Liberty University 'Shrugs Off' Concerns Over Openly Gay Choreographer Assisting in Campus Production?

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April 8, 2014|12:53 pm

(Photo: http://geoffrey-goldberg.com)

Geoffrey Goldberg, a New York City-based performance artist, has been assisting Liberty University's theatre company in its production of "Mary Poppins."

Liberty University, the country's largest private nonprofit university, has issued a statement clarifying its hiring practices after a viral news report revealed that the conservative Christian school's stage company had sought the services of an "open homosexual advocate" for its production of "Mary Poppins."

"For decades, Liberty University has hired only faculty members who affirm the university's doctrinal statement," reads a statement from the Lynchburg, Va., school sent to Patheos bloggerBenjamin L. Corey. "The choreographer in question is an independent contractor supplied to the university through a third party association and has never applied for employment at Liberty University and has never been an employee of Liberty. Liberty has never required vendors who provide goods and services to the university to adhere to the university's doctrinal beliefs."

Corey, suggesting that Liberty's hiring of "someone who is openly gay and is a marriage equality advocate" could serve as an example for other Christian organizations, such as World Vision, pointed to a Christian News Network reportin which the Southern Baptist-affiliated university "basically shrugged their shoulders and said they hire people on the basis of their ability to do a job, not on the basis of their sexual orientation."

When questioned by the Christian News Network about the hiring of Geoffrey Goldberg to help choreograph its production of "Mary Poppins," Linda Nell Cooper, director of Liberty University's Alluvion Stage Company, told the publication that Goldberg was hired "based on his professionalism and his talent like everyone else."

In its statement to Patheos, Liberty University confirmed Cooper's remarks on its policies regarding independent contractors and insisted that it "has no plans to ever deviate from any of its longstanding policies and procedures for hiring," which include questioning prospective faculty and staff about their doctrinal beliefs and practices.

Some comments from online readers reflected a concern that the presence of an openly gay man on the Lynchburg, Va., campus would "expose" students to "adamant advocacy of homosexuality."

One commenter appeared appalled at suggestions that Christians and LGBT persons should not work together.

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Liberty University 'Shrugs Off' Concerns Over Openly Gay Choreographer Assisting in Campus Production?

Chris Hayes and Michael Mann discuss Libertarian and conservative climate denial trools – Video

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Chris Hayes and Michael Mann discuss Libertarian and conservative climate denial trools
Chris Hayes and Michael Mann discuss Libertarian and conservative crackpots of the "nether region" who flood comment sections with gibberish. Of course, when people point out that these libertaria...

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Chris Hayes and Michael Mann discuss Libertarian and conservative climate denial trools - Video

Are Ron Paul supporters ready for Rand Paul to carry the torch?

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Orlando, Florida (CNN) -- A long line snaked around the perimeter of a large hotel conference room as people waited eagerly to meet a former Texas congressman who they view as an icon in the modern libertarian movement.

Ron Paul had finished delivering a nearly hour-long speech to a gathering of Florida libertarians on Friday night, and he was now signing copies of books, t-shirts, posters and even a few paintings.

Paul might have retired from Congress last year, but he hasn't gone away quietly.

The eclectic group of activists who backed the Texas Republican in his back-to-back presidential runs still support him even as it appears many of them are ready to turn to his son, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, if he follows in his dad's footsteps and runs for president in 2016.

Rand Paul, who was elected in 2010, has quickly become a national figure in his own right due to his willingness to buck traditional GOP ideology, and a strong following among young, libertarian minded voters and self-described "tea party" activists.

Rand Paul's appeal among the grassroots has helped rank him, according to early polling, as a top contender for the Republican presidential nomination if he runs. And unlike his father, Rand Paul is more closely aligned with the GOP establishment.

But as Rand Paul's star continues to rise, where does he stand among Ron Paul's most ardent supporters?

While a few attendees at the conference argued Rand Paul is too moderate, many say he strikes the right balance that the movement needs a pragmatic choice to its principled core.

Or as Chris Sankey, a 29-year-old from Tampa, put it: "Rand is running the company, and Ron's chairman of the board."

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Are Ron Paul supporters ready for Rand Paul to carry the torch?

Libertarian Gary Johnson once climbed Everest, but that might be only second-highest hurdle

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MOBILE, Alabama At 61, Gary Johnson is a competitive skier, has climbed Mount Everest and wants to climb the highest peak on all seven continents.

His climbed Everest the tallest mountain in the world on a broken leg in 2003. But another goal might prove to be an even higher hurdle: Getting elected president of the United States as a Libertarian.

The former two-term governor of New Mexico who ran as a Libertarian in 2012 is not a candidate in 2016 yet. But he sounded like one as he worked the room at The Bull restaurant in downtown Mobile on Monday while soliciting donations for his organization, Our America Initiative.

I was born with an overdose of common sense, he told a crowd of about 20 as he shared his views on the economy, health care, foreign policy and social issues.

Johnson apparently also was born with a healthy dose of self-confidence. He predicted he would be a wildly successful president.

Johnson will attend a fundraiser in Montgomery Tuesday afternoon before participating in a forum on environmental policy at the University of Alabama at Birminghams Blazer Hall at 6 p.m. He will close out his Alabama trip at a fundraiser at Riverchase Country Club in Birmingham.

Diehard supporters would like to see Johnson give the presidency another shot. A Change.org petition to draft him has garnered 1,170 signatures.

Dennis Knizley, a Mobile lawyer who serves on the Alabama Libertarian Party Executive Committee, noted that Johnsons experience in high office sets him apart from many other of the partys candidates.

To the Libertarians, hes a godsend, he said.

Libertarians remain longshots

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Libertarian Gary Johnson once climbed Everest, but that might be only second-highest hurdle

In Solomon Islands’ flash floods, at least 15 people have died – Video

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In Solomon Islands #39; flash floods, at least 15 people have died
After the flash floods that have devastated much of the country in Solomon Islands, at least 15 people have died. The government said more than 50, 000 people have been affected by the disaster....

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In Solomon Islands' flash floods, at least 15 people have died - Video