Bruce Murray is an associate professor at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. He has worked at the university since 1996 and teaches in the College of Education. He’s also a major homophobe.
Murray has recently come under fire after students discovered several homophobic and transphobic posts on his personal Facebook page, some from as recently as this past August.
In addition to decrying “homosexualism,” sharing homophobic memes, and posting anti-LGBTQ articles published by Brietbart, some of Murray’s other posts have included:
- Sharing a meme of a trans woman with the caption “Today’s liberals are so dumb they think men can change into women. And so evil they will punish you for telling the truth.”
- Claiming that “the XY chromosomes in 37 trillion cells say that this guy is male. Who cares? Say the science deniers.”
- Calling a drag queen a “gender-confused crossdresser.”
- Saying that all of Donald Trump‘s “bad tweets” combined aren’t nearly as terrible as the “single firing or non-hire of a person for being critical of the ‘LGBT’ agenda or a single obscene ‘Drag Queen Story Hour’ corrupting the minds of little children.”
- Saying that the rainbow is “not a symbol we should cede to the homosexuals” and that “God designed [the rainbow.] It has a meaning exactly the opposite of homosexualism,” adding the “rainbow doesn’t mean inclusion. It means shut up.”
But the hate speech extends beyond just Facebook. The Auburn Plainsman reports:
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Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
In letters to the editor published in the Opelika-Auburn News from 2003 to 2014, Murray has written that “calling homosexual commitment ceremonies ‘marriage’ is fraudulent and counterfactual,” and that when “jubilant homosexuals celebrated the decision” of same-sex marriage equality in New York, they were “losers.”
When students learned what Murray has been posting on social media, they were understandably upset. But the university appears to standing by him, refusing to comment on his blatantly homophobic and transphobic behavior, other than to say it’s a free speech issue.
Theresa McCormick, the associate dean of the College of Education, tells The Auburn Plainsman that she finds Murray’s Facebook posts “disturbing” and “would be offended by them” if they popped up on her personal computer, but “he has the freedom of speech.”
“His personal beliefs are really no concern of mine, as they are any other faculty member,” McCormick said, dismissively.
In a letter to the editor, Murray, who is up for tenure at the university, writes, “My posts on Facebook are addressed to a private community of like-minded conservatives.”
He adds, “Given my advocacy of a political point of view, I recognize an obligation to practice tolerance toward those who disagree with me. I would never dream of organizing reprisals against those who hold contrary views, and I expect the tolerance I practice to be reciprocated.”
The City of Auburn, where the university is located, doesn’t offer any protections for sexual orientation or gender identity in its non-discrimination ordinances, putting it on the list of worst places to live in the United States for LGBTQ people and students.
Related: Professor-student Grindr scandal exposes University of Wisconsin as hotbed of sexual misconduct
Mack
No surprises there. it’s Alabama, home of Bigots and Racists.
Cam
Let them know how you feel about Auburn University defending a raging b*got.
Phone: (334) 844-4446
email: eduinfo @auburn.edu
Twitter: @AuburnU
Auburn University College of Education
3084 Haley Center
Auburn, Alabama 36849-5218
rustyiam
Thx Cam I just contacted them to thank them for having the courage to stand up for free speech;)
DarkZephyr
@rustyiam,
“Free Speech” does not require organizations, universities, companies, etc. to protect hate speech against entire subsets of human beings and it does not prohibit them from enacting protective policies. “Free Speech” protects US citizens from *legal* action for words thy speak. It does not extend to job repercussions. At all.
Now, care you explain why you are defending homophobia and are clearly enraged at those who are against homophobia? Thanks in advance.
jjose712
rustyiam: Why this stupid troll is not banned yet?
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Always say that succession thingy wasn’t such a bad idea…..
ingyaom
Alabama hasn’t succeeded in anything … except being #50 (out of 50) in education (according to U.S. News & World Report)
tf3.0
Hey spark plug, secession is different from success.
You must be from Alabama.… Or blonde
wellinmysoul
“alabama not succeeded in anything”….. do any of you queens and fools follow football or healthcare research?
WanderSon66
I suppose it is a logical extension of hate crimes laws that people would also want to punish people for their beliefs even when there isn’t a crime involved. How 1984!
jsmu
@WanderSon66 Get the hell off this site, you worthless and impotent little Russkytroll. You’re not even original or diverting in your pitiful attempts at recycling Whitebarf and Faux Noise.
WanderSon66
But, if we as a society think it is necessary to have an LGBTQI beliefs litmus test for jobs, then let’s also have the same test for receiving tax paid government entitlements and other aid. Equality, right?
Dick Mayhem
It’s more complicated than that.
This guy confers grades on students. Grades that can affect students’ progression and future employment.
