“I want our young people prepared for workforce and the LGBT minor does not assist them toward that goal,” Republican congressmean Jeff Landry wrote in a letter to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s president, Joseph Savoie. “Our neighbors and students should trust that the education dollars they spent at University of Louisiana at Lafayette will be used to further their careers, not a political agenda.”
Speaking of a political agenda, did we mention that Landry is currently in a re-election race with fellow Republican incumbent congressman Charles Boustany? Landry’s opposition certainly appeals to conservative groups like the Louisiana Family Forum, which has been hellbent on preserving so-called “Louisiana values.” And nothing draws support like the promise of jobs, jobs, jobs! But, wait, this all couldn’t be some thinly-veiled attempt to win votes, could it?
You hear that? Of course not since we ain’t friggin’ whistlin’ Dixie.
Meanwhile, Landry’s position is surprising — not just because it has more holes than a Dunkin Donut franchise — but because his brother is openly gay and openly opposes him on the subject. But all is fair in love and politics.
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Savoie, for his part, refuses to bend to Landry and the Family Forum’s pressure — least of all because it would mean the loss of the university’s accreditation since bowing to political pressure in deciding course offerings is a surefire way to do just that. The university president responded to Landry’s letter with a letter of his own: “Experienced graduates will need to have a broad breath of knowledge, flexibility, drive and compassion. They will need to be able to think across platforms, understand society and culture and see technology and training as tools, rather than an end to themselves.”
An end other than himself is something Landry couldn’t hope to understand — probably because he didn’t take any of these highfalutin liberal-leaning courses.
Anne Johnson, director of the liberal student advocacy group Campus Rights, perhaps put it best: “The LGBT Studies minor is a positive step toward healthier and more inclusive campuses and will lead to more accepting and tolerant workforces and communities. Rep. Landry is free to deny the existence of LGBT people, but the academic programs shouldn’t be subject to a backward brand of politics young Americans rejected long ago.”
Looks like while she may have been out of school for some time, Ms. Johnson has not forgotten how to read.
Photo: U.S. Congress/Wikipedia
pierre
OK, I’ll be the first to say it…..Gay-face.
Dumdum
This is yet another in a multitude of efforts by the republicans to set back the LGBT community.Thank goodness they were unsuccessful.It seems like every time we make a little headway there is some conservative homophobic ass standing in our way. It really started with Anita Bryant,Ronald Regan,Briggs,Dan White,and Jerry Falwell.Just to name a few.Their actions have fostered hate and violence towards Gays.And it won’t stop there.Were I to believe in such things,like the Anti-Christ and Demons,then Romney,Ryan and all of there cronies would be the pure embodiment of these archetypes.Religious and Political organizations cloaked in moral righteousness doing everything in their power to hamper the evolution of our society and keep us in the Dark Ages.So PLEASE!!! Get out there and vote for the lesser evils,that would be anyone running against Obama and the so called liberal left. THANK YOU.
Dumdum
OH YEA GAY REPUBLICANS??? THAT IS AN OXYMORON.Do Gay Republicans beat themselves up in parking lots and alleys???
Aidan8
Oh Mr. Landry, you silly douchebag, education is not just for preparing people for the workplace…. If we use that yardstick, then we’d have to eliminate a lot more than just LGBT-studies courses. Gee, maybe we can replace them all with Bible-study classes!
Neo
To be fair Republicans want to drop universities full stop. They think a woman can magically stop rape babies, and they invite rape by dressing provocatively. They think the earth is 6,000 years old.
These people loathe education, because every educated man is another person who hates everything they stand for.
Neo
Every educated and even not educated woman must vote against these clowns if they have any sense of self worth, the republicans are evil and want to roll back the decades for all women everywhere.
JayHobeSound
Louisiana will eventually teach ‘The Flinstones’ as a documentary. The extra-infuriating aspect in re: Louisiana anti-education movement: Gov Bobby Jindal has a degree in a science-related field, which one would think precludes him from tolerating an anti-science/pro-creationism policy, however, he and a few friends did impose an exorcism on a fellow student whom they thought had been acting “different” – she was undergoing cancer treatment – it is funny and frightening at the same time to read his essay about it – he seems to sincerely believe that hokum.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/08/bobby-jindal-school-voucher_n_1755449.html
Ridpathos
He’s got a point… Who’s gonna hire some kid with a major in LGBT studies?
Neo
@Ridpathos: Like all qualifications it depends on the job you go for.
Spoken truly as someone who doesn’t “get” qualifications though Rid, kudos, or should I say Woooo!!1
blizair09
A college education is more than just training for a job. It should enrich one’s ability to think critically, gain a rich perspective of a variety of cultures and issues, and become a well-rounded, educated human being. Should philosophy and French minors be banned next?