Feb 9th, 2010
Posted by Paul Cates, LGBT Project at 11:10am	LGBT Basic Rights and Liberties, Religion and Schools

Anti-Gay Preaching at Fresno City College Doesn't Fly

Today, the LGBT Project and the ACLU of Northern California sent a letter to Fresno City College demanding that the college do something about the anti-gay preaching of health science professor Dr. Bradley Lopez. In his introductory health class last semester, Professor Lopez presented his personal religious beliefs and anti-gay opinions as "science" or "fact."

Needless to say, this didn't go over so well with several of his students who took the class to learn about health, not be indoctrinated with Professor Lopez's religious views. The ACLU's demand letter includes several examples where Professor Lopez presented his beliefs and opinions as fact, including:

• Presented a slide listing "homosexual facts," including on that described homosexuality as a "biological misapplication of human sexuality" and stated the "recommended treatment" is "psychological counseling" or "hormone supplements."
• Presented LGBT people as a burden on and/or threat to society, claiming, for example, that anything but a heterosexual union provides a "one-sided foundation for raising children."
• Presented Bible passages as "empirical" evidence that life begins at conception, in support of his assertion that abortion is murder and "the leading cause of death in this country" (because there are over 1 million abortions a year).
• Followed a slide on climate change in a presentation on "environmental health" with a slide containing a biblical quote about the world ending in fire, and said "that is the real global warming we should be worried about."
• Repeatedly referenced the Bible and used it as a teaching tool, for example assigning as homework a question about Jesus' genetic makeup.

Obviously, Professor Lopez is entitled to his beliefs and is more than welcome to express them outside the classroom. But as a state school funded by taxpayer dollars, Fresno City College has an obligation to protect its students from religious indoctrination and anti-gay bias presented as 'science' or 'fact.'

The letter sent by the ACLU charges that Professor Lopez's lectures violate federal and state constitutional protections guaranteeing the separation of church and state. To satisfy its legal obligation to combat anti-gay bias, the letter also urges the school to mandate accurate and unbiased health instruction. The letter gives the college until February 15 to explain how it intends to address the problem.

Permalink |	LGBT Basic Rights and Liberties, Religion and Schools

1. Wendell Says:
   Feb 9th, 2010 at 2:32pm

   Is the letter from the LGBT project the same as the letter from the Northern CA ACLU? If not, I'd like a copy of the letter from the LGBT project. I have the letter from the ACLU. I teach at FCC and am, needless to say, distressed by the alleged sectarian teaching from a fellow faculty-member.

2. Paen Says:
   Feb 9th, 2010 at 3:16pm

   Freedom of speech is important but the classroom is for teaching not hate propaganda.

3. Anonymous Says:
   Feb 10th, 2010 at 6:07am

   ha! fact: my father did not make a choice to be a gay, that's why I was born of my mother :) but hey, if US Constitution is the highest authority in the Universe then... poor Moses (in Bible).

4. Anonymous Says:
   Feb 10th, 2010 at 11:18am

   Can't handle the truth of the Bible? A colon is a sexual organ? I bet some gay professor teaching gay sex in a health class wouldn't be hastled by you guys? The ACLU is pathetic. Leave my buddy Brad alone!

5. Anonymous Says:
   Feb 11th, 2010 at 1:14am

   A public institution should restrict religious infiltration including anti-gay sentiments. If these views need to be shared, find a Christian organization or private group, but leave it out of a government institution's hands.

6. Curmudgeon Says:
   Feb 11th, 2010 at 12:08pm

   Anony No. 3: please look up "hyperbole" in a dictionary -- did anyone claim that the Constitution is the highest authority in the Universe? Hyperbole is a form of LYING. Anony No. 4: there is no reliable evidence that the Judaeo-Christian fairy tale book (Bible) is scientifically or historically "true". "Anything that can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence." (Sam Harris).

7. Jarrod Says:
   Mar 4th, 2010 at 5:57pm

   Well, what the professor's saying IS true...

8. roald Says:
   Mar 7th, 2010 at 9:55pm

   Oh Jarrod, how should we react when someone writes only to stir controversy?

9. SC of FL Says:
   Mar 13th, 2010 at 9:31pm

   What became of this?

10. Anonymous Says:
    Apr 8th, 2010 at 11:23am

    Yea,,,,,,,,,,,,its ok to spew vile lies of evolution in schools,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,with no proof to back that load of crap up!

    Every view SHOULD be shared.

11. roald Says:
    Apr 23rd, 2010 at 11:08pm

    SC of FL - According to the Fresno Bee, a letter of reprimand will be issued, though the instructor might fight it in court.
    http://dailyme.com/story/2010040600004289/brief-fresno-city-instruc tor-faces-reprimand.html

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