12/03/2008
Fired UT HR Administrator Crystal Dixon Files Lawsuit
Last May, I posted about University of Toledo associate vice president of human resources Crystal Dixon, who was suspended after writing an article in the Toledo Free Press slamming gays. Later that month, UT decided to fire her.
Said Dixon in the article, "As a Black woman ... I take great umbrage at the notion that those choosing the homosexual lifestyle are civil rights victims. I cannot wake up tomorrow and not be a Black woman. Daily thousands of homosexuals make a life decision to leave the gay lifestyle."
She concluded: "My final and most important point. There is a divine order. God created human kind male and female (Genesis 1:27). God created humans with an inalienable right to choose. There are consequences for each of our choices, including those who violate God's divine order."
Dixon told reporters at her church in May following the column's publication that she had a divine mandate to write it.
Dixon promised to sue the university, and now news comes that a lawsuit has been filed:
"Crystal Dixon, former associate vice president for human resources at UT, filed a complaint Monday in U.S. District Court in Toledo alleging violation of her first and fourteenth amendment rights. The lawsuit lists UT President Dr. Lloyd Jacobs and William Logie, vice president for human resources and campus safety, as the defendants. The Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor is representing Ms. Dixon. The complaint filed Monday states that Ms. Dixon was punished for her private political speech, violating her First Amendment right to free speech, and she was denied access to a forum for her speech based on its viewpoint, which violates the equal protection of the law guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment."
Said university spokesman Larry Burns in a statement: "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."
Dixon has also created a website to promote speaking engagements and talk about the lawsuit. On it, she states her "heart's desire":
1. Ensure that FREE Speech is protected for all Americans, particularly in public universities.
2. Ensure that children and impressionable youth are free from gender confusion and undue influence to question their God-given gender.
3. See that all people have the opportunity to experience the life-transforming power of Jesus Christ in their lives, regardless of their sexual orientation and that genuine transformations of former homosexuals and lesbians to a godly heterosexual lifestyle are acknowledged and allowed to be openly shared - refuting, partnered with research and science, the prevailing notion that gays are “born that way.”
4. To ensure that no other Americans will suffer what I have in their attempt to rightfully voice their personal opinion on matters of public interest, particularly the view of the God-ordained family foundation of a male husband and a female wife, which millions of Americans of diverse faiths support.
Previously
Suspended UT Administrator Crystal Dixon Fired, Will Sue [tr]
Ohio College Administrator on Paid Leave for Remarks About Gays [tr]
Posted 9:57 AM EST by Andy Towle in Education, News, Ohio | Permalink
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WTF is a SureLace?
Ahh, my friend google:
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SureLaces, based in Toledo, is exploding in the market of sport shoe accessories.The company manufactures a unique, patent-pending device which secures shoestrings, in a safe and fashionable way.SureLaces are produced in a variety of colors, designs, and can even be personalized with an initial. Company president Crystal Dixon said SureLaces was a "God-inspired idea." "The invention concept and design came to me in 2001 truly as a divine inspiration and I give all the credit to Jesus Christ. After seeing children with loose shoe strings - accidents waiting to happen - I knew I was on to something" said Ms. Dixon.
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I'm not going to the web site.
Posted by: tjc | Dec 3, 2008 11:17:38 AM
Said Dixon in the article, "I cannot wake up tomorrow and not be a Black woman."
Girlfriend, don't be absurd. Here are the steps:
1. Learn to speak English instead of jive.
2. Listen to Ryan Seacrest instead of Snoop Dog.
3. Use a straightening product on your hair (looks like you already have a start on that)
4. Wear stripes, polka dots and paisleys instead of batik, animal or tribal prints.
5. Cloche instead of headwrap
6. Chanel No. 5 instead of cocoa butter
7. Order baked instead of fried
8. Aerobics to rid yourself of that bulbous rear
9. Pencil a border on your lips to make them appear more narrow
10. Practice birth control
Follow those steps and you too can become white, just as easily as a gay can become straight.
Posted by: Olive Yurdich | Dec 3, 2008 11:20:35 AM
This is a profoundly stupid woman. How did she get this position in the first place?
Posted by: ge | Dec 3, 2008 11:23:07 AM
"I cannot wake up tomorrow and not be a Black woman. Daily thousands of homosexuals make a life decision to leave the gay lifestyle."
In the years before the Civil Rights Act, thousands of light-skinned black people made decisions to leave their communities and "pass as white" but they were still African-Americans.
Posted by: Kevin | Dec 3, 2008 11:28:00 AM
Well, since we're cherry-picking Bible verses (as per usual) let me just say that every African-American should drop what they are currently doing and go out in da cotton fields and start picking, except for, as al-Qaeda said, that house negro up in Washington.
African-Americans are sinful from the beginning. Ham should have never looked as his drunken father's nakedness; thus, dying all his future generations with a sinful, black skin.
So, all my African-American brothers! If you would only repent your evil, sinful, looking-at-pops-naked ways, you too could be cleansed white as snow. White as Barbie and Ken. White as Strom Thurmond, the members of the KKK, and Hitler - all of whom had Biblical mandates to do what they did.
