St. Petersburg College has added sexual orientation and gender identity to its diversity policy, less than two weeks after former SPC president Carl Kuttler Jr.'s sonâ┚¬â€Âopenly gay Carl Kuttler IIIâ┚¬â€Âdied after leaping off the Sunshine Skyway Bridge April 29.
Bill Law, who was named president of SPC last year to replace the older Kuttler, said he noticed the college's diversity policy â┚¬Å”does not represent the openness that characterizes St. Petersburg College.â┚¬Â It was unclear if the move was directly related to the former St. Pete Pride Board member's suicide.
After Law's request, the board approved the addition of both gender identity and sexual orientation without discussion on May 3. The Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County were quick to offer praise.
â┚¬Å”This is a positive and important decision that was made by St. Petersburg Collegeâ┚¬Â said Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County President Rick Boylan, â┚¬Å”LGBT individuals, especially students and employees, can now be assured that St. Petersburg College will not tolerate discrimination based on either sexual orientation or gender identity.â┚¬ÂÂ
Boylan added that SPC made a strong statement by including â┚¬Å”gender identityâ┚¬Â in its updated diversity policy.
â┚¬Å”It's refreshing to see such an important and strong statement from St. Petersburg College,â┚¬Â he added.
The move brings hope to LGBT organizations that other entities will embrace diversity and inclusiveness in policies, according to Boylan.
â┚¬Å”It's important that organizations, especially educational institutions, specifically state they prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression,â┚¬Â Boylan said.
The new SPC policy takes effect immediately.
