DOE drops homophobe climate-changer denier [View All]

Monday, May 17, 2010

DOE drops homophobe climate-changer denier

Posted by John Aravosis (DC) at 5/17/2010 08:35:00 PM

We had reported earlier today that a homophobic climate-change denialist had been appointed to an elite panel by the Department of Energy to work on the oil spill. He's now been let go.

From press secretary Stephanie Mueller at the Department of Energy:

"Dr. Chu has spoken with dozens of scientists and engineers as part of his work to help find solutions to stop the oil spill. Some of Professor Katz's controversial writings have become a distraction from the critical work of addressing the oil spill. Professor Katz will no longer be involved in the Department's efforts."
(Hat tip to Aaron McQuade of OutQ News for breaking this story.)

Over 2,300 people signed our open letter to the President. All of you made this happen. Thank you.

http://gay.americablog.com/2010/05/doe-drops-homophobe-climate-changer.html

Earlier thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=299817&mesg_id=299817

On edit, here is the petition that was sent to President Obama:

The Department of Energy has just appointed Jonathan I. Katz, an avowed "proud homophobe" to an elite scientific panel that is assisting British Petroleum with the oil spill disaster in the Gulf.

As reported in AmericaBlog, Katz has used his position as a leading scientist to publicly promote hateful views including that gay men (whom he refers to as "sodomites") are responsible for the deaths of "innocent victims" of AIDS (which suggests that gay men who die from AIDS are deserving victims).

Join CREDO and AmericaBlog in asking Pres. Obama to fire Jonathan I. Katz.

In his essay "In Defense of Homophobia," Katz writes of AIDS victims: "people died so the sodomites could feel good about themselves" and "I am a homophobe, and proud." He also compares being gay to being a member in the Ku Klux Klan.

President Obama's Department of Energy has created a panel of five top scientists to help resolve the catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico. Jonathan I. Katz is not representative of the best minds in America and should be replaced immediately.

http://www.change.org/petitions/view/urge_pres_obama_to_fire_homophobe_jonathan_i_katz