Teacher at Mormon University Terminated Due to Pro-LGBT+ Facebook Post

Ruthie Robertson will not be returning to work at Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg, Idaho. Instead, the adjunct political science professor's contract has been terminated due to the contents of a post she published to her Facebook page in June.

According to KUTV, Robertson, who is a member in good standing with the Mormon Church, or formally the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, posted a message to Facebook on June 5 stating her support for the LGBT+ community.

In the message, which Robertson stated was, "In honor of LGBT Pride Month," she revealed her reproval with the actions of the LDS Church in relation to the LGBT+ community, stating the Church "had a policy claiming that same-sex relationships were a sin and discouraged individuals from participating in them." 

"This organization has openly and forcefully opposed same-sex relationships and [the legalization of] same-sex marriage," Robertson wrote.

Robertson went on to state that she did not believe being a part of the LGBT+ community was in fact a sin, listing multiple other things that have been deemed by the Bible, especially the Old Testament, as being sinful.

"A few hateful verses in the Old Testament have led to hundreds of years of prejudice, hatred, violence, and pain," she explained. "If we’re going to follow the Old Testament, and use it to justify a hateful stance, there are several other things we need to start condemning and punishing."

As a friend of many LGBT+ people, Robertson stated firmly that being LGBT+ is a part of who people are, writing: 

"I will never support the phrase 'love the sinner, hate the sin' because that 'sin' is part of who that person is. Homosexuality and transgenderism are not sins; if God made us, and those are a part of who we are then God created that as well."

Though Robertson acknowledged her views were not in line with those of her church, she expressed her hope that the LDS Church would move to "see the harm these policies have".

"For an organization that places so much importance on the family unit, this policy sure seems to be attacking a form of that unit," wrote Robertson in reference to a November 2015 policy furthering rules against LGBT+ membership including preventing children of same-sex couples from joining the church until they turn 18.

As a Mormon institution, in response to her Facebook post, BYUI had Robertson's contract to teach at the university over the next school year terminated.

According to The Advocate, BYUI officials claimed confidentiality and declined to comment on the matter while Robertson remained unsure of where she will go to teach next.
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Copyright 2017 The Gayly - 7/18/2017 @ 6:01 p.m. CDT