WASHINGTON – The chief diversity officer at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. has been suspended after it came to light that she signed a petition against same-sex marriage.
Dr. Angela McCaskill, who has worked at the university in various capacities for more than 23 years confirmed to a faculty member that she signed the petition on leaving church. According to The Planet DeafQueer blog,
“Dr. McCaskill confirmed that she had in fact signed the petition and explained that she had done so while at church, after her preacher had preached against gay marriage. As she was leaving, her husband pointed to the petition and she signed it without giving it further thought.”
Buzzfeed.com reported that Gallaudet University President T. Alan Hurwitz issued the following statement to staff and students of the D.C. university for the deaf and hard of hearing that was sent about noon today,
“I want to inform the community that I have placed Dr. Angela McCaskill on paid administrative leave effective immediately. It recently came to my attention that Dr. McCaskill has participated in a legislative initiative that some feel is inappropriate for an individual serving as Chief Diversity Officer; however, other individuals feel differently.”
Gallaudet spokeswoman Catherine Murphy told Buzzfeed, “We don’t have a policy against political participation.”
Buzzfeed reported that a man who identified himself as McCaskill’s husband, had told them that McCaskill would be consulting with a lawyer but had no comment at this time about being placed on leave.
