Houghton University, a private Christian university in upstate New York, is facing backlash after allegedly firing two employees for using their pronouns in their work email signatures. According to reports, residential hall directors Raegan Zelaya and Shua Wilmot were told to remove their pronouns, but they refused and were fired.
Zelaya and Wilmot had used their pronouns because their first names are gender-neutral and they wanted to avoid being misgendered in email correspondence. They say that their firings were based on their Christian values and the university’s attempt to appeal to more conservative political views.
In response, over 600 alumni from the university have signed a petition supporting Zelaya and Wilmot and disagreeing with the university’s decision to close the diversity center. The alumni think that the university’s actions are trans-exclusionary and may deter potential students and their parents.
The university denies that the firings were only because of the use of pronouns in email signatures and claims that it has never fired an employee for this reason. However, the university has required employees to remove “extraneous” information from email signatures, including Scripture quotes.
The controversy highlights the ongoing debate over pronoun use and inclusivity on college campuses. While some institutions have embraced the use of pronouns and taken steps to create more inclusive environments, others have faced criticism for their lack of support for marginalized communities. It remains to be seen how Houghton University will respond to the backlash and whether it will take steps to address concerns about inclusivity and diversity on campus.
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