CatholicNewsAgency ^ | Toledo, Dec 2, 2008

[GonzoII]

Attorneys who filed the suit charged that the administrator was fired “for being a Christian...”

[GonzoII]

University officer fired for criticizing homosexual politics files lawsuit

Crystal Dixon

Toledo, Dec 2, 2008 / 09:07 pm (CNA).- A university administrator fired from the University of Toledo for her published remarks criticizing homosexuality and expressing her Christian views has filed a lawsuit against the school. The suit alleges the violations of her constitutional rights to free speech and equal protection of the law.

Attorneys who filed the suit charged that the administrator was fired “for being a Christian.”

Crystal Dixon, associate vice president of human resources at the state-run University of Toledo, wrote an April 18 column for the Toledo Free Press in response to an April 4 column by the paper’s Editor-in-Chief Michael S. Miller.  Miller argued that Ohio is behind in “gay rights” and also criticized the University of Toledo’s lack of health care benefits for some domestic partnerships.

Dixon, who did not identify herself as a university employee, wrote in her column:

“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 and very pleased to be so as my Creator intended.”

She referenced prominent individuals who had renounced their homosexual behavior, sometimes because of “a realization that their choice of same-sex practices wreaked havoc in their psychological and physical lives.”

She closed her column with two references to the Bible.  She said that God had created humankind male and female and gave them free will, which she described as an “inalienable right to choose.”  Saying there are consequences for our choices, Dixon said it is “base human nature to revolt and become indignant” when the world or God Himself disagrees with our choices.

Dixon also insisted that God “loves the sinner but hates the sin” and that Jesus is “radically transforming the lives of both straight and gay folks and bringing them into a life of wholeness.”

Lloyd Jacobs, President of the University of Toledo, soon after published a column in the same paper to “repudiate” Dixon’s views and to insist her comments “do not accord with the values of the University of Toledo.”

Dixon was placed on leave and fired by the university in May.

According to a press release from the Thomas More Law Center, Dixon had earlier questioned the University President’s decision to hire his niece over five more qualified candidates. His niece was hired for the Human Resources Department where Dixon worked.

The Ann Arbor-based Thomas More Law Center on Monday filed a lawsuit in Federal District Court on Dixon’s behalf. It is being assisted by Toledo attorney Tom Sobecki.

“It’s clear that radical homosexuals have an inordinate amount of influence over the University President.  He openly brags about being friendly to ‘lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning individuals.’  But he doesn’t care about the constitutional free speech rights of Christians,” charged Richard Thompson, President of the Thomas More Law Center.

“Where is the so-called free expression of ideas and tolerance that universities so adamantly defend in other contexts?  Crystal Dixon has a constitutional right to privately express her personal opinions, and this particular opinion represents the view of a majority of Christian Americans." 

"Crystal Dixon believed and expressed this – essentially she was fired for being a Christian,” Thompson said.Dixon has set up a web site explaining her view of the controversy at http://www.crystaldixon.com

Copyright @ CNA
(http://www.catholicnewsagency.com)

[Jibaholic]

Good for her for standing by her faith and fighting back.

[SeaHawkFan]

This is a slam dunk case. She will win and it won’t even be close. She should prevail on a motion for summary judgment and then the University will settle for a lot of money.

Another interesting matter is that those who were not hired even though more qualified than the niece of the schools President also have a claim.

[Luke21]

Scissors beats a rock.

[maine-iac7]

Good on her.

Where does is say that a free citizen of the U.S. cannot express their personal views on any given subject.

She didn't state her employment with the institution and was not intimating in any way that it was the view of the institution.

She was expressing her views as a citizen.

I hope the university gets hammered good.

[GonzoII]

“I hope the university gets hammered good.”

—

“Frankly, these jokers need a legal butt whiping!

[Big_Monkey]

You are correct. The sad part is that the university doesn’t care how much it has to pay out. It cares much more about the political point it’s making. And, after all, it really isn’t their money they’ll be paying out; it’s the taxpayer’s money. If UT really feels a pinch from a settlement/judgment, they’ll just ask for more money from the state (and get it), and/or they’ll raise tuition.

What’s most ironic about this story, is that it comes a day after the NYT runs an article about the “skyrocketing” price of college in the US. One needs look no further than college administrators to find the cause of “skyrocketing” college tuition.

[NYer]

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[Betty Jane]

I think she should sue the University President personally as well. This should be the tactic conservatives use. Not only go after the deep pockets, but also go after the politically correct idiots responsible.

[AmericanVictory]

The disturbing part is that they want to take away our right to believe in the Word.

[Big_Monkey]

I understand your point.

Unfortunately, I’m sure that UT president, Dr. Lloyd Jacobs enjoys an employment contract that indemnifies him for personal litigation claims. In other words, should he be subject to a civil tort judgment for actions he has taken while acting as UT President, the university would have to the judgment as well as all litigation expenses.

Welcome to the world of “Big Education”!

[little jeremiah]

Later pingout bookmark!

[GonzoII]

“This is a slam dunk case.”

—

I hope you are right!

[narses]

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[freedom9]

"“It’s clear that radical homosexuals have an inordinate amount of influence over the University President. He openly brags about being friendly to ‘lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning individuals.’ But he doesn’t care about the constitutional free speech rights of Christians,” charged Richard Thompson, President of the Thomas More Law Center.

“Where is the so-called free expression of ideas and tolerance that universities so adamantly defend in other contexts? Crystal Dixon has a constitutional right to privately express her personal opinions, and this particular opinion represents the view of a majority of Christian Americans."

[SunkenCiv]

What Happens If You’re on Gay Rights’ ‘Enemies List’
Time Magazine | Nov. 15, 2008 | Alison Stateman
Posted on 11/30/2008 9:44:04 AM PST by Anti-Bubba182
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2140414/posts

[snip] The Mormon Church is not the only group being singled out for criticism. African Americans, 70% of whom voted yes on Prop. 8, according to a CNN exit poll, have become a target. According to eyewitness reports published on the Internet, racial epithets have been used against African Americans at protests in California — with some even directed at blacks who are fighting to repeal Prop. 8. [end]