University Administrator Fired for Views on Homosexuality Denied Supreme Court Appeal

The former associate vice president of human resources at the University of Toledo, who was fired for expressing her disapproval of homosexuality, is denied Supreme Court appeal.

Crystal Dixon, the former associate vice president of human resources at the University of Toledo, was fired in 2008 for expressing her views on homosexuality in a column in the Toledo Free Press, according to LifeSiteNews.com. Now the Supreme Court has made a decision about the case that could have far-reaching repercussions for both Christians who publicly voice their beliefs as well as like-minded organizations that do the same.

University of Toledo president Lloyd Jacobs responded to Dixon’s op-ed by sending her a letter terminating her employment, stating that her column “is in direct contradiction to university policies and procedures as well as the Core Values of the Strategic Plan which is mission critical.”

Feeling that her dismissal was illegitimate, Dixon sued the university. A federal judge ruled against her case in early 2012, which the U.S. Court of Appeals later upheld. She then petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court, but they recently announced that they have declined to hear her case. This leaves Dixon out of legal options.

In her column, Dixon responded to an earlier column by the paper’s editor-in-chief, Michael Miller, which argued for gay rights and compared their efforts to civil rights struggles. Dixon stated, “I take great umbrage at the notion that those choosing the homosexual lifestyle are ‘civil rights victims’” and explained why:

I cannot wake up tomorrow and not be a Black woman. I am genetically and biologically a Black woman and very pleased to be so as my Creator intended. Daily, thousands of homosexuals make a life decision to leave the gay lifestyle evidenced by the growing population of PFOX (Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays) and Exodus International just to name a few.

Dixon also countered Miller’s assertions that homosexuals working at the college were being unduly financially burdened and targeted by the institution’s benefits programs, and observed that the conditions in question applied to people of all sexual orientations.

Although Dixon closed her article with the statement that “Jesus Christ loves the sinner but hates the sin,” she argued that her beliefs do not affect her ability to perform her duties. To prove this point, the human resources professional shared that she has hired one or two practicing homosexuals in human resources because they were “competent, motivated, and simply the best candidates for the jobs.”

The editor-in-chief of the Toledo Free Press, whose article prompted Dixon’s column, said that he thinks that Dixon should be able to freely express her opinion. Miller stated:

The university operates in an atmosphere of idea exchange, and while I recognize the institution’s desire to distance itself from her, this is a basic free speech issue and I am disappointed she has been punished for expressing her views.

Dixon was represented by the Thomas More Law Center. Law Center president Richard Thompson said in a press release announcing their representation of Dixon, “The University of Toledo brags about being friendly to ‘lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,queer, and questioning individuals.’ They apparently are also proud of their hostility toward Christians. Not only does Crystal Dixon have a constitutional right to express her opinion, but that opinion represents the view of a majority of Christian Americans.”

Originally published by The Cardinal Newman Society's Catholic Education Daily on 18 October 2013.