Louisiana State University has relieved a graduate student lecturer, Marcus Venable, of his teaching duties. This decision came after Venable decided to ring Republican State Senator Mike Fesi and leave a particularly disturbing voicemail. The university confirmed on Thursday that Venable was fired for the stunt.
The attack was carried out because Fesi voted yes on House Bill 648, the “Stop Harming Our Kids Act.” The bill allows a ban on gender-affirming health care for transgender youth to become law. Venable apparently felt he had to lash out at Fesi for wanting to protect Louisiana’s youth.
The House voted 76 to 23 in favor of overriding the Democratic governor, John Bel Edwards, veto. The Senate voted 28 to 11 to override on July 18. House Bill 648 bans hormone treatments, puberty blockers, sex-change surgery, and other related procedures for children, AKA individuals 18 and under.
UNHINGED: This is a voicemail that was sent to Louisiana State Senator @Sen_BigMikeFesi after he voted to override Gov. John Bel Edwards' veto on the bill to ban child sex changes in which @LSU Professor Marcus Venable calls him a "fat fucking piece of shit" and says "I can't… pic.twitter.com/IEKisCF6mg
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) July 20, 2023
During the veto override session on Tuesday, Fesi shared information about individuals who have undergone irreversible procedures and ended up regretting going through with them. When Venable found out Fesi voted to protect children from doing something they may regret, he gave Fesi a call.
Venable begins the voicemail, “I just wanted to say ‘congratulations’ to our State Senator, ‘Big Mike’ Fesi. And that f—— moron voted to make things worse for people who are already suffering. You fat f—— piece of s—-.”
He threatens Fesi before ending the call, “I can’t wait to read your name in the f—— obituary. I will make a god—- martini made from the tears of your butthurt conservatives when we put your f—— a– in the ground, you fat f—— useless piece of s—. F— you. I hope you have a terrible day.”
Local police identified Venable after Fesi reported the voicemail. In a statement to the Louisiana Illuminator, LSU spokesperson Abbi Rocha Laymoun stated that Venable would be permitted to continue his studies but would not be “extended the opportunity to teach in the future.”
Laymoun stated that the university fosters open and respectful dialogue. She also said the “profanity-filled, threatening call crossed the line.” Venables’ unhinged and disturbing behavior ultimately cost him his career.
