194 Comments

Over 30 years ago, I accepted a full merit scholarship from a university in Texas (including tuition & fees, room & board, and a book stipend, even!). I graduated with a degree in English and a minor in Womens’ Studies.

Any day now, I expect Gov. Abbott’s thugs to show up, burn my diploma, and demand I pay restitution for my degree - with interest, of course.

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I wonder how many accommodations UU, USU, Weber St, etc make for specific reasons related to Mormons.

It's cool if I have an organization that doesn't *specifically* exclude members of the LDS, but it's just a coincidence that there aren't any members who are?

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I'm sure they teach a ton of languages on campus. Just a coincidence.

And you know the Veterans Services are unaffected by these changes.

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I kinda wish someone would shut down my school's math department's "DEI committee" made up of three white cishet "allies," at least one of them has a history of discriminatory harassment against queer and neurodivergent people and who says that being an "ally" means marginalized people aren't allowed to criticize her.

The trouble is the Republicans would not want to shut this committee down.

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There is a simple solution to all of this,. EVERYBODY has equal rights and protections under the law. There needs to be no further clarification as to who or what you are. What color you are, or who you are sexually attracted to, how you dress or wear your hair, has NO bearing on your rights as a US citizen., Your SS# is all that is required. In this case being a number not a name has distinct advantage

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Except this "simple solution" is exactly the one proposed by the right wing. It's the only part of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech they know.

Reality somehow screws with this noble aspiration.

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But then who will bigots feel superior to?

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After the Catholics, Mormons run the most egregious tax dodge n earth.

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I'm getting really tired of interesting times.

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Yes, Carnac, I am ready to move on to "the fleas of a thousand camels."

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I always preferred "Gay Freedom Day" to "Gay Pride," but it's not my choice. I hope the affected students work together, thus increasing numbers, on their countermeasures.

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Well Freedom is aspirational, but Pride is something one can grab onto any time. I also think it was to counter the idea that straights have to "tolerate" queer folk - we have pride and a sense of self - a sense of being able to take up space in the world, and present ourselves as we see fit.

Not to mention the extremely limited nature of the word "Gay." I realize it would be LGBTQA2S+ Freedom day, but that's not what was proposed.

I suppose the only good thing about all this awfulness is that people are getting back into the original spirit of Pride rather than the crass commercialism it has become

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Oooh, I just might need to steal that first line right there. I'll have to figure out how to Venmo a potato to you.

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It would be just horrible if Mormon temples started getting picketed. Just horrible.

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Isn't that like picketing a synagogue due to Israel's actions in Gaza?

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Not in any way, shape, or form.

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It is, though.

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Mitzi Montoya, the University Provost, wrote in a note to faculty reported by WaPo:

“This is not the path we would have chosen […] But … it is our calling to rise to the challenges of the day and find a better way forward.”

*** *** ***

This is almost exactly the kind of statement that we could expect to hear at a university under the rule of an authoritarian government, like North Korea. The only difference is that it still includes some gentle criticism: "This is not the path we would have chosen." In North Korea, the only thing that university provosts are allowed to say in response to ANY government directive is something like "It is our calling to rise to the challenges of the day and find a better way forward."

It seems that in Utah there is still some hope that Utahns may choose better leaders some day. And in the meantime, the Utah borders are still open, and it is still possible to migrate to a bluer state.

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"Utahns"?

I thought it was "Utahooters"?

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This is appropriate. Marvin Gaye wrote this song after watching the police crackdown on the Free Speech Movement in Berkeley. A reminder that this isn't just about LGBTQ rights, it's about all of us.

https://youtu.be/o5TmORitlKk?si=opcef8Xat9qW4Z_B

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"Center for Cultural and Community Engagement"

NewSpeak if I've ever heard any.

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Student groups or student-led organizations cannot be banned, only workers and offices

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Call your congressman you have to speak out !!(202)224-3121 tell them let Joe Biden make an executive order to stop the Governor! Since the President is now immune on all official acts! 😉✌️💙

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Do we need SEAL Team 6 at all?

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I just checked and the University of Tennessee, my alma mater, still has an official Pride Center; I was concerned that the current political climate might have ended it.

They even made free t-shirts available to alumni a few years ago, and they were available in bear sizes!

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Imagine the kind of mindset that views “different types of people,” “freedom from bias,” and “equal access” as a threat that needs state legislation to combat.

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Power of the theocratic patriarchy has prevailed once again in Utah.

Next they're going to equivocate the means to marginalize handicapped services on campuses without facing too many legal challenges.

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I wonder if they'll make an exception if Greg Abbott visits campus?

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"Mein Führer! I can VALK!!!!"

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I'd be willing to build him a trebuchet to 'help him up the stairs'...

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