And while you're getting cleansed of sin, remember it was a fag who taught Martin Luther King about non-violent protest and it was the same fag who organized MLK's March on Washington: Bayard Rustin.
Also remember Coretta Scott King called gay marriage a civil rights issue, so quit spitting in her and Dr. King's faces.
And fuck you, you stupid cow! Fuck you.
Posted by: J.P. | Dec 3, 2008 11:29:16 AM
Historically, many people with African ancestry have made a choice to "pass as white" if their skin was light enough. At least one of Thomas Jefferson's children through his slave Sally Hemings made this choice. See also, "The Sweeter the Juice: A Family Memoir in Black and White" by Shirley Taylor Haizlip (a truly fascinating book). Ms. Dixon says she can't wake up and change her race, while millions of other bi/tri-racial/ethnic people throughout the world make this choice.
Posted by: homer | Dec 3, 2008 11:35:16 AM
What's with all the racist slurs?
You people are as bad as she is.
Posted by: Meanwhile | Dec 3, 2008 11:37:06 AM
I can only imagine the discrimination that has gone on under her watch.
Posted by: niles | Dec 3, 2008 11:45:56 AM
FAB and DISGUSTEDAMERICAN are spouting off just as much hate as Mrs. Dickson. Your prejudices are showing as well, fellas.
Posted by: FernLaPlante | Dec 3, 2008 11:56:19 AM
MEANWHILE...I think a great majority of the "slurs" are pointing out the sheer absurdity of her statements. In return, they are using the same drivel back, in a tongue-in-cheek manner. While, some on here are guilty of being just as bigoted, I think others are shovelling back what they shat onto us. If the bigots, like dixon, don't like it, they should rethink what rhetorical arguments they use...b/c they can very easily be turned around and directed towards them.
Posted by: ERB | Dec 3, 2008 12:02:57 PM
The line between "slur" and "tongue-in-cheek" is an extremely fine one. Unless you are an expert writer, be very careful.
Posted by: justlovely | Dec 3, 2008 12:34:57 PM
What does it matter that she is black? (In reference to the comments about "typical black women")
Posted by: ScottyNorq | Dec 3, 2008 12:56:13 PM
Reading even closer I see some have decided to comment on her weight. Lets keep our comments on her bigotry not her appearance and skin color.
Posted by: ScottyNorq | Dec 3, 2008 12:59:37 PM
"Why isn't Jasmine Cannick defending this woman? She follows all of JC's self-hating gay talking points."
Well, GGREEN, Jasmyne is waiting for racist white gays with their lips dripping with racist filth to put her in the position of defending black people even when Jasmyne depises that bigoted black woman as much as you do.
All it will take is reading many of the comments above to force black gays into that uncomfortable and un-fair position.
But this blog has taught me the difficult balancing act between standing up against black anti-gay bigots while at the same time telling white gay racist bigots to go f,,,k their mothers.
I've learned.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Dec 3, 2008 1:08:19 PM
What is with the blatantly racist attacks on Dixon? How are you any better than Dixon if you use hateful slurs to attack her?
Fab and Olive, f*ck you!
The woman is a fundamentalist Christian with homophobic views. Instead of questioning her beliefs and the right of the university to fire her, you attack her based on "race."
Comments about the size of Dixon's lips and posterior reveal your white supremacist views. They disqualify any kind of moral authority you may have and make you seem even more intolerant than Dixon.
When will some of you people get it through your heads, that attacking someone like Dixon because of her race instead of dealing with her opinions alienates and revolts many potential allies.
Newsflash: almost 40% of the United States population is non-white. When you attack people based on their non-white characteristics, you make a lot of enemies very fast. Would-be allies become hesitant to vote for your causes, either becoming fence sitters or enemies.
This site is read by more than just gay men. Conservatives and GOP political operatives monitor Towleroad and other popular gay sites. The Catholic League attacked Andy's selection as blogger. What might they do with your racist comments? How about quoting them and making the point that the gay movement is populated by racists. Given the misplaced hatred that resulted from the debunked Prop 8 vote statistics, there's all ready a perception of racism amongst white gays. Bill O'Reilly was only too happy to push this.
Posted by: noah | Dec 3, 2008 1:19:52 PM
I'm logging off Towleroad today out of protest and disgust. Most of the comments above are more hateful, bigoted and ignorant than anything Ms. Dixon wrote. The racism and sexism I continually see within the gay community is appalling.
So many of you railed against AAs over Prop 8. You asked, 'how could AAs not understand our appeal to overcome oppression and advance civil rights'? Because of actions like these -- when it benefits, many gay white men sling racist remarks just as hard as everyone else.
In the end, some of you are no more distinguishable from the rest of the white oppressive majority.
Posted by: JTlvr | Dec 3, 2008 1:25:38 PM
As a black and a gay man, I'm seriously sick of white gay guys and their racist attitudes. You claim that we're together in the struggle, we're similarly oppressed, we're brothers.
Well you continue to show time and time again, that we aren't.
We aren't brothers.
