A couple of weeks ago, AU associate professor Bruce Murray was called out for publicly expressing homophobic views. Since then, Murray has publicly defended his views with appeals to science, nature and ethics. In other words, he has tried to justify homophobia with scholarship. Here’s the thing — his scholarship is poor.
It is time for Auburn University, and specifically, the College of Education, to take a stand to support LGBTQ+ students, staff, faculty, and community members. As a group, we have crafted a list of action items that we believe are important next steps to address the long-standing issues that LGBTQ+ people face at Auburn University and within the College of Education.
183 Auburn employees sign letter expressing "wholehearted support for LGBTQ+ students, staff, and faculty."
The goal of attracting a rich diversity of students and faculty will not be advanced by imposing uniformity of thought. A campus without mutual respect and the free exchange of ideas, especially about core questions of sexual ethics, will be less welcoming to students with conservative and religious convictions.
