On Friday, they held a conference titled,
“Understanding Same-sex Attractions and Their Consequences.”
The keynote speaker was Alan Chambers, President of Exodus International, an organization whose stated goal is “to effectively communicate the message of freedom from homosexuality.”
On Saturday, they held a symposium titled:
“Homosexual Rights and First Amendment Freedoms: Can They Truly Coexist?”
The titles of individual panels at the symposium were:
“Homosexuals or Homo Sapiens: Who Deserves Protected Class Status?”
“Hate Speech and Free Speech: Will the Advancement of Homosexual Rights Silence Others?”
“Hire Them and Don’t Fire Them: How Homosexual Rights and Privileges Have Eroded Employers’ Rights and Destroyed Religious Freedom.”
Homosexuals or homo-sapiens? Really? Even if unintended, this comparison dehumanizes all glbt people. It also seems to run counter to Liberty University’s own statement of purpose, which includes:
Persons are spiritual, rational, moral, social and physical, created in the image of God. They are, therefore, able to know and to value themselves and other persons, the universe and God.This includes glbt people, unless the leadership of Liberty University truly believe that they are not actually people. This sort of ignorance, hatred, and hostility have no place in our society today. I’m not sure I expect much more from Jerry Falwell’s legacy (his son is the current Chancellor of LU), given his history of such virulent and oppressive intentions. But I do expect more from the accrediting bodies that legitimize academic institutions.
Join me in calling on both the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the American Bar Association, to review their accreditation given this blatant abuse of religious and academic freedom. In order to promote discrimination and hatred.
