DePaul University Starts Gay Studies

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - Chicago's DePaul University is offering a minor in gay studies, gaining kudos from students and complaints from outside.
The Chicago Tribune reports the new minor -- officially titled Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Studies -- began this semester at the largest Roman Catholic university in the United States.
Courses in LGBTQ studies range from gender identity, same-sex desire and government reactions to homosexuals to literature and history of homosexuality in the United States.
Gary Cestaro, the director of the DePaul program, said it goes with the university's mission to "open investigation and free inquiry" of topical issues.
But DePaul alumnus and spokesman for Catholic Citizens of Illinois, Karl Maurer, said the program advocates "anti-Catholic propaganda" and "validates people in a sinful lifestyle."
If complaints are heading to the school, students aren't paying any attention to them. Classes are beyond capacity in the program and students dismiss religious opposition as intolerance and ignorance.
Senior Arnie VandeBrake said it is equivalent to any program looking into "the characteristics that people identify with," like women's, African-American and Asian studies.
from UPI