Straight A student forced out of school because he's Gay

[alfredo]

Yes, it is Kentucky.

http://www.wlextv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4742407

A dean's list student at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg has been asked to leave the university after he revealed that he is gay on his page on a popular website.

Jason Johnson, 20, of Lexington, a near straight-A's student, revealed his sexuality on his MySpace.com web page. Johnson said the Cumberlands administrator asked him to leave the school Thursday. He said officials told him they don't approve of his gay lifestyle.

Cumberlands president, Dr. James H. Taylor, said in a written statement, "At University of the Cumberlands, we hold students to a higher standard than does society he general...University of the Cumberlands isn't for everyone. We tell prospective students about our high standards before they come. There are places students with predispositions can go such as San Francisco and the left coast or to many of the state schools."

Here's the school website: http://www.cumberlandcollege.edu/ Dr James H. Taylor [e-mail]

[dchill]

1. That'll teach him!

:freak:

[arcane1]

2. we in the "Left Coast" will be happy to have him

:grr:

[alfredo]

6. I'm sure UK up here in Lexington would be happy to have him

as a student. He can come work with us at our DFA chapter Change For Kentucky.

[Ignacio Upton]

3. This is the type of college conservatives want

Granted many big universities are somewhat to the left (but not as much as Freepers claim), but they actually give a shit about human and civil rights!

[racaulk]

4. "...such as San Francisco and the left coast..."

Because, you know, that's were ALL the gay people are! :sarcasm:

Fucking ignorant asshole! :mad:

[long_green]

5. What a pathetic douchebag that president is

He unwittingly excludes all students with "predisopositions." Boy, is he gonna catch hell from all the parents and alumni predisposed to be bigots.
I hope there are a number of schools willing to give that young man a scholarship so he can complete his education.

[alfredo]

9. KO would love making him worst person in the world.

[EllieGreen]

7. After a quick glance...

at the school's web page, I don't know if they are private or not.

Do the accept federal funds? If they are a public school, I smell law-suit. If not, well, they have the right to be bigoted ass hats. :-(

[Hobarticus]

13. Sez affiliation is "Kentucky Baptist"...

Still, even if they are private, I don't think that protects them from a lawsuit.

[EllieGreen]

17. Thanks for the info.

The gentleman can bring a lawsuit, but honestly, I don't know if he has a chance to win. Especially, in Kentucky and especially because it is a private religious instition.

Now, if they took 1 dime of tax-payer money, they guy has a case (and I would donate to his legal fund).

Sometimes, the system sucks. :-(

[alfredo]

24. From the article:

"The student by-law state students can be removed from campus for participating in pre-marital sex.or homosexual behavior - a by-law added after Johnson decided to go to school at Cumberlands."


Did he engage in "homosexual behavior" or was he forced to leave because of who (what) he is?

[EllieGreen]

26. Interesting question...

I wonder, if he is a virgin, would they allow him to stay? He might be able to beat them at their own game with this one.

[cushla_machree]

32. Was he a practicing homsexual?

If he's not 'practicing' its like NOT having premarital sex. Beat em at their own game.

[alfredo]

40. but practice makes perfect.

We will welcome him into our community.

[cushla_machree]

51. He can come to the heaven northeast anytime n/t

[alfredo]

54. Cumberalnd didn't deserve him anyway.

[countingbluecars]

14. Sounds private.

From the "About Us" section of their website:

Affiliation

o Kentucky Baptist (SBC)

[hopeisaplace]

8. That is so sad, so sick, so pathetic, so shameful, so upsetting..

..my heart goies out to this young adult.

[Neil Lisst]

10. so the only university with "cum" in its name ...

They'd better hope they don't get a dime of federal money.

[petronius]

20. That's pretty funny...

...I opened their web page, and the tab down in my task bar is abbreviated "University of the Cum..."

From their financial aid page, it does appear that they accept the various federal aid programs (Pell, Stafford, etc.)

[Neil Lisst]

48. Hard to believe in this day and age we still have "educators" who

who think such nonsense as this guy.

truly appalling

[silverweb]

11. Silly boy, Jason.

Did you really expect understanding and acceptance from a university that promotes so-called "Christian values" in its mission statement?

You should know that the more they blather on about their "Christian values," the more likely they are to be intolerant hypocrites.

Transfer someplace where you'll be respected for who you are, Jason. I'm sure you'll be welcomed at many real universities.

