University suspends staffer over view of homosexuality

University of Toledo President Lloyd Jacobs

The University of Toledo suspended an administrator for stating in a guest column in a local newspaper that choosing homosexual behavior is not the same as being black or handicapped.

Associate Vice President of Human Resources Crystal Dixon wrote in response to a newspaper editor's column criticizing a lack of equality for homosexuals that, "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.'"

Her piece in the Toledo Free Press quickly got her a suspension from officials at the University of Toledo, who condemned her beliefs, according to a report in the newspaper.

The newspaper said a spokesman for the college confirmed Dixon had been placed on paid leave but declined further comment. A WND request for comment elicited no response from the office of the president, Lloyd Jacobs.

The situation developed when Toledo Free Press Editor in Chief Michael S. Miller wrote a column boasting of his support for the "gay" community.

"I have been tangentially immersed in the gay culture for so long, it's a natural and common aspect of life. Three decades of loving these friends and family and sharing their successes in managing careers and raising families has jaded me to the hatred and prejudice many people had against the gay community. … As a middle-aged, overweight white guy with graying facial hair, I am America's ruling demographic, so the gay rights struggle is something I experience secondhand, like my black friends' struggles and my wheelchair-bound friends' struggles," he wrote.

He also claimed credit for contributing "to the community's growth."

"At least three women I dated in college subsequently declared themselves gay," he said.

"There are people who are so strongly anti-gay rights, they lust for legislation to limit the gay community's freedoms. That makes no intellectual or moral sense to me. Some of this prejudice is based in religion. I find it confusing that people who believe in a savior who opens his arms to everyone think he'll draw those same arms shut to keep gay people away," he continued. "And do not tell me you are 'tolerant' or 'tolerate' gay people. Stop for a moment and think about how condescending and evil that attitude is."

He drew the school into the conversation by mentioning he moderated a town hall meeting sponsored by two homosexual activists groups.

It dealt "with issues of employment discrimination against gay people," he said. Acccording to the panelists, he contined, "UT has offered domestic partner benefits since then-president Dan Johnson signed them into effect. The Medical University of Ohio did not offer those benefits. When the institutions merged, UT employees retained the domestic-partner benefits, but MUO employees were not offered them. So, people working for the same employer do not have access to the same benefits."

Dixon then responded.

"I respectfully submit a different perspective for Miller and Toledo Free Press readers to consider. … First, human beings, regardless of their choices in life, are of ultimate value to God and should be viewed the same by others. At the same time, one's personal choices lead to outcomes either positive or negative," she said.

"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 and very pleased to be so as my Creator intended. 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.

"Economic data is irrefutable: The normative statistics for a homosexual in the USA include a Bachelor's degree: For gay men, the median household income is $83,000/yr. (Gay singles $62,000; gay couples living together $130,000), almost 80% above the median U.S. household income of $46,326, per census data. For lesbians, the median household income is $80,000/yr. (Lesbian singles $52,000; Lesbian couples living together $96,000); 36% of lesbians reported household incomes in excess of $100,000/yr. Compare that to the median income of the non-college educated Black male of $30,539. The data speaks for itself," she said.

She said the alleged benefits disparity at the university, cited by Miller, came about simply because the employees of the two institutions were working under different contracts.

"The university is working diligently to address this issue in a reasonable and cost-efficient manner, for all employees, not just one segment," she said.

But she argued God created male and female, according to Genesis 1:27, and "there are consequences for each of our choices, including those who violate God's divine order."

"It is base human nature to revolt and become indignant when the world or even God Himself, disagrees with our choice that violates His divine order," Dixon said.

Then came the suspension announcement from the school, along with Jacobs' condemnation of Dixon's writings.

"Her comments do not accord with the values of the University of Toledo. It is necessary, therefore, for me to repudiate much of her writing," he said.

"Our Spectrum student group created the Safe Places Program to 'invite faculty, staff and graduate assistants and resident advisers to open their space as a Safe Place for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning [LGBATQ] individuals.' I took this action because I believe it to be entirely consistent with the values system of the university. Indeed, there is a Safe Places sticker on the door of the president's office at the University of Toledo," Jacobs said.

"We will be taking certain internal actions in this instance to more fully align our utterances and actions with this value system," he said..

Miller said he disagreed with Dixon, but acknowledged she had the right to express her beliefs.

"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.

An official with the pro-homosexual Equality Ohio said Dixon's ideas were "more appropriate for her place of worship" and didn't belong elsewhere.

The school's diversity program is set up "to attract and retain diverse faculty, staff, and students" by pledging "to respect and value personal uniqueness and differences."

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