Asking Belmont University President Bob Fisher Whether It's OK to Fire Gay Employees

Bob Fisher, the President of Belmont University, has been in the thick of a public relations mess for the past two months, as his school has been accused of being a hostile place for LGBT students and employees. For many, that reputation has been earned, given that the school refuses to allow a group of gay Christian students to form a campus club, and has questionably removed a lesbian soccer coach from her job. Former students have also come forward to talk about anti-gay discrimination they faced on campus, and several gay scholars have said that they actually turned jobs down at Belmont out of distaste for a campus culture of homophobia.

Fisher has so far given one statement about the entire fracas, saying that Belmont could have handled their communications shop a little bit better in dealing with this controversy. In that statement, he added that he loved all students no matter what their sexual orientation.

Today, Fisher is speaking again, this time in a six-page interview with The Tennessean. And he was asked directly whether Belmont would be the type of university that would allow for employees to be removed from their jobs, solely because of their sexual orientation.

"Sexual orientation ... is not considered in employment practices at Belmont," Fisher said. "I'd want people to know that the recent events have really triggered an intense discussion on our campus with our students and our faculty and our staff and our trustees around these issues."

Kind of a vague answer, even if there's a bit of nice sentiment in there. But more to the point, in the entire six-page interview, President Fisher never once answers this question: "Will Belmont add sexual orientation to its non-discrimination policy?"

But that's the question that thousands of folks are wondering, and one that Belmont is likely going to have to answer soon. Faculty want to see that happen. Students want to see that happen. Million dollar donors to the school want to see that happen. Many folks on the Metro Council of Nashville want to see that happen, too.

Fisher, for his part, is hearing the call loud and clear. Though he didn't address what the school will end up doing to address anti-gay discrimination on campus, he did say that he'll work with all parties to come to some sort of resolution.

"I'll keep my word that we'll keep discussing this until we get to a point of resolution," Fisher said. "We won't try to put it aside or hide it, the discussion. We're going to keep on talking. But for me to tell you the outcome in this would be very premature."

That's why it's imperative to keep up the pressure, and let Belmont know that the right thing to do here is to make sure that LGBT students feel safe and welcome on campus, and that employees shouldn't have to fear losing their jobs should they decide to raise a family with their same-sex partner or be open about their sexual orientation.

Photo credit: Belmont University