Professor's plight heard worldwide Nemecek getting
lots of attention after story appeared in newspaper
10/02/07 04:08 |
News
Professor's plight heard worldwide
Nemecek getting lots of attention after story
appeared in newspaper
Saturday, February 10, 2007
By Steven Hepker
shepker@citpat.com -- 768-4923
People worldwide are reading, writing and talking about Spring Arbor's Julie Marie Nemecek in the wake of her unveiling last week in the Citizen Patriot.
"They are blogging me in England and Portugal," Nemecek said amid the whirlwind of press coverage and Internet exposure.
John Nemecek is a 55-year-old transgender Spring Arbor University professor in transition to becoming a woman, Julie Marie.
Leaders at the Christian-based college deemed it unholy behavior. Nemecek's contract will not be renewed this spring, after 16 years.
Nemecek is an ordained Baptist minister and associate dean of adult studies. He has been married to a nurse, Joanne, for 35 years. They have three grown sons and say their love has grown during this transition.
Nemecek said she does not plan sex-change surgery, known as gender reassignment.
Family and friends have been digesting Nemecek's gender evolution for more than a year. Most are accepting Julie in stages.
University leaders cut Nemecek's salary and duties in 2006 and ordered her not to appear as a woman on campus or in related situations. She was accused of violating the revised contract on at least four occasions, such as wearing earrings at a golf outing.
University President Gayle Beebe issued a statement that administrators attempted to work with Nemecek and offered her "opportunity for restoration."
After filing a discrimination complaint against Spring Arbor University, Nemecek decided to come out in the Citizen Patriot.
The stories triggered plenty of talk locally. Discussions are a blend of science, religion, ethics and the cultural view of transgenders.
The story spread exponentially through news services and the Internet. Nemecek has been overwhelmed by e-mails, letters and calls from around the world, and a crush of media requests.
"The amount of support has been overwhelming," Nemecek said Thursday at home with Joanne.
Julie Marie continues to teach online undergraduate and post-graduate classes from home. She designed the university's Internet education programs in the early 1990s, helping online classes grow from six to 90.
Letters to the Citizen Patriot mostly support Nemecek. Many say this is a chance for the university to show its Christian heart and practice its commitment to diversity.
Beebe responded to the initial stories with separate messages to faculty and to students.
Beebe issued a protocol for dealing with the media and reiterated the university's position that Nemecek's actions are "inconsistent with the Christian faith."
Others also side with Spring Arbor University's stance that a transgender professor detracts from Christian teachings and the college image.
"I got one nasty call, from apparently a truck driver who was traveling through the area," Nemecek said. "Someone sent me a very negative letter, anonymously."
Julie and Joanne prayed and searched their hearts and the Bible, and concluded God does not command transgender persons to live conflicted lives.
"It is not some kind of sexual perversion and not anti-Christian," Nemecek said of the continuing steps toward looking like she has felt inside most of her life.
Nemecek was diagnosed with gender identity disorder and has been undergoing hormone therapy and counseling. Part of the protocol involves dressing as a woman, wearing jewelry, nail polish and makeup, and a female wig.
She attended a faculty meeting Tuesday on campus, not dressed as a woman. "I would be fired," Nemecek said.
More than 120 students and alumni have signed onto a "We Support Julie Marie" group on the FaceBook Web site launched by student Drew Hinkle.
Nemecek's youngest son, Joshua, even started his own blog at blog.myfathershe.com.
Gay rights groups have also taken up the cause, condemning Spring Arbor University and offering words of encouragement to Nemecek.
"People assume that if your are transgender you are gay, and that is not the case," Nemecek said. "We do share a common sense of discrimination."
The university maintains it is guaranteed federal and state civil rights to require that faculty are Christians. Nemecek agrees with that. But there is no right to discriminate based on gender, she said.
Nemecek, who legally becomes Julie Marie on Feb. 23, wants to keep her position, but as a woman. She cannot envision a compromise in which she returns as John.
