Los Angeles City College Jonathan Lopez student wasn’t about to keep his views silent at the advent of November 2008 passage of Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California, — especially not in his public speaking class.
But his words weren’t met with ease by his college professor. Lopez said Professor John Matteson, scolded him and refused to let him finish a speech against same-sex marriage, in which Lopez recited bible verses and a dictionary definition of marriage
The student also said Matteson cut him off and called him a "fascist bastard," then, told students they could leave if they were offended. None of the students left, so he dismissed the class.
Recently Lopez filed a lawsuit against the community college. A student evaluation included with the lawsuit includes a statement that reads "ask God what your grade is."
The student and his attorneys are seeking financial damages and a strike down of an LACC code forbidding students from making statements deemed "offensive."
The school’s dean said she met with Lopez and has begun a disciplinary investigation on Matteson.
The whole incident in and of itself is offensive. As a gay-Latino journalist, I am deeply appalled at the lack of decorum on the part of the professor and the student.
I disagree with the student’s views and that of all those people who use religious mumbo-jumbo, proliferated in the name of an unknown “God” with whom no one has conversed with to seek his or her view, to deprive citizens, human beings of basic rights. But our country was founded on free-speech, so much so that we included it first in our constitution.
As much as I find religious speech archaic, ridiculous and disparaging, and as much I want all human beings to achieve equality in treatment, rights and privileges, shutting people is not the answer.
If we ever are to evolve as a species and move forward in this world we must achieve our goals through dialogue. Lawsuits to our schools only divert time and money that can used to educate the minds that may someday lead us to prosperity.
Comments
People should stop using the Bible as an excuse for their hate. Its a same that Lopez felt comfortable standing in front of a class and preaching hate. If I were in that class and Lopez was allowed to preach hate I would file lawsuit against Lopez and the school for allowing it.
Wow! Nazi can march in Skokie preaching hatred against Jews, and have their right to do defended by the ACLU, but when a person preaches against same-sex marriage the forces of political correctness need to stifle him. Tolerance means nothing unless it extends to those with whom you disagree.
It's all well and good to say that dialogue is the answer. But how about getting back to reality! How exactly do you suggest that we try to dialogue with people who do not think we have the right to exist? What kind of honest, free exchange of ideas to do you expect to have with bigots who hide behind their religions?
And to Chris Curzon: Drop it already. It's the anti-gay bigots who are truly intolerant. Many of us gay folk are getting tired of being asked to tolerate the intolerance of religious bigots. That's the real problem, so throw your straw man in the garbage already.
Outside of the merits of any of your arguments, can we please at least get the first amendment correct?
The first right guaranteed to us in that amendment is NOT free speech, it's actually ... <em>Congress shall make no law regarding the establishment of religion nor prohibit the free exercise thereof</em>
It then goes on to free speech .. redress of grievances, etc.
The professor definitely didn't handle the situation well. It's pretty clear that he wasn't expecting any kind of religious preaching in his classroom. The being said, the student didn't do the assignment. Reading the dictionary definition of marriage, and quoting (plagiarizing) bible verses is not giving an original argument on the subject. Anyone could do the exact same thing.
After reading an article at PageOneQ, I don't think the student has any chance of winning his lawsuit. He doesn't have a hard copy of his speech. I find that highly suspicious. Did he shred it the minute he got home? My guess is his lawyers told him he would lose if he read the speech in court. Plus, two students have already said the speech was highly offensive.
What if the student said something like, "Interracial couples should be stoned to death." I don't think the Alliance Defense Fund would be coming to the rescue.
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