Where my single ladies at?!
If you’re looking for a straight male contemporary dance instructor – a rare score in this day and age of sexual openness and freedom – to spin you around and show you some moves, have I got some good news for you!
Late last week, The Oklahoman reported that Austin Hartel – a longtime OU dance professor – has sued the university for over $1 million in a desperate effort to prove that he is not gay.
Well, at least that’s one way to interpret his lawsuit. KOKH has another:
Oklahoma assoc. professor sues university, claims discrimination as a straight male dancer
An associate professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Fine Arts filed a lawsuit against the university, claiming he was denied a promotion due to discrimination based on his sexual orientation as a straight male and retaliation for his advocacy against sexual harassment.
Austin Hartel is a tenured associate professor who has been working at OU for 22 years.
Yep, that’s right.
Pay attention and rejoice, all you straight male hairstylists, cheerleaders, figure skaters, oboists, and cupcake chefs. We’ve reached the point in the decline of Western civilization where you can now sue people for thinking you’re gay... when you’re not!
Seriously, it’s wild how the pendulum swings.
I figured the Straight White Males Revenge Tour was going to end with lawsuits over DEI initiatives, affirmative action programs, and mandatory diversity training. It never occurred to me that my brethren would start suing to prove they’re straight.
I can’t wait to see the next Noble McIntyre ad for that.
Here’s more:
He claims in the lawsuit that his qualifications – including recognition as a Fulbright Scholar and as a nationally and internationally recognized artist – surpass those of many full professors in the College of Fine Arts.
In 2024, Hartel applied for a promotion to full professor but was denied based on “claims of insufficient peer-reviewed work and inadequacies in his creative statement.”
First of all, just because you have a bunch of fancy awards, distinctions, and recognition doesn’t automatically make you the best person for the job. Who knows? Maybe Austin was passed over because he wasn’t a hard worker, flirted with students, or there were simply better gay candidates out there.
Plus, what proof does he have that OU didn’t promote him because he’s straight? Did he catch the Dean on tape saying she thinks straight male dancers who try to sleep with the girls in the company are disgusting or something?
Actually…
The claim of discriminatory practices conducted by the university stems from an audio recording Hartel allegedly possesses, depicting the then-director of the School of Dance – now Dean of the College of Fine Arts – Mary Margaret Holt, making derogatory comments about “straight” male dancers.
According to the lawsuit, in the audio recording Holt allegedly states: “Straight male dancers... [who] go around and sleep with all the girls in the company are disgusting.”
Hartel himself is a “straight” male dancer and stated he experienced bias and hostility due to this characteristic.
Yep, Dean Holt apparently has a negative view of straight male dancers and – somewhat accurately – assumes they want to hook up with the girls in the company.
Outside of pictures like this one of Hartel trying to woo the ladies with his contemporary dance moves, what would ever give her that idea?
Word to the wise: if you're planning to sue your school for allegedly denying you a promotion because the Dean thought you were a creepy, straight male predator who is trying to sleep with students... maybe don’t pose for photographs that could prove her point.
Seriously, what is that a still from? “Chad: The Ballet?”
“Okay class, today we’re rehearsing a new routine where I, your 100% heterosexual and totally misunderstood male professor, bravely fend off a swarm of seductive sirens who, for some reason, are all wearing skin-tight white unitards.”
In addition to saying the school discriminated against him for being straight, Hartel is also suing the school for retaliation for advocating against sexual harassment.
He previously advocated for a male student who filed a sexual harassment complaint against a former faculty member in the School of Dance.
Hartel says his whistle-blowing included presenting evidence of inappropriate behavior – including late-night, sexually suggestive text messages sent by the former faculty member to several male dance students.
Following that, Hartel claims he was subjected to a pattern of retaliatory actions by the university.
Look, I don’t care if they're gay or straight – I’m just not sure we want to live in a world where professors get in trouble for trying to hook up with students. How else are we going to convince people to enter the field of higher education?!
Anyway, I’ll admit I’m giving Hartel a hard time here.
Even when they’re kinda accurate and there for a reason, discriminating against people based on preconceived notions, stigmas, and stereotypes is wrong.
If he really is straight, and really was denied advancement simply because he likes to move and gyrate with women on both the dance floor and in the bedroom, then I wish him the best of luck in the lawsuit.
Even though it’ll probably inspire a wave of copycat lawsuits from straight men stuck in primarily gay professions, I hope he gets what he deserves.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