Posted by: Carl | Dec 3, 2008 1:33:23 PM
She could certainly wake up tomorrow morning and choose another religion. No one is born biologically Christian.
Posted by: latebrosus | Dec 3, 2008 2:45:49 PM
DerrickFP: If Jasmine is waiting for racist white gays to set her agenda she’s a bigger boob that I first imagined. Does she let black racist gays set her agenda also?
Posted by: ggreen | Dec 3, 2008 2:51:46 PM
I met this woman when I worked as a librarian in Toledo. Our encounter involved her as a library patron and me as someone attempting to deliver good public service. She was surly, demanding, unreasonable, rank-pulling (on the order of "I'm in Administration at the University AND I know the Library's Director so..." etc). All of the staff at the library branch attempted to please her but nothing/nobody succeeded. So none of this surprises me. She is ignorant, arrogant, bigoted and rude--and would be all that, whatever her race.
Posted by: gregorybrow | Dec 3, 2008 3:03:32 PM
contact information?? I'd like to give her a piece of my mind and I'd also like to show my support to UT
Posted by: KFLO | Dec 3, 2008 3:31:18 PM
Dickson is all about promoting free HER free speach and speach she AGREES with, but seems less enthusiastic about MY free speach if it might confuse impressionable youth. Her statement about not waking up a black woman implies that her obvious minority position gives her a special ability to see into my soul and my psyche. I tried being straight with as much faith and prayer as I could. She probably has a secret combination of things that would work IF I joined a multilevel organization designed to teach me how to hate myself enough to be preparred to accept Jebus as my PERSONAL savior while generating money for her legal defense. Instead I found a purpose (civil rights) and peace (emotionally) by accepting the man I am.
Posted by: Rikard | Dec 3, 2008 3:40:52 PM
It's time to STOP trying to be "better than" and meet them on their own playing fields.
They want to use the excuse of "religion" and "free speech" to spread their hate speak and while some of you are trying to take the high road, they're gettin' ready to plow you under.
Stop being fuck-wads and fight these people how they want to fight us. DIRTY!
It's way past time for us to stand up for who we are and stop being the Steppin Fetchits for heterosexuals.
Posted by: Bobby | Dec 3, 2008 3:44:01 PM
"Does she let black racist gays set her agenda also?"
G,
I don't know how many black gsys insult white people in general when we respond to white homophobes. We probably won't even mention his/her "white race" in our response. When a white homophobe says," faggots should go to hell", I would criticize him for his ignorance and his homophobia. I'm not going to bring up his race...actually, I may even mention what part of the world/country he comes from--but not his whiteness.
White gays use of race in response to black homphobes is some kind of debating or rhetorical device that seems absolutely justified to many of you (Proposition 8, black pastors, black Rappers); but to many black gays (and others) it is inappropriate. Many of you white gays only care about YOUR own oppression, not anybody elses.
And the type of white gays who participated in civil rights movement for black folks WOULD NOT be the kind to resort to racist sentiments because ALL blacks don't reciprocate with support for gay civil rights.
The excuse is always, "you blacks have complained about oppression and discrimination for decades--now you do the same against another minority."
The problem with that argument is not the argument itself. The problem is when you accompany that statement with racist language and sentiment. It tells us that you are not sincere in your "moral" outrage. No, when you use racist language & sentiment in your response to black homphobia it simply means that you are just a white gay bitch insulted that "a nigger had the adaucity to insult you." Well, if he insults this black faggot (ME) why shouldn't he insult you (white faggot). You aint special. We both should respond to him about his bigotry and stupidity-- not using his race as a weapon.
You attack black people as a group--a group which includes black gays. So, it is only natural for black gays to defend ourselves against you--since you're insulting us as well as our families.
Do you think that Jasmyne Cannick had the same attitude towards white gays when she was just "coming out" as a teenager?
It's possible, but I know many black gays who developed anti-white gay attitudes after years of seeing an ugly pattern of behavior from their white gay counterparts. They were very disappointed.
And finally, stop exaggerating how many white gays were involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Yes, there were some wonderful white gays who supported civil rights for Negroes in 1964...probably about 30%--sound familiar?
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Dec 3, 2008 4:22:17 PM
Derrick from Philly wrote,
"You attack black people as a group--a group which includes black gays. So, it is only natural for black gays to defend ourselves against you--since you're insulting us as well as our families."
Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner, folks. Please, everyone, read Derrick's posting again. I'll wait.
Why the hell do we have to resort to calling someone a stupid n* or stupid s* or stupid w*, or even "stupid black person" "stupid Jew" etc, when we can just call them "dumb fucks?"
Easier, everyone understands (I am, alas, not very up on my racist or ethnic slurs, and so frequently have to ask "what's a ___?" because I just don't know what you mean), and if you use it enough, it'll get in your head so you don't blurt out "stupid n*" (like Mel Gibson does when drunk) when you really mean just "dumb fuck."
Of course, if you actually MEAN to say, "stupid n*", well, then I don't really want you fighting for my rights, thanks, because you're actually working against them.
Posted by: tjc | Dec 3, 2008 4:49:54 PM