After Being Fired For Anti-Gay Rant, University VP Sues

A former University of Toledo vice president who was fired after making anti-gay statements says she is suing the university for violating her First Amendment right to free speech.

Crystal Dixon was the associate vice president of human resources for the university when she responded to Toledo Free Press Editor-In-Chief Michael S. Miller's pro-gay opinion piece Gay Rights and Wrongs, where he opined, “It's basic Golden Rule territory: Don't judge people for the color of their skin or their physical challenges, and don't judge them for their sexuality.”

Her response was published on the Toledo Free Press website.

“As a Black woman who happens to be an alumnus of the University of Toledo's Graduate School, an employee and business owner,” Dixon wrote, “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 P-FOX ... and Exodus International.” Both P-Fox and Exodus International remain controversial groups that claim they can “cure” gays through the power of prayer.

Dixon goes on to quote the Bible, and says there are consequences for violating God's “divine order.”

On April 30 Michelle Stecker, interim executive director of Equality Toledo, a group that advocates for the rights of gays and lesbians in and around the Toledo area, and a University of Toledo School of Law alumnus, sent out an action alert urging people to demand the university hold Dixon accountable for her “outrageous and defamatory” opinion piece.

“For me, the reason why it's newsworthy now is that five or ten years ago, no one would have even cared about the homophobic rant,” she told Cleveland's bi-weekly Gay People's Chronicle.

Dixon has now joined The Thomas More Law Center in pursuing a lawsuit against the university.

“It's clear that radical homosexuals have an inordinate amount of influence over the University President,” Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel of The Thomas More Law Center said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. “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.”

“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. Christians believe that homosexual acts are acts of grave depravity, contrary to natural law and under no circumstances can they be approved. Christians also believe one must love the sinner, but hate the sin. Crystal Dixon believed and expressed this – essentially she was fired for being a Christian,” he said.

The Thomas More Law Center is the same group that promised legal protection for Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern after she received threats for saying, “I honestly think it's [homosexuality] the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam,” in March.

Dixon's termination letter written by university president Dr. Lloyd A. Jacobs was posted on the gay weekly Toledo Blade website.

“The public position you have taken in the Toledo Free Press is in direct contradiction to University policies and procedures,” Jacobs wrote. “Your position also calls into question your continued ability to lead a critical function within the administration as personnel actions or decisions taken in your capacity as associate vice president for human resources could be challenged or placed at risk. The result is a loss of confidence in you as an administrator.”

Dixon says she wants compensation and her six-figure job back.

“We have asserted from the beginning that Ms. Dixon was in a position of special sensitivity as associate vice president for human resources and this issue is not about freedom of speech, but about her ability to perform that job given her statements in the Toledo Free Press. We are convinced of the correctness of our position and will bring the facts to our defense in a court of law,” university spokesman Larry Burns said in a statement provided to The Associated Press.

“President Lloyd Jacobs has done the right things,” said Stecker.

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