02/18/2009
Georgia Lawmaker Charlice Byrd on Higher Education Gay Witch Hunt
It appears as though the state's budget shortfall is being used as the excuse for a campaign by legislators and religious right-wingers to "purge" Georgia's higher education system of sociology professors who teach on LGBT subjects:
"State Rep. Charlice Byrd, R-Woodstock, took the House well on Friday to announce a 'grassroots' effort to oust professors with expertise in subjects like male prostitution, oral sex and 'queer theory.' ... 'This is not considered higher education,' Byrd said. 'If legislators are going to dole out the dollars, we should have a say-so in where they go.' Byrd and her supporters, including state Rep. Calvin Hill, R-Canton, said they will team with the Christian Coalition and other religious groups to pressure fellow lawmakers and the University System Board of Regents to eliminate the jobs. 'Our job is to educate our people in sciences, business, math,' said Hill, a vice chairman of the budget-writing House Appropriations Committee. He said professors aren't going to meet those needs "by teaching a class in queer theory.' The regents, who oversee the state's colleges and universities, has bristled at attempts by legislators to dictate who they should hire. A regents spokesman said the university system's mission - teaching, research and service - is a broad field. He said the state's schools hire faculty with expertise in a range of subjects as part of 'a tradition of investigating the human experience.' And he noted that they aren't teaching 'how-to' courses, but rather they are experts on the sociological trends and risks."
Watch Byrd announce her crusade, AFTER THE JUMP...
Steamy sex courses fire GOP's ire [ap]
Posted 10:52 AM EST by Andy Towle in Censorship, Education, Evangelical Christians, Georgia, News | Permalink
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And my parents still wonder why I fled Georgia for Los Angeles.
Posted by: peterparker | Feb 18, 2009 11:06:30 AM
Uhm
Has anybody told the closet case that her appearance SCREAMS lesbian
Me thinks she protests too much
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Feb 18, 2009 11:10:02 AM
Let me understand this correctly. Bryd is teaming up with the Christian Coalition since they demand funding to be directed towards math and sciences. Is it not the religious zealots who demand Intelligent Design to be taught in lei of sciences, yet when it is convenient to their "cause" they demand math and sciences to be taught over social sciences such as LGBT issues. If I understand correctly, in higher education such courses that focus on LGBT and other social issues are a choice, if the students did not want to learn about such topics then they wouldn't take them, and dictating what they learn is simply one step closer to a totalitarian regime. Once again, separation of church and state takes a back seat to religious fundamentalist zealots.
Posted by: Cj | Feb 18, 2009 11:15:58 AM
Beofre I even read the article - I thought she was a lesbian too....I'm am sooo sick to death of America being a Hateful Hypocritical bunch of BS...LIBERTY & JUSTICE FOR ALL MY ASS! Bet they'd have no problem with Professors teaching Religious Theory? Mother-fuckers!
Posted by: Disgusted American | Feb 18, 2009 11:17:42 AM
I live in Atlanta and I went to the school (Georgia State University) that they are targeting and I feel confident to say they don't have the University System of Georgia on their side.
She just received an email from me.
Posted by: Tom S. | Feb 18, 2009 11:20:46 AM
She does bear a striking resemblance to the the Dinah Shore country club set but don't be fooled! If you visit her site, be sure to listen to her cock and bull speech while she struts across the page and talks about "less government". HAAAAAAAHAHAHAH. What a crock of shit.
TINA! BRING ME THE AXE!
Posted by: Eric | Feb 18, 2009 11:22:10 AM
Crap. I completely forgot to paste the URL. Go visit this hideous troll's website at:
http://byrdforhouse.com/
Shield your eyes...
Posted by: Eric | Feb 18, 2009 11:24:42 AM
Eric
LOL
sadly I guess she hasn't gotten the new memo
Liassez Faire free range no gov capitalism is DEAD!
The pope of such = Alan Greenspan just said that YES we do need to nationalize some of the failing banks to save the whole system
Long live Euro style socialist capitalism
Seriously, Alan Greenspan saying yes to nationalization of some banks is equivalent to the pope saying v mary was a prostitute and jesus probably just a myth. Or like Netanyahu (spell check) saying he has converted to jews for jeeeebus
LOL
no to small gov free range capitalism is DEAD DEAD DEAD
We are all a little socialist now
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Feb 18, 2009 11:32:55 AM
This is kinda old. It's pretty much done...for now. But yea, she's cunty.