He’s on record saying shitty and demeaning things about LBGT+ people. Is that proof that his bigotry affects his grading? No. Would students in his class feel pressured to put themselves in the closet or risk consequences? You bet they would.
The concern is that a bigot has power over people. And you only have to look at our current government to see where that can lead.
jsmu
@WanderSon66 Don’t you think you should at least finish that GED??? Your level of imbecilic illogic is almost that of Hannity (another dropout.) News flash, impotent little trollette; there is not and never has been any sort of ‘litmus test’ for bigotry in hiring for jobs. No one is telling this turd he can’t be a flaming hemorrhoidal pustule of a bigot ; we are saying he can’t do it OPENLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU MORON!!!!!!! In addition, of course, he probably flunks anyone he thinks is a ‘f*ggot’ because they destroy him utterly with their well-adjusted and adult selves, unlike his own cauldron of acid self-loathing.
djmcgamester
Who cares? Free speech is guaranteed in our First Amendment. Don’t need to like it. What we can do is ignore it and not give him press.
jsmu
F*ck RIGHT on off and keep on f*cking ALL the way off.
He’s an educator and judges the performance of students. Rampant, overt HATE SPEECH AND BIGOTRY disqualify one from such a position, little moron.
Free speech stops where it materially damages others, you troll. Ever heard of ‘Fire!’ in a crowded public place?
rustyiam
Jsmu and I suppose you think that your self righteous ugly a*s gets to be the one who decides what qualifies as “ hate” speech! Your post is far more hateful than anything anyone here has said you f*cking moron!
DarkZephyr
@djmcgamester
You don’t seem to have a functional understanding of what free speech is. Free speech protects from government interference, it does NOT declare that institutions cannot enact policies against hate speech. Why defend homophobia? Because that is exactly what you are doing. You are not championing free speech. You are merely championing bigotry. Please explain.
greybat
The Press was helpful in Cal State Northridge getting rid of Robert Oscar Lopez, who is now free to pursue his career as an Anti-Civil Rights Lecturer.
rustyiam
This is still America and we believe in free speech! F*ck off all you SJW types you’re not going to win your silly crusade!
jsmu
Ah, it’s RUSSKYiam yet again. Aren’t you back in exile in Irkutsk by now, troll?
DarkZephyr
Are you even gay? If so, are you one of those gay cuckold types who gets off being called the F word? You don’t seem indignant at ALL by the homophobia you are well aware of, but you are enraged by those who have a problem with it to the point that you can fry an egg on your head.
Now why don’t you tell us what it is you think “Free Speech” is? Because it doesn’t seem to be what it *actually* is.
wellinmysoul
amen brother
Vince
Nothinginmysoul agrees with Rustyass. Troll agrees with itself. I guess. 🙂
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
I stand with the truths he spoke but I also think his being a professor should be reason enough for him to go to counseling. As regrettable as it is there are certain professions that are not allowed to voice their opinions on certain social matters regardless of how many agree that this gay agenda thing has gotten completely out of hand. This type of rant makes me wonder if he failed students he suspected of being gay for no other reason.
Kangol2
@jsmu, I usually agree with you, but on the general principle, I think the right-wingers have a point, though I strongly disagree with their politics. This professor teaches at a public university, i.e., a government institution, and his hateful commentary, which I personally find imbecilic and abhorrent, is Constitutionally protected speech. He also should be guaranteed “Academic freedom,” which also protects controversial speech.
If he had tenure, then he probably cannot be dismissed without serious cause (dereliction of teaching duties, sexual harassment or assault of students, sleeping with undergrads, sleeping with anyone under his supervision, committing a felony). He doesn’t have tenure, though, so there may be other clauses in his contact that involve creating an unsafe, intimidating or dangerous environment for students; it sounds like that could be a problem. Or his bosses could just not renew his contract. Or he just might not get tenure. Oh well.
In reality, “free speech” does not seem to receive the same level of protection if you openly criticize Israel’s apartheid policies against the Palestinians, but it usually holds for everything else, including for homophobes and transphobes like this creep. Twitter can ban him, as can Facebook, and if he were a private university–Duke, Vanderbilt, etc.–he could be dismissed much more easily too.
DarkZephyr
1) As with Rusty, I would love to know what you think constitutionally protected speech actually is.
2) I would love to know what you think is “academic” about his homophobic facebook rants.
3) Is it your position that students should not have the right to a safe environment conducive to learning where they don’t feel hated by their own professors merely for being who they are? If not, why? Why should teaching staff enjoy greater protections than the students that pay to learn there? Since you feel so strongly about it you must think there is a benefit to students in this or else I cannot see how you can possibly justify this position. What is that benefit, particularly with regard to LGBT students? Thanks in advance.
Kangol2
@DarkZephyr wrote: 1) As with Rusty, I would love to know what you think constitutionally protected speech actually is.
