by Rex Wockner
The University of Toledo's former associate vice president for human resources, Crystal Dixon, filed a federal lawsuit Dec. 1 over being fired after writing a newspaper column that suggested "the homosexual lifestyle" is a choice that violates God's divine order.
Dixon claims her dismissal violated the First Amendment and 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which cover free speech and equal protection under the law. The suit says other university employees have expressed their opinions in the media without suffering retribution from the school.
Dixon is demanding reinstatement or back pay, some future pay, court costs and punitive damages.
Larry Burns, the university's vice president for external affairs, issued a statement saying, "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 in the Toledo Free Press."
The column appeared on the newspaper's Web site on April 18. See http://www.tinyurl.com/6rkb2l.
