University officer fired for criticizing homosexual politics files lawsuit

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Crystal Dixon

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Toledo, Ohio, 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

Comments: 12

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Thrawn
Australia 08/14/2009 07:11 AM EST

Ms Dixon criticised people who promote homosexuality, expressing her belief that they are seriously mistaken. She did this in a public forum, in response to an opposing viewpoint. The university fired her for doing it. Which one showed greater intolerance?

Published by: James Stanley
OC, CA 08/12/2009 11:26 AM EST

(from comment at 12/02/2008 11:02) "So we have to be tolerant of intolance?"

Well, you apparently want your own intolerance of whatever you call "intolerance" to be tolerated, so, yes, we have to be tolerant of intolerance.

"All people deserve the right to exist without being disparaged by someone else's religion. It's a no brainer."

So, in the name of "tolerance," you want to censor the content of other people's religion. That argument is indeed a "no-brainer."

Published by: samsyard
Philippines 12/05/2008 11:39 PM EST

This case is another example of the atheist-led anti-Christian drive that is unfortunately taking root in the world. The only way to counter this is to openly express our opinions. But more importantly, we should not be afraid to openly show and practice our religious beliefs and celebrations. If we become afraid to worship God in public because of criticism, very soon we'll be forced to worship Him in hiding.

Published by: Mary
Anthem AZ 12/04/2008 01:37 PM EST

Beautifully written! My prayers are with you. It will be an uphill battle. The truth is received as intolerance to many people, however, the people that view it that way can never see their own intolerance. It becomes a circle of no reasoning. I have learn over the years that people that think they are so open- minded can not see the consequences of their choices and the affects of those choices upon others. Basically, whatever is good for "me" is okay and no one should say anything about it. May God uphold you during this time.

Published by: James
Tampa/FL 12/03/2008 09:40 PM EST

Bravo for Crystal Dixon, she is my latest new hero and a true Christian for her willingness to speak the Truth and defend it in a world that now calls evil good and good evil. We as people who believe in a Heaven with a loving God must pray for her case to be victorious. She has every right according to the constitution of the United States of America to speak the Truth without fear of retribution. It will truly be reverse discrimination against the Church and Christ believing Americans if she loses her case. I reckon that Taylor from Jersey City would prefer intolerance of the teachings of Christ. Acting out on homosexual desires is a choice as Crystal Dixon clearly wrote of in her published response letter. Why should she be fired for expressing this point of view? Intolerance of the Christian way of life. Why wasn't Michael Miller fired for expressing his wayward and lethal to the soul opinion? The answer- tolerance and outright promotion of mortal sin by the University of Toledo!

Published by: Mary Beth
Huntington, NY 12/03/2008 03:55 PM EST

To Taylor Siluwe: So you come to a Catholic oriented site and disparage their religious beliefs. You are the one who is intolerant. This woman should not have been fired for stating her opinion, even if you disagree with it. Homosexuality is not normal and until the 1970's was considered a mental illness. Many state constitutions had a death penalty for participating in homosexual acts because it was so harmful to society. Perhaps if homosexuals stopped trying to equate their sexual lives with being black, she would not have taken umbrage. Homosexuals may not be able to control their orientation, but they sure can control their actions. That's where that whole love the sinner, but hate the sin comes from. Maybe if the sinners wouldn't flaunt their sins in the face of the public, they wouldn't be disparaged. By the way, why is that so many gays meet in public restrooms and rest stops to have anonymous sex? That is not a decision I would ever condone, and I will not refrain from "disparaging."

Published by: Dion Houston
Fayetteville, NC 12/03/2008 03:46 PM EST

Eva,

Don't you think attributing this article as a "pack of lies" is a little harsh?

I see where you're coming from -- the second passage clearly indicates intimate knowledge of medical plans that most outsiders wouldn't have, and the first passage could be interpreted as "... an alumnus of UT's Graduate School, an employee (of UT)..." But just as equally it could be taken as "an alumnus of the university in question, an employee who receives medical benefits, and a business owner who pays for medical benefits, ..." That interpretation could also explain why she would have knowledge of medical plans.

I think giving room for doubt is always better than attributing false motives to a writer.

Respectfully,

Dion

Published by: HOPE F.
VA/USA 12/03/2008 03:39 PM EST

I am still puzzled as to why Christians and their beliefs can be criticized and mocked with no legal repercussions... but criticize the homosexual lifestyle that should have been left "in the closet" instead of bragged about, and you are fired and condemned by others.
It sure is becoming a Godless world.

Published by: Gabriel Espinosa
Monticello 12/03/2008 02:51 PM EST

And so what if she identified herself as an employee of that odious university? She still has the right to express herself as she so desires. Had it been some perverse homosexual employee writing an opinion column which was decidedly pro-perversity, and he identified himself as an employee of that odious university, I am sure he would not have been fired! rather, he probably would have been lauded!! Sick people.

Published by: taylor Siluwe
Jersey City, NJ USA 12/02/2008 11:02 PM EST

So we have to be tolerant of intolance? All people deserve the right to exist without being disparaged by someone else's religion. It's a no brainer.

Published by: Eva Young
Minneapolis, MN 12/02/2008 09:40 PM EST

"Dixon, who did not identify herself as a university employee"

As I showed in my comment earlier, this was a bald faced lie. She mentioned she was a former graduate student and an employee of the University of Toledo.

Here's from Dixon's letter:

"The reference to the alleged benefits disparity at the University of Toledo was rather misleading. When the University of Toledo and former Medical University of Ohio merged, both entities had multiple contracts for different benefit plans at substantially different employee cost sharing levels. To suggest that homosexual employees on one campus are being denied benefits avoids the fact that ALL employees across the two campuses regardless of their sexual orientation, have different benefit plans. The university is working diligently to address this issue in a reasonable and cost-efficient manner, for all employees, not just one segment."

In addition to the other segment I posted, this suggests she was speaking on behalf of the University. It was irresponsible of her to do so - in the context of her anti-gay screed. She has every right to write anti-gay screeds. She does not have the right to drag the University of Toledo into her anti-gay agenda.

Published by: Eva Young
Minneapolis, MN 12/02/2008 09:34 PM EST

What a pack of lies.

Dixon identified herself as an employee of the University in her article. As I recall, she also discussed the UT's benefit structure. This leads to readers infering that she is speaking on behalf of the University in her position in HR.

"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."

I write letters to the editor all the time. I never mention my employer in those letters.

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