Dixon uses Web site to raise funds
Written by Staff Reports | | news@toledofreepress.comCrystal
Dixon has launched a web site at www.crystaldixon.com, “Crystal Dixon: Faith
and Free Speech Defender,” to explain her story, express her views and ask for
donations.
Dixon, a
former UT administrator who was fired for opinions she expressed about gay
rights on Toledo Free Press’ Web site, accused the university of violating her
First Amendment rights when it terminated her employment earlier this month.
Dixon, UT’s
former interim associate vice president of human resources, told a group of
supporters May 14 she wrote the April 18 column that appeared on the newspaper’s
Web site as a private citizen, saying she had a “divine mandate” to write her
opinions based upon the Christian faith. Her piece, “Gay rights and wrongs:
another perspective,” was written in response to a column by Toledo Free Press
Editor in Chief Michael S. Miller in which he mentioned UT’s policy of offering
domestic-partner benefits to university employees but not to those of the
former Medical University of Ohio (MUO) when the institutions merged in 2006.
According
to a statement on the site’s home page, Dixon wants to “share with visitors her
story and also explain why she is championing the causes of free speech, the
Christian faith and family values.”
On the
home page, Dixon provides supporters with two ways they can help: to send
contributions to “help defray … ongoing survival expenses,” or to give
tax-deductible donations to her legal defense fund.
“[The
site] was all done on her own to help her with her attorney Tom Sobecki’s
costs,” said Brian Rooney, attorney and spokesman for Thomas More Law Center,
which is representing Dixon.
Rooney
said while Dixon must pay civilian attorney’s fees to Sobecki, Thomas More is a
Christian public interest law firm, and therefore will not charge Dixon.