[donco6]

12. Their Mission: Christian Values

"UC continues to offer promising students of all backgrounds a broad based liberal arts program enriched with Christian values."

Guess they're just upholding their "Christian values." He's better off leaving before he gets any more brain damage from that indoctrination.

[silverweb]

15. ^5, donco6!

I beat you to the "xtian values" mission statement by 0.05 seconds.

:D

[donco6]

22. Ha! Yeah, I saw that!

Great minds and all. That's just freaky.

[libnnc]

16. In light of this story ----->The Point Foundation.

A scholarship life line for LGBT students.

Sounds like a great way to help this student if he needs funds.


http://www.pointfoundation.org

[alfredo]

21. I sent his story to Keith O with a recommendation to make

the college president Worst Person In the World. Maybe the publicity will help him find a school worthy of his money and time.

[Swamp Rat]

30. GREAT idea!

I hope it makes the "Worst Person In the World" for this evening.

[alfredo]

39. fingers crossed.

[theHandpuppet]

52. YES! YES! YES!

My partner is a donor to The Point Foundation and we think it is a wonderful organization. I hope more folks will consider making a donation and making a difference.

[saltpoint]

18. For the search committee's criteria for University president, they

EXPRESSLY sought a bigoted asshole.

Sounds like they gound their guy.

[Tanuki]

19. From their web site:

"University of the Cumberlands complies with all applicable federal and state non discrimination statutes and does not engage in prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, nationality, ethnic origin, sex, age, or handicap."

They can kiss their federal and state funding good-bye.

[silverweb]

23. Doesn't someone have to file a formal complaint?

They should be made to remove the nondiscrimination statement from the website and all their literature, and should lose their federal and state funding.

But will anything be done if complaint procedures aren't initiated and pursued? I'm hoping that there are organizations out there who will follow through on this.

[willows]

25. Applicable...

Wait, it says APPLICABLE statutes.
Isn't this a religious school? Only if they do get any aid would they be held liable, but even that is finicky. Many 'private' and 'independent' 'religious' schools get SOME aid from the govt. whether it be vouchers for students (whether they like it or not), text books (used or new), standardized test forms, etc.

Also, many people do not put sex in with sexual orientation. If they did then there would be little need to include it.
What are the laws in Neb. are there any statutes there that make discriminating based on orientation, or sexuality, or perhaps even gender (that's pulling one out of left corner since orientation and gender are two different things albeit interconnected).

[Deja Q]

28. Doesn't say "sexual orientation". Of course, being gay is a handicap...

Will lawyers try that take, or will they be denounced for spinning rhetoric?

[QC]

31. Nope. Sexual orientation is not a protected category in federal law,

or in most state laws. In most of this country it is perfectly legal to fire people, throw them out of school, kick them out of their apartments, etc. for being GLBT.

[kevinbgoode]

37. Why the fu*k is this school even accredited?

Seems to me that pressure should be put on the accreditation council to pull their damned credentialing services. And someone should go after any companies those students intern with, especially if they have policies protecting sexual orientation. And why should this school be allowed to compete in athletics or academic competitions with other universities who don't discriminate like this at all? I consider this action a complete invasion of the students civil rights - and that the university has no interest in his development beyond the maintenance of his grade point average.

We shouldn't just let stuff like this pass at all. Every time this happens, it just encourages another university to do it to another student.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

36. Do they receive any?

I can't find any proof one way or they other on their website, though I've only glanced at it, but someone further up seemed to think not.

They certainly shouldn't after this, though.

[Deja Q]

27. The kid chose to do this. He knew the risks.

Therefore he must surely have a plan to counter those "folks" who kicked him out.

You pick your battles in this so-called life. And when you pick a battle, you'd better be bright enough to deal with all contengencies or unknown elements.

it's not unlike Chess.

For a Straight-A student, he missed a class.

I hope it's a private school. Maybe he'll get reimbursed for the time he won't be able to be in class. Anyone with "high standards" would have to placate such a request and I hope the kid requests it.

[cushla_machree]

34. Why would he go there?

I didn't go to a catholic university because i don't believe in their crap. I wouldn't go to Liberty university either, i would be kicked out within the day.

[Deja Q]

41. Exactly. Was his plan to show everyone how smart he was and then come out?

That's stupid.

