Comments on: VCU Coach Fired for Being Gay?

By: Angelica Blair

Angelica Blair — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:07:18 +0000

Dear Editors,
In the article “VCU Coach Fired for Being Gay,” that ran in your paper, James Finley said that he was fired for being gay. I believe it’s morally wrong to fire a person because of their sexual status. The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy states between 15 and 43 percent of LGBT people has experienced discrimination or harassment in the work environment as a result of their sexual status.
Here are 2 examples. Lisa Howe, a former Belmont University soccer coach from Tennessee, was fired after she came out to her team that she was a lesbian. Also, Vandy Beth Glenn, from Georgia, was fired as the legislative editor of the Georgia General Assembly because she, who in that time was a he, wanted to change from male to female. According to Policymic, the proportion of transgender individuals who were discriminated against is 90 percent. My question is what is the purpose of firing them? What difference does it make?
In my opinion, I believe it is pointless to fire them from the work environment. After all, what did they do wrong? Loving someone? When did that become a crime? The last time I check we all loved someone, so what makes them any different? If you’re not putting anyone in danger and are doing your job correctly, then what motive could you possibly have to fire them? Their love life shouldn’t concern you. Get your own and stop worrying about theirs! You should agree with me and rethink your position because if you actually think about it you will understand how pointless this situation is. This is another form of discrimination that is wrong and needs to be stopped.
Sincerely,
Waynesboro High School Student, Angelica B.

By: John

John — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 21:45:27 +0000

Is there anything we as readers of this do that can help? I feel helpless. This sounds like discrimination. What can we do?

By: nope

nope — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 19:59:50 +0000

Wrong…2011 assistant left in December of 2011. In 2012, there were 5 freshmen and a junior transfer recruited by current assistant plus 3 sophomores came at same time as current assistant. Their 2012 success had nothing to do with the 2011 assistant who left. If that was the case, then why weren’t they that good in 2011?

If the assistant coaches that are at VCU are let go, it is because the replacement head coach coming in carries her staff with her. Plus, those assistants haven’t officially been let go.

By: Cheryln

Cheryln — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:08:43 +0000

This is the type of headline I’d expect from Fox News. Slanderous statement followed by a question mark.

By: joe molb

joe molb — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 12:44:51 +0000

This article is one sided. It doesnt mention that the whole staff was let go-the Gay head coach and the 2 heterosexual coaches.Also, this was a good year with players recruited by an assistant who left last year. James’ 8 years has not been as great as the article implies.Point is, the AD may very well have simply wanted to get a new coach, which is his perogative.

By: ridor9th

ridor9th — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 04:45:40 +0000

I expect this to happen at U of Richmond, really. But not VCU. VCU Athletics has gained attention across the country mainly because of its successes. VCU does not need to keep AD Ed McLaughlin as he is easily the black eye of VCU Athletics.

R-

By: jessie

jessie — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 02:23:28 +0000

I love VCU. I love VCU for the diversity of programs, of people, of passions and our openness to everything and everyone. I am greatly disheartened to hear that our dedicated staff is being demoted due to a discriminatory issue. That action does not represent our school’s values at all. I would like to see that our teachers, coahes, faculty who pour their own passions into the student body be represented in their rightly positions.