It Doesn't Always Get Better: Mechanical Engineering Professor no Fan of LGBTQ

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Hat tip, Towleroad.

Anti-Gay Letter Published in Major Engineering Journal Stirs Outrage
http://www.towleroad.com/2013/09/anti-gay-letter-published-in-major-engineering-journal-stirs-outrage.html

It links to:

Engineering Bigotry?
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/09/24/some-professors-outraged-engineering-education-magazine-publishes-anti-gay-letter

September 24, 2013

By Scott Jaschik

The articles in Prism, the magazine of the American Society for Engineering Education, focus on new research and teaching ideas. And the magazine periodically writes about efforts to diversify engineering.

Many readers of Prism were shocked this month when they found that the magazine published a letter with what would typically be considered anti-gay rhetoric. The letter questioned whether diversity "is good" if it includes same-sex orientations, which the author said are associated with people dying younger, being "addictive and abusive," and promoting "a sexually promiscuous lifestyle."

"We would do well to teach the truth about the homosexual /lesbian/ bisexual/ transgender lifestyle. These dear people caught up in this destructive way of life need true help and true hope and not encouragement or approval of a detrimental, negative lifestyle. They deserve better than that. This is not God’s plan for their lives," says the letter, from Wayne A. Helmer, professor of mechanical engineering at Arkansas Tech University. He continued: "Beyond the physical, their emotional and spiritual needs are just like ours: Their need for abundant life (emotional) and forgiveness of sins (spiritual) is only what Jesus Christ can give them [John 10:10, 13:16]. Only he can truly change lives and give people the healing and forgiveness and self-worth and significance that they [and we] all desire and need."

There were comments, including one that sent me to this blog:

LGBTQ Inclusion in STEM: Timidity Won’t Work
http://stemequity.com/2013/09/20/lgbtq-inclusion-in-stem-timidity-wont-work/

The magazine's website is:

ASEE Prism
http://www.prism-magazine.org/summer13/default.cfm

That takes you to the summer issue.

Helmer's website (and no, I'm not putting this here so that people can send him angry emails):

Wayne Helmer, Professor of Mechanical Engineering
http://www.atu.edu/engineering/mechanical/faculty_helmer.php

[redstatebluegirl]

1. What is terrifying is, he is teaching our young people.

We can only hope he leaves his intolerance at home. Funny, the right is always hollering about academics teaching their youngsters to be liberal. Clearly this guy isn't forcing his students to the left politically.

[LostOne4Ever]

2. Whoever decided to post that bigots letter

Is either another bigot or a FREAKING MORON.


[div class="excerpt" style="background-color:#dcdcdc; padding-bottom:5px; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-bottom:none; border-radius:0.4615em 0.4615em 0em 0em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"]Norman Fortenberry[div class="excerpt" style="background-color:#f0f0f0; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-top:none; border-radius:0em 0em 0.4615em 0.4615em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"]"While we do not assert the equal validity of all viewpoints, we published the letter because because in our judgment: 1. It represented a sincere response to content published in Prism. 2. The views expressed are probably not unique. 3. While many may find the content objectionable, within its context it was apparently not intended as an ad hominem attack. 4. It offered an opportunity for a discussion among ASEE’s membership about the value of diversity,"


The letter had NOTHING to do with engineering, and spread outright lies.

1)Lies are not sincere. 2)Being an idiot is also not unique, or are we going to start posting letters by amateurs who don't know the difference between stress, strain, and torsion? 3)Not being an ad hominem is a reason to publish a letter? My god how fucking low are their standards? Maybe, its not an ad hominem, but there is still no reason to publish BIGOTRY in an engineering magazine. 4)It also does not add to the discourse or understanding. Its flame bait from a homophobe.

He also did not give a single real argument against diversity. All he said was that he doesn't like it, and spread bigoted lies to promote his religious views which he states as if they were facts. Just another bigot who thinks he can get away with being a bigot because of his religion. A religion that is quite possibly based on primitive myths, and which easily could have been corrupted and is subject to interpretation.

Of course diversity is good because you have to work in TEAMS in engineering. Almost every single part of engineering requires you to work with people from a broad range of beliefs and backgrounds. Rejecting that will hurt engineering horribly. It would kill trade of information, ideas, and innovations, cause teams to be dysfunctional producing products that could be flawed if not outright dangerous.

What is the very first engineering ethic? To protect the publics safety. Creating tension and dysfunctional teams puts that at risk. Engineers means being loyal steward to one's employer. How can you claim to be loyal to one's employer if your attitude pushes away potential clients?

How does that idiot think orientation factor into engineeringl? Will the math change if he has to work with someone who is gay? Do the laws of motion suddenly change? No. He wants people not to criticize him when hes being a bigoted asshole. That is all there is to it.

This "engineers" opinions are not only bigoted, but dangerous and economically harmful. Whoever published his letter needs to be reprimanded or fired, the same with Mr. Fortenberry.

[dickthegrouch]

3. Before marriage was an option

And when society made it as difficult as possible for people to meet and grow together, what the hell do they expect other than a promiscuous outcome. It's a self-fulfilling prophesy.

I'd love to know what percentage of the straight world *really* had only one girlfriend, one sexual partner (ever)?
(Hint: I was told by a psychologist that "There's wankers and liars&quot . Promiscuity is nothing new and certainly not the exclusive domain of the gay community.

Neanderthal attitudes like this (and the magazine's) still need to be highlighted, but they also need expert rebuttal.