State lawmakers seek to shut down Arkansas Tech University's Department of Diversity and Inclusion

The Human Rights Campaign, which claims to be the largest LGBTQ rights organization in the world, has officially condemned efforts by state lawmakers to force a closure of the Arkansas Tech University Department of Diversity and Inclusion.

The lawmakers are proposing an amendment to House Bill 1213 that, if passed, will require Arkansas Tech University to dismantle its Department of Diversity and Inclusion. A draft of the amendment received by The Courier clearly seeks to eliminate the Department, saying “Arkansas Tech University shall not budget, allocate, commit for expenditure or expend any funding for the Arkansas Tech Department of Diversity and Inclusion or its successor.”

The amendment has been officially filed, according to one of the lawmakers involved, Trevor Drown. The amendment was not available on the state legislature’s website as of Friday evening, but Drown confirmed both the language and intent of the amendment Thursday evening.

Kendra Johnson, state director for the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement that dismantling the department was communicating a dangerous message.

Read more: http://www.couriernews.com/view/full_story/27378889/article-UPDATED--State-lawmakers-seek-to-shut-down-ATU-s-Department-of-Diversity-and-Inclusion