Belmont University: Employees Shouldn't Be Forced to Resign for Being Gay - Sign the Petition
If you're not an RL friend of mine, or if you haven't already seen it on Facebook, Tumblr, or Twitter, I'm trying to draw attention to this petition. Here's some backstory:
For two years, a friend of mine has been trying to get his group officially recognized by the university. It's called Bridge Builders, and it's directed towards LGBT students and straight allies at Belmont. It's a group about faith, compassion, and equality. And though these are things Belmont usually jumps all over, they've been turned down time and time again. The administration claims that an LGBT group on campus would be "disruptive" and go against their "moral code." I know the guy who started the group. He is a stronger Christian than many people could ever hope to be. He also happens to be gay. These two things have nothing to do with each other.
This is obviously a big problem. However, recently it has gotten worse. The girls' soccer coach told her team that she and her same-sex partner were expecting a baby. Immediately afterward, she began being pressured by the university to resign. They have tried to play it off that she did so willingly, but how can they expect us to believe that? In this economy, with Christmas and a baby on the way?
But I digress. The fact is, I love my university. But that does not mean I'm going to allow them to get away with this. Please, sign the petition, and spread it as far as you can. If there's one thing that Belmont cares more about than so-called "morality," it's appearances. Maybe if we bring the social hammer down on them, they'll change their tone.
Please help. I don't know what else I can do. There's more information in the petition, and I'll put some news links in as well, if you want to read more about it.
Petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/view/belmont_university_employees_shouldnt_be_forced_to_resign_for_being_gay
News Links:
http://www.wsmv.com/sports/26007007/detail.html
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20101203/SPORTS06/12030362/Belmont+disputes+gay+coach+was+fired
http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/belmont-administration-gay-student-group-not-here
http://www.nashvillescene.com/pitw/archives/2010/12/03/it-gets-better-belmont-honors-christs-birth-by-booting-expecting-family-into-the-cold
http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/sports/belmont-coach-resigns-following-same-sex-relationship-disclosure
http://advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/12/03/Coach_Ousted_For_Pregnant_Partner/
For two years, a friend of mine has been trying to get his group officially recognized by the university. It's called Bridge Builders, and it's directed towards LGBT students and straight allies at Belmont. It's a group about faith, compassion, and equality. And though these are things Belmont usually jumps all over, they've been turned down time and time again. The administration claims that an LGBT group on campus would be "disruptive" and go against their "moral code." I know the guy who started the group. He is a stronger Christian than many people could ever hope to be. He also happens to be gay. These two things have nothing to do with each other.
This is obviously a big problem. However, recently it has gotten worse. The girls' soccer coach told her team that she and her same-sex partner were expecting a baby. Immediately afterward, she began being pressured by the university to resign. They have tried to play it off that she did so willingly, but how can they expect us to believe that? In this economy, with Christmas and a baby on the way?
But I digress. The fact is, I love my university. But that does not mean I'm going to allow them to get away with this. Please, sign the petition, and spread it as far as you can. If there's one thing that Belmont cares more about than so-called "morality," it's appearances. Maybe if we bring the social hammer down on them, they'll change their tone.
Please help. I don't know what else I can do. There's more information in the petition, and I'll put some news links in as well, if you want to read more about it.
Petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/view/belmont_university_employees_shouldnt_be_forced_to_resign_for_being_gay
News Links:
http://www.wsmv.com/sports/26007007/detail.html
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20101203/SPORTS06/12030362/Belmont+disputes+gay+coach+was+fired
http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/belmont-administration-gay-student-group-not-here
http://www.nashvillescene.com/pitw/archives/2010/12/03/it-gets-better-belmont-honors-christs-birth-by-booting-expecting-family-into-the-cold
http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/sports/belmont-coach-resigns-following-same-sex-relationship-disclosure
http://advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/12/03/Coach_Ousted_For_Pregnant_Partner/