Notre Dame staff seek gay, lesbian protections

University of Notre Dame employees have signed onto a statement urging the Roman Catholic school to add sexual orientation to its nondiscrimination clause.

A full-page ad published Tuesday in the campus' newspaper that carries the names of 366 faculty and staff members urges Notre Dame "to make the protection, recognition, and equal treatment" of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people part of school policy.

Organizer sociology professor Richard Williams tells the South Bend Tribune that about a dozen more employees have signed the statement since it was published.

Williams joined the Notre Dame faculty in 1986. He says attitudes have changed on campus just as they have in American society.

The South Bend Common Council earlier this year voted to add sexual orientation to the city's nondiscrimination protection.