Sunday, February 19, 2006

Professor Joel Dorius is Dead

Most of you have probably never heard of Raymond Joel Dorius, who in the 1960s was arrested and shamed out of his job at Smith College in Massachusetts merely because he was gay and possessed nude photos of men. Dorius died Tuesday at the age of 87.

Sometimes we all need a reminder at how much progress American society has made in the last half-century, which also tells us how far we have left to go. Professor Dorius payed a dear price for his own humanity, suffering a mental breakdown before eventually clearing his name and getting on with his life, eventually teaching at San Francisco State. To criminalize human sexuality is a crime in itself. Thanks, Professor, rest in peace.

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