Academic Freedom: Georgia State and Sexuality Courses

[RoyGBiv]

Here we have a double whammy. This is a fine example of the depths to which CNN will go to sensationalize a subject to such an extent that the real issue is obscured in addition to "moral majority" legislators and others simply looking invoke outrage under the guise of "protecting the children" and preventing "waste" of tax paper dollars.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2009/02/18/am.costello.teaching.sex.cnn

The video at this link aired on Feb 18th. I just became aware of it due to open letter signed by many members of Ohio State University's faculty in support being posted to a mailing list I get. (Several other signed it as well, including someone from the University of Utah, Illinois, and Louisiana State, but due to the numbers involved, it seems as though it began at OSU.)

Quoting from the letter:

"State Representatives Charlice Byrd and Calvin Hill (R-Georgia) . . . supported by the Christian Coalition, have declared their opposition to the teaching of queer theory, sexuality, and similar subjects on moral grounds, arguing that these courses should be cut because they are a waste of taxpayer money."

They want the instructors fired and the entire department that studies sexuality and gender dismantled. They have no direct authority do this, of course, but they control the budget for the university, which is currently facing a shortfall.

If you have any contacts in the academic community or the Georgia legislature, please help raise awareness of this.