"Virginia Commonwealth University received a letter from Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli requesting that the Commonwealth's public universities and colleges rescind policies that ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation".
Someone please remind me, what year are we living in? 1980? 1960? 1865??? What I take from this, is that Ken Cuccinelli think's we should be able to discriminate against the gay community. What's that? You're gay? Well, you can't work here. No, of course, you can't go to school here either. And don't think you can go whining to the courts either, because the Attorney General is on our side.
Based on what Mr. Cuccineli is saying, I thought I should remind him of some famous American sayings:
"Liberty and justice for all" Pledge of Allegiance
Apparently "all" doesn't include the gay community.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed" Thomas Jefferson
I'm pretty sure that the gay community didn't consent to be discriminated against. Now where does it say that only men of a certain sexual orientation are created equal. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? I don't think so. Those are only for straight people.
"You can judge a nation by the way it treats its most vulnerable citizens" Aristotle
I am sore disappointed in the governing bodies of Virginia that this would come to pass. In Virginia, a state that above all else should have learned the consequences of slavery and discrimination against the Black community. Those who don't learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. You have my attention, Virginia. How I judge you will depend upon whether you choose to live in the past, or walk into a future of true equality for all.
And VCU? You are an institution of higher learning. Let us lead by example, and not cave into the whim of a persecutor of human rights.
"Provost Gottfredson is planning forums to provide students, faculty and staff an opportunity to discuss the implications of the Attorney General's request." Excerpt form Dr. Rao's email
"The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men" Plato
The fact that VCU is even going to consider the unethical treatment of the gay community galls me. If you are a member of the VCU community, don't stand by and let this happen. Attend any and all meetings regarding this outrage that you can, and speak up, call, or email to let VCU's senior leadership know that we won't take this lying down. If you discriminate against one of us, you discriminate against all of us. I'll post more updates on my blog when I know more about what's going on. There is more information in these articles:
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/virginia_ag_to_state_colleges_scrap_protections_fo.php?ref=mp
http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2010/03/virginia_ag_colleges_cant_ban.php
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/03/08/qt/virginia_colleges_told_not_to_ban_anti_gay_discrimination
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2010/03/post_630.html
Actual letter Ken Cuccinelli sent to Virginia's universities on Thursday, March 4, 2010:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/Cuccinelli.pdf
Until then, you can email or call these individuals to let them know what we think of VCU's consideration of the violation of human rights that Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli would have us perpetrate. Please keep your communications polite, short, and to the point. After all, we are upset at the gay community not being treated with respect and humanity. Let's not stoop to their level.
Michael Rao
President, VCU and VCU Health System
president@vcu.edu
(804) 828-1200
Stephen Gottfredson
Provost and VP Acad Affairs
sdgottfr@vcu.edu
(804) 828-1345
Ken Cuccinelli
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KenCuccinelli#!/KenCuccinelli?v=wall
Email: http://www.vaag.com/ContactUsForm/ContactForm.aspx
(804) 786-2071
Office of the Attorney General
900 East Main Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Bob McDonnell
Governor of Virginia
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Governor-of-Virginia/61634046094
Email: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/TheAdministration/contactGovernor.cfm
Phone: (804) 786-2211
Fax: (804) 371-6351
Office of the Governor
Patrick Henry Building, 3rd Floor
1111 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
well said, "If you discriminate against one of us, you discriminate against all of us". Very true.
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