Gay congress candidate accused of sleeping with students defends himself

[andy]

Alex Morse is the openly gay, four-term Democratic mayor of Holyoke, Massachusetts who is currently running for Congress. Last week, he found himself ensnared in a college sex scandal. Now, he says he’s not letting his past sexual exploits ruin his political future.

The 31-year-old just announced that he has absolutely no intention of dropping out of the race after admitting to hitting on and having sex with multiple students at UMass Amherst, where he is a political science lecturer, as well from other schools in the Five College Consortium, while he was on the campaign trail.

Also, he says, anyone who wants him to end his candidacy is being homophobic.

Last Thursday, several students came forward to say Morse had connected with them on Tinder, Grindr, and Instagram, sending them suggestive DMs and, in some cases, propositioning them for sex following campus events.

The College Democrats of Massachusetts accused Morse of using “his position of power for romantic or sexual gain” and making many of the students feel “uncomfortable.”

In a statement issued Friday, Morse admitted to having “consensual adult relationships, including some with college students” and apologised “to anyone I have made feel uncomfortable.”

“I want to be clear that every relationship I’ve had has been consensual,” he said. “However, I also recognize that I have to be cognizant of my position of power.”

After admitting to the behavior, many called on Morse to end his candidacy, which, honestly, is not all that unreasonable. In the post #MeToo era, college professors should absolutely know better than to proposition students for sex.

Well, last night, Morse issued another, more forceful statement, this time insisting he’s not a sexual predator, that he hasn’t done anything wrong, and that he has absolutely no intention of ending his congressional campaign.

Wrote Morse:

I want to be very clear about this. I have never, in my entire life, had a non-consensual sexual encounter with anyone. I have never used my position of power as Mayor and UMass lecturer for romantic or sexual gain, or to take advantage of students. I have never violated UMass policy. Any claim to the contrary is false.

Some might argue that it’s not really up to him to decide if he “took advantage” of his alleged victims. It’s kinda up to them to determine how his actions made them feel.

The statement continued:

As I’ve acknowledged, I have had consensual relationships with other men, including students enrolled at local universities that I’ve met using dating apps. While I am confident that a full investigation into these matters will clear my name completely of any unethical conduct, I also recognize that some students felt uncomfortable with interactions they had with me. I am sorry for that.

Morse went on to imply that he believes the story is a politically motivated smear, as it broke just three weeks before his primary.

Then he tried saying an attack on him, as an openly gay man running for higher officer, is an attack on all LGBTQ people.

Except that most LGBTQ people don’t sleep with their subordinates.

Added Morse:

To the many members of the queer community that have reached out to me in recent days, it’s clear that many of you feel that these recent events, and the language used in response, aren’t just an attack on me, but on all of us. You’re genuinely outraged, as I am, by the invocation of age-old gay stereotypes. You have reminded me that we’ve come too far to turn back. I want my freedom, and I want you to have yours, too.

Morse said he plans to continue his campaign “mindful of the fact that my personal life–and my consensual sexual activity–will be subject to scrutiny and fixation that are all too familiar to other members of the LGBTQ community.”

Then he seemed to draw comparisons between his sleeping with students to things like police raiding gay bars, bathhouses, and public restrooms.

“I say this not to shirk responsibility for having made anyone uncomfortable,” he concluded. “I am simply highlighting the fact that I am being held to a different standard, one deeply connected to a history of surveilling the sex lives of people like me.”

Read his full statement below...

And now, the responses…

[InbetweenDreams]

TL;DR... I think the bottom line is don't sleep with students if you work at a college. I think it is just in poor taste even if it is consensual and totally honest relationship. It can come back to bite you regardless of your intent.

[Tjemka88]

Honestly, I have never understood what's the big deal with teachers dating and sleeping with their adult students. As long as you're two adult, consensual people, who cares who you are each to other.

[InbetweenDreams]

Honestly, I have never understood what's the big deal with teachers dating and sleeping with their adult students. As long as you're two adult, consensual people, who cares who you are each to other.

Not sure what is considered the norm abroad but generally speaking when it comes to students it is not professional to sleep or date your students. Aside from that, no there is nothing wrong with two consenting adults having sex or going on a date.

Same with co-workers. Most workplaces have some sort of policy about dating or having a relationship with co-workers...how well it is enforced depends on the place. I would risk my job if I were to sleep with a student. Might never become an issue but it could, if things go bad...have a bad date or whatever all it takes is them calling my workplace up and making up a bunch of shit.

[CellarDweller]

I call 'bullshit' on his claim that he's being treated differently because he's gay. There have been plenty of straight men who have been asked to step down for using their position to bed women, so it should be no different for Morse.

Everyone has a past, I get that, but when you have people coming forward saying that your behavior has made them feel uncomfortable, then something is off.

When you choose the behavior, you choose the consequences.

[JoelR]

It it is wholly unprofessional and against any teaching ethics for an instructor to be sexually engaged or romantically involved with a student. The reason is that it might unduly influence the instructor's grading of the student. A student should be graded on the merits of his academic work, not on whether or not he sleeps with his teacher.

The fact that he's claiming that his sexuality is being used against him cheapens the genuine struggles, harms, and consequences of homosexuality in society.

[kindy64]

It it is wholly unprofessional and against any teaching ethics for an instructor to be sexually engaged or romantically involved with a student.  The reason is that it might unduly influence the instructor's grading of the student. A student should be graded on the merits of his academic work, not on whether or not he sleeps with his teacher. 

The fact that he's claiming that his sexuality is being used against him cheapens the genuine struggles, harms, and consequences of homosexuality in society.

The Universities policy is that a professor may not become sexually engaged with THEIR OWN STUDENT, not ANY STUDENT at the university.

I may not have read everything, but I haven't seen it claimed that he slept with students of his.

[Chase]

From what I gathered, the students were his own age, the guy attacking him is working for his rival, and the only example they gave is a guy who admitted not knowing who he is when interacting with him. 

[InbetweenDreams]

From what I gathered, the students were his own age, the guy attacking him is working for his rival, and the only example they gave is a guy who admitted not knowing who he is when interacting with him. 

That figures, a lousy smear campaign.

[andy]

Take back any previous judgements... thanks for the update @Chase

He should sue for defamation of character if he was framed by them. Just saw this one too...