Gay professor to be dismissed
Adapted from reporting by PGN staff
The University of Delaware announced in January 1976 that it would dismiss Richard Aumiller, an openly gay professor who served as the school’s theater director and faculty advisor to the gay campus group. The school notified him that his contract would not be renewed when it expired at the end of August.
Aumiller, 26, was hired in the fall of 1975. Soon after, he began advising the university’s 80-member Gay Community group.
Dr. Edward A. Trabant, president of the 19,000-student university, said Aumiller was being dismissed “because he placed himself in a position of encouraging, condoning and sanctioning homosexuality for the undergraduate.”
“When young students come to the university, they may be unacquainted with various modes of sexual behavior,” Trabant said. “If they become misled, thinking the university condones this, they are in error.”
Aumiller has also written several articles about “gay lifestyles” in the university newspaper and local press, said Dr. Daniel Wood, assistant to Trabant. He said that “gave the impression that the university sanctions homosexuality.”
Aumiller told PGN he planned to fight his dismissal.
“I’ll fight this with every resource I can muster,” he said. “I have no intention of leaving Newark until this issue is resolved.”
A grievance that Aumiller filed with the university’s theater department was denied as “without grounds.” The American Association of University Professors voted unanimously to support Aumiller.
Gay lobby day set in Harrisburg
Adapted from reporting by PGN staff
The Gay Rural Caucus announced a gay-rights lobbying day to take place March 23, 1976, in Harrisburg. The action will pull together a working coalition of organizations.
Sam Deetz of Northumberland County chairs the rural caucus. He said the caucus was looking for members from all over the state to coordinate lobbying efforts. Workshops were planned for the Saturday before what was called “Gay Lobby Day.” They were scheduled in the eastern and western parts of the state before activists were to meet in Harrisburg.
— compiled by Paige Cooperstein