Posted by: Nick | Feb 18, 2009 11:35:36 AM
Let me restate something to really drive home the point / shock / ramifications
Greenspan saying YES we need to nationalize some of our failing banks is equivalent to lets say Israeli Leiberman (not US senator) the head of far right (more right than Likud) anti-palestinian party divorcing and marrying a palestinian while converting to islam
earth shaking
we are all a little socialist now and no gov to small gov free range capitalism is dead dead dead
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Feb 18, 2009 11:42:17 AM
So does that mean they will work to eliminate women, black and religious studies from the curriculum as well. I recommend alumni from the College send letters to the dean of the school to support the faculty members who this would effect.
It's not like students are forced into taking classes on queer theory. I'm tired of all this hate under the guise of religion and political bravado.
Posted by: Dan | Feb 18, 2009 11:44:05 AM
UGH - this argument against gay-related courses has been going on FOREVER - I wish it would die. Every few years, some legislature gets into the fray, realizes it isn't a winning argument and it goes away. Georgia is the un-lucky recipient of this mess this time around (it was Michigan a few years ago).
Posted by: Daniel | Feb 18, 2009 12:20:45 PM
I was let go in ILLINOIS for the same thing when budget shortfalls happened in 2003. So this is not surprising to me.
I had an ultraconservative boss who wanted me out of her department and although i got some settlement out of it, it still pisses me off.
Posted by: Dave | Feb 18, 2009 12:24:30 PM
I do often wonder if the current generation of ignorant-ass folk realise just exactly how VERY ignorant-ass they are making their children.
I mean ; with the wingnuts we have today we at least have a sense that they know something about the books they are burning and the history they are burying, but the wingnuts that follow will know only empty shelves and fabrications...
As bad as that is for the world, I would like to see the faces of the Charlice Byrds and Rick Warrens of this world when they come face to face with their creation - assuming they aren't roasting on bonfires for sins like being to foreign lands or attending university.
- - -
Ooh - do I get a barb too ?!
I hope she's not a closet case, 'cos her 'grassroots' are clearly toxic.
Posted by: PM | Feb 18, 2009 12:29:10 PM
If this is okay I also want to see an end to all "social" classes - no women's studies, no African American studies, no Asian . . . If it's good for the goose it's good for the gander.
P.S. Man that's a dyke-ey haircut. I'm just sayin'
Posted by: shane | Feb 18, 2009 12:43:59 PM
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/stories/2009/02/10/legislature_sex_experts.html
This story is old and there are new developments. The legislature has now "backed off" the issue after the researchers appeared and presented their research.
Posted by: John | Feb 18, 2009 1:17:18 PM
I think this issue may have been resolved to the detriment of the various assembly members who signed on to it. The AJC reported here http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/stories/2009/02/10/legislature_sex_experts.html, about the show down that failed to materialize. Instead of beginning a witch hunt, the inquest committee ended up praising the Georgia State University and University of Georgia Professors for their hard work. Even in GA, we occasionally get it right.
Posted by: Josh | Feb 18, 2009 1:54:33 PM
I sent her a well written letter. I also PSed her about altering her flamboyant hairstyle, wardrobe and overall demeanor.
Posted by: Drewboo | Feb 18, 2009 2:25:40 PM
What qualifies this gremlin to determine what is and is not appropriate for a college curriculum? Not a thing. End of discussion.
Posted by: TANK | Feb 18, 2009 3:53:27 PM
let her know how you feel!!!
charlice.byrd@house.ga.gov
I'm in college, and let me tell you, everyone would laugh in her face
Posted by: KFLO | Feb 18, 2009 7:02:10 PM
Welcome to Georgia! There is Georgia and then there is Atlanta and they are NOT the same! Atlanta is very progressive and GA State and the state regents will not go Byrd's way easily. They do not agree with her line of reasoning. If you can call it that!
These are of course reasons why I try not to venture too far outside the city very often! Atlanta is a great city. Georgia is a great state, but far too many parts are still a little backward and not moving forward quickly!
Posted by: RB | Feb 18, 2009 7:13:09 PM
http://zackfordblogs.wordpress.com/2009/02/19/moral-judgment-vs-academic-freedom/
Posted by: Zack Ford | Feb 19, 2009 1:21:20 PM