The US Supreme Court has basically said all speech is constitutionally protected, except speech that entails incitement (actively incites people to harm others); obscenity (speech that is considered obscene by community standards); fighting words and offensive speech (speech that is considered offensive by community standards). These are not considered Constiitutionally protected. SCOT?US has also said that jurisdictions can restrict speech based on its “time, place and manner.”
2) I would love to know what you think is “academic” about his homophobic facebook rants.
There is nothing “academic” about his rants. But he is an academic. If he had tenure, he could rant like that and many public (i.e. government) institutions could not fire him. Most private ones could, based on their internal processes and various state laws.
3) Is it your position that students should not have the right to a safe environment conducive to learning where they don’t feel hated by their own professors merely for being who they are? If not, why? Why should teaching staff enjoy greater protections than the students that pay to learn there? Since you feel so strongly about it you must think there is a benefit to students in this or else I cannot see how you can possibly justify this position. What is that benefit, particularly with regard to LGBT students? Thanks in advance.
I do think students should the right to a safe environment. I even wrote, “He doesn’t have tenure, though, so there may be other clauses in his contact that involve creating an unsafe, intimidating or dangerous environment for students.” In which case, I would be for firing him for creating an unsafe, intimidating and dangerous environment for students. You clearly misread everything I wrote, because I do not feel strongly about protecting an individual like this; as I said, I find his words ABHORRENT. I.e., disgusting. Hateful. Repellent. Got it? I was not justifying, but explaining why he probably can get away with this if he had tenure at a public university. There are virulent racists, Holocaust deniers, etc. in academe. The reason some still have their positions is because they usually tread right up to the line that could lead to dismissal. Some are aware that the US Constitution does provide protection for all kinds of abhorrent speech. In Canada, Germany, Brazil, and other countries, you can be fired for types of speech that are protected in the US.
DarkZephyr
You definitely didn’t understand my first question. I wasn’t asking you what types of speech you think are protected by the constitution. I was asking what you think free speech or constitutionally protected speech means, and how that is applied in the United States. How do you feel this constitutional protection is applied in any given situation?
That being said, I wanted to touch on one of the exceptions you gave as speech that would not be protected: “speech that is considered offensive by community standards”. Why wouldn’t homophobic hate speech fall under that category?
As for “academic freedom”, you’re saying that *because* he’s an academic, he has free reign to say whatever he wants, any time, anywhere, any place and no policies or hate speech laws can ever touch him, he can’t ever be disciplined and he can’t ever be fired if he has tenure no matter how UNacademic the speech is? If this really is the case, then it is my turn to have not fully understood what a certain law means, because I had no idea that academic freedom meant that. It doesn’t even make any logical sense to me. Why even call it “academic freedom”? There’s nothing academic about homophobia. I don’t care if the person spewing it happens to BE an academic. Seems to me that academic freedom may need to be reexamined and rethought because this is outrageous.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
DAM! this thread is infected with vile abhorrent, noxious trolls!.
wellinmysoul
not to mention idiots and fools like you. I’d call you a has been but I believe you are a never-been.
Rock-N-RollHS
As noted, free speech is only protected under the government–not within the commercial and private sector. (Not so sure how that’s faring under Pence/Trump, however; would to see that legally challenged.) People are “let go” all the time if the messaging of a employee harms the brand, agree or not.
I’m all for Academic free speech–right, left, or center–and conservative professors and students are typically the ones under siege in liberal universities these days. But this dude is expressing ideas that could very well affect his treatment of gay or gay friendly students. Again, would love to see a student take action, if that were the case
Which makes me wonder–is this one of those damn Christian schools?
JaredMacBride
Auburn is a large state school on the Alabama Georgia border. That the professor works for the state means he may have first amendment protection on his job someone working for private college might not have.
DarkZephyr
@JaredMacBride
Which would mean he couldn’t get arrested for it. Not that the school can’t come up with policies protecting their students against hate speech.
Kangol2
“conservative professors and students are typically the ones under siege in liberal universities these days”
This is absolute BULLSH*T. A study showed that in fact, liberal and progressive professors are under siege as much or more than conservatives, who whine like snowflakes whenever their offensive speech is challenged, yet don’t blink an eye when people at the other end of the spectrum are under attack. Like I said, if you criticize Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and you don’t have tenure, you can kiss that job goodbye. A progressive professor basically said she didn’t give a damn about Barbara Bush’s death and her university president tried to have her fired. A white male professor criticized the influx of white yuppies into Harlem and he had to fend off attempts to have him fired.
Tombear
Recognize that Alabama is a third world state. The mayor of Prattville Alabama told me that snakes talk and the world is only 6000 old. The mayor said that!
jkthsnk
It’s terrifying, but telling, that an assoc. dean at a US university has zero idea what freedom of speech means.