"To some extent, it would be more painful than before," Nemecek said.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
By Steven Hepker
shepker@citpat.com -- 768-4923
People worldwide are reading, writing and talking about Spring Arbor's Julie Marie Nemecek in the wake of her unveiling last week in the Citizen Patriot.
"They are blogging me in England and Portugal," Nemecek said amid the whirlwind of press coverage and Internet exposure.
John Nemecek is a 55-year-old transgender Spring Arbor University professor in transition to becoming a woman, Julie Marie.
Leaders at the Christian-based college deemed it unholy behavior. Nemecek's contract will not be renewed this spring, after 16 years.
Nemecek is an ordained Baptist minister and associate dean of adult studies. He has been married to a nurse, Joanne, for 35 years. They have three grown sons and say their love has grown during this transition.
Nemecek said she does not plan sex-change surgery, known as gender reassignment.
Family and friends have been digesting Nemecek's gender evolution for more than a year. Most are accepting Julie in stages.
University leaders cut Nemecek's salary and duties in 2006 and ordered her not to appear as a woman on campus or in related situations. She was accused of violating the revised contract on at least four occasions, such as wearing earrings at a golf outing.
University President Gayle Beebe issued a statement that administrators attempted to work with Nemecek and offered her "opportunity for restoration."
After filing a discrimination complaint against Spring Arbor University, Nemecek decided to come out in the Citizen Patriot.
The stories triggered plenty of talk locally. Discussions are a blend of science, religion, ethics and the cultural view of transgenders.
The story spread exponentially through news services and the Internet. Nemecek has been overwhelmed by e-mails, letters and calls from around the world, and a crush of media requests.
"The amount of support has been overwhelming," Nemecek said Thursday at home with Joanne.
Julie Marie continues to teach online undergraduate and post-graduate classes from home. She designed the university's Internet education programs in the early 1990s, helping online classes grow from six to 90.
Letters to the Citizen Patriot mostly support Nemecek. Many say this is a chance for the university to show its Christian heart and practice its commitment to diversity.
Beebe responded to the initial stories with separate messages to faculty and to students.
Beebe issued a protocol for dealing with the media and reiterated the university's position that Nemecek's actions are "inconsistent with the Christian faith."
Others also side with Spring Arbor University's stance that a transgender professor detracts from Christian teachings and the college image.
"I got one nasty call, from apparently a truck driver who was traveling through the area," Nemecek said. "Someone sent me a very negative letter, anonymously."
Julie and Joanne prayed and searched their hearts and the Bible, and concluded God does not command transgender persons to live conflicted lives.
"It is not some kind of sexual perversion and not anti-Christian," Nemecek said of the continuing steps toward looking like she has felt inside most of her life.
Nemecek was diagnosed with gender identity disorder and has been undergoing hormone therapy and counseling. Part of the protocol involves dressing as a woman, wearing jewelry, nail polish and makeup, and a female wig.
She attended a faculty meeting Tuesday on campus, not dressed as a woman. "I would be fired," Nemecek said.
More than 120 students and alumni have signed onto a "We Support Julie Marie" group on the FaceBook Web site launched by student Drew Hinkle.
Nemecek's youngest son, Joshua, even started his own blog at blog.myfathershe.com.
Gay rights groups have also taken up the cause, condemning Spring Arbor University and offering words of encouragement to Nemecek.
"People assume that if your are transgender you are gay, and that is not the case," Nemecek said. "We do share a common sense of discrimination."
The university maintains it is guaranteed federal and state civil rights to require that faculty are Christians. Nemecek agrees with that. But there is no right to discriminate based on gender, she said.
Nemecek, who legally becomes Julie Marie on Feb. 23, wants to keep her position, but as a woman. She cannot envision a compromise in which she returns as John.
"To some extent, it would be more painful than before," Nemecek said.