Joe.My.God. LGBT News
The Associated Press reports:
Liberty University President Jerry Falwell, Jr. has confirmed that he visited with President-elect Donald Trump in New York City. Falwell tells local media that he and Trump met Thursday at Trump Tower to discuss the U.S. Department of Education and Falwell’s potential role. He wouldn’t confirm or deny whether he was being vetted as secretary of education, but says he will “definitely play a role” in the administration. Falwell announced his support for Trump prior to the Iowa caucuses and has defended him during the campaign. He is a member of Trump’s Evangelical Executive Advisory Board.
Brian Tashman has more at Right Wing Watch:
Liberty, under Falwell’s direction, has promoted views from opposition to LGBT rights to Creationism to climate change denialism. Its code of conduct—which puts a tight leash on free expression, women’s fashion, and students’ conduct in their personal time—would be a troubling example for schools nationwide.
Just as Trump has expressed contempt for freedom of the press, Falwell reportedly spiked a story critical of Trump from the school newspaper. Liberty’s code of conduct has not only restricted demonstrations on campus, but reserved the right to stop students from participating in off-campus protests.
Falwell told the Richmond Times-Dispatch this year that he is a stronger supporter of school vouchers, which direct taxpayer funds to religious academies at the expense of public schools. Falwell would also have an interest in protecting the hundreds of millions of dollars in federal aid that Liberty receives thanks to its online programs—but such potential conflicts probably wouldn’t bother Trump.
The viciously anti-LGBT Liberty Counsel is a de facto arm of Liberty University’s law school.