He's smart. Not rich. And even if he was rich, I doubt they'd bend over to take the money and let him continue studying there.

[alfredo]

44. there was no rule against homosexual behavior when he made

his choice. It's in the article.

[cushla_machree]

53. still

doesn't seem like a friendly place.

[alfredo]

55. I wouldn't stay at such a place.

[Trillo]

29. Here's another unreasonable expulsion

The below is not a GLBT issue, but unreasonable expulsion does seem to be a school issue.

School Kicks Boy Out For Peanut Allergy

Richard told Alexander's preschool, A Brighter Future, about the problem.
<snip>
They said the school said "We do not accept children with this type of allergy" because it can't "guarantee your child's safety." The Moores said their son had 12 days to get out.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/kgtv/20060407/lo_kgtv/3382052

I have trouble remembering preschool, but don't have any problem remembering the community college classes I took. There doesn't seem to any recognition by schools of either the psychological harm they do, or an admission that deliberate harm is precisely why they do it.

[xchrom]

33. it's not a war on christians -- it the war christians have

declared on everyone else.

now what if this were a straight woman accused of ''sleeping around'' -- imagine the response this would get nationally?

[Greybnk48]

35. How utterly trashy these people are

the President of this "school" and anyone like him. How ignorant and trashy.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

38. Yeah, a "university" prez saying gay students can go to San Fran or the

"left coast".

Really professional and dignified.

As if Ann Coulter/Rush-speak is acceptable in written statements from a University President.

[Kailassa]

42. One more reason why it's unchristian to call yourself a Christian.

To do so is to give a measure of support to the bastards who have hijacked christianity for their own personal gain, and who use it as a weapon to enforce their many hatreds.

[NNadir]

43. This is a school that invites Roy Moore to dedicate ten commandments

monuments.

http://www.cumberlandcollege.edu/media/release.php?rk=131

The kid is lucky to be leaving. The education there can't be very good.

[DetroitProle]

45. DERF. sounds like a real scholarly place

When the President of the University tells gay people to go to "San Francisco and the left coast" you know you're dealing with real braniacs. Sounds more like some drunken high school dropout than a university president.
Who would want to get a degree from there, let alone go there? That degree clearly wouldn't be worth the paper it's printed on.
He's welcome to come a few states north to my own Wayne State University!

[Kenergy]

46. If I were him I'd be proud to be expelled from that LIINO*

* Learning Institution In Name Only

[etherealtruth]

47. I guess gang rapists are preferable ... ?

As long as they're not gay, of course.
:sarcasm:

edit: forgot the :sarcasm:

[karlrschneider]

49. Hold on...this "by-law" (rule?) enacted AFTER HE STARTED???

"the student by-law states students can be removed from campus for participating in pre-marital sex.or homosexual behavior - a by-law added after Johnson decided to go to school at Cumberlands."

[DanCa]

50. Not fracking right

I guess if he married his 14 year old girl cousin that'd be okay.

[xmas74]

56. I'm in a bordering state.

We have a decent sized state run college w/ a growing GLBT organization on campus. He'd be more than welcome there.

[alfredo]

57. More on this story. More detail and reaction

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/14294381.htm


One of Johnson's close friends, Jennifer Roberts, a senior from Belfry, said "everybody on campus is extremely upset about this."

Roberts said Johnson was a person of high character, honesty and trustworthiness who had distinguished himself in several campus activities, especially theater.

"He's openly gay but doesn't flaunt it," she said, then added: "I think you would be floored by the amount of gay people at our school."

"I would consider Jason a Christian because so many of his values are Christian," she said. "He embodies everything a friend should be. A lot of people are suffering because he is not here."



Let's hope the students rise up in protest of this very un Christian action.

[tammywammy]

58. Thanks for the update

I do hope the students protest the removal of Jason. It's just not right. :(

[alfredo]

60. He had three weeks left in this semester. They got his money

and he has nothing.

[Minnesota Libra]

59. What is it with neocons and other people's sex life anyway?? OMFG........

....when are we going to focus on more important things:think: like idiot boy having his eyes on that :nuke: button while looking toward Iran instead of someone's sex life?? What part of this crap am I not getting anyway??:shrug: Someone help me out here??? I just don't get this!!!!:banghead:

[Solly Mack]

61. So Dr Taylor hides his hate behind "high standards"

Typical. Unoriginal. Pathetic.