University of Virginia hires gay and lesbian advocate

[davidinalameda]

http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid22559.asp

Aiming to better serve sexual minority students, the University of Virginia has hired the school's first full-time program coordinator for its Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center.

Joy Pugh will manage student support groups and other activities offered through the six-year-old center, said Shamim Sisson, senior associate dean of students. Her appointment follows a three-month national search. The Charlottesville center provides support to up to 2,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender students it estimates to be on campus.

Until last year, it was directed by graduate students, limiting operation to roughly 20 hours a week, Sisson said. That also created a revolving door of managers who had to learn the ropes every year. The center tried a full-time worker on a trial basis last year, and administrators approved a permanent position over the summer.

[spancks]

1. Good for UVA!

I hope they don't cave when the fundies start howling about it.

[Ian David]

2. Idea for an internet rumor: Marriage Amendments mean more gay professors

Are public universities and other companies in states that outlaw gay marriage actively trying to hire more gays because gay people are not allowed to have medical coverage for their partners in those states?

Some people say many universities are actually purging heterosexual professors from their schools and granting tenure to more and more gays and lesbians because they know they will never have to grant family medical coverage or family leave to gay people under the laws of those states.

Folks say that the "Marriage Amendments" are actually exposing children to more and more gays and lesbians who have now become cheaper for universities to hire.

Is it true?

Let's debate it in the media for eight weeks and let the public decide.

In fact, some people say that High School administrators see hiring more gay and lesbian teachers as a way to cut-back on their health insurance costs as well.