NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Professors at Belmont University, where a gay soccer coach recently resigned, want a campus discussion of sexual identity issues.
The Faculty Senate approved a resolution late Monday in support of gay members of the campus community. The resolution also invites administration officials to discuss the issue.
Belmont officials have denied that Lisa Howe was forced to step down after telling her women’s soccer team members she is gay. Howe’s players say she was forced out by the university.
“The Senate believes that the sexual identity of individuals should not impact that person’s standing on campus,” states the resolution, which was passed unanimously.
Belmont spokesman Greg Pillon did not immediately return a telephone call Tuesday seeking comment. He told The Tennessean of Nashville on Monday night that he had not seen the resolution and could not comment.
Among those supporting the resolution was Nathan Griffith, an associate professor of political science at Belmont.
He said that the university’s hiring policy does not explicitly ban gay employees and that there should be faculty discussion if that is changing.
