(no subject)
The following letter is just the beginning of the Virginia exodus, and to Massachusetts no less. Dr. Lynn Adler and her partner are leaving Virginia Tech to accept faculty positions at UMass. In departing, Dr. Adler has sent the following letter to VT President Steger and copied EVERY politician in Virginia making it clear that they and their research money are leaving because of the deteriorating climate for GLBTs in Virginia.
Dear President Steger:
I have been a biology professor at Virginia Tech for the past 3 years. During that time I have taught hundreds of students, involved over 40 undergraduates in research, and been awarded over a half million dollars in federal grants from the National Science Foundation.
I am writing to let you know that I am leaving Virginia Tech to take a faculty position at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst this fall.
I am very sad and sorry to be leaving Virginia Tech. I've been very happy in the Biology Department and at the University. However, the laws of Virginia make it difficult for me to have a long-term future here. My same-sex partner does not have health insurance when working part-time at Virginia Tech, we are not recognized as a couple, and the state will not recognize both of us as parents of any children we might have.
The Virginia legislature recently passed a new law that nullifies all "marriage-like contracts" between two people of the same sex (HB751;
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?041+sum+HB751).
This means that my partner and I may not be able make medical decisions for each other, visit each other in the hospital, or even write wills naming each other as inheritors. While this law will probably be found unconstitutional when challenged, it indicates clearly that the state of Virginia does not welcome or support gay and lesbian families.
My department head, Dr. Bob Jones, and Dean Lay Nam Chang did their best to provide me with good professional reasons to stay at Virginia Tech. However, I ultimately felt that the personal issues involved with living in Virginia were too important for us to stay.
I am truly sorry to be leaving. I sincerely hope that in the future, the state of Virginia will attempt to support equality for all citizens, rather than discriminatory legislation that drives away contributing members of the community.
Sincerely,
Dr. Lynn S. Adler
Dear President Steger:
I have been a biology professor at Virginia Tech for the past 3 years. During that time I have taught hundreds of students, involved over 40 undergraduates in research, and been awarded over a half million dollars in federal grants from the National Science Foundation.
I am writing to let you know that I am leaving Virginia Tech to take a faculty position at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst this fall.
I am very sad and sorry to be leaving Virginia Tech. I've been very happy in the Biology Department and at the University. However, the laws of Virginia make it difficult for me to have a long-term future here. My same-sex partner does not have health insurance when working part-time at Virginia Tech, we are not recognized as a couple, and the state will not recognize both of us as parents of any children we might have.
The Virginia legislature recently passed a new law that nullifies all "marriage-like contracts" between two people of the same sex (HB751;
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?041+sum+HB751).
This means that my partner and I may not be able make medical decisions for each other, visit each other in the hospital, or even write wills naming each other as inheritors. While this law will probably be found unconstitutional when challenged, it indicates clearly that the state of Virginia does not welcome or support gay and lesbian families.
My department head, Dr. Bob Jones, and Dean Lay Nam Chang did their best to provide me with good professional reasons to stay at Virginia Tech. However, I ultimately felt that the personal issues involved with living in Virginia were too important for us to stay.
I am truly sorry to be leaving. I sincerely hope that in the future, the state of Virginia will attempt to support equality for all citizens, rather than discriminatory legislation that drives away contributing members of the community.
Sincerely,
Dr. Lynn S. Adler