One of my least favorite statements I hear people make, "I don't condone the gay lifestyle." Ok, who appointed you judge and gave you the right to "condone" the way another human being lives.
I've been saddened by the number of teenage gay kids who have committed suicide recently, including here in Oklahoma, following bullying by schoolmates. There's been a rise of media coverage of bullying overall, not just against gay kids, but all sorts of students.
I was happy with the US Department of Education reminded school districts that they are responsible for providing a safe and nurturing atmosphere for children and that tolerance of bullying could, in some cases, violate federal law as enforced by the Department's Office of Civil Rights. This includes preventing and having zero tolerance for harassment between students for any reason, including race, sezual orientation and more. Local news here seems to cover parents' disappointment on how local school officials are handling complaints of bullying.
This same week, a school board member in northern Arkansas posted vitriolic language on his personal Facebook profile stating he celebrates suicides committed by gay teenagers, and in fact, thinks all gay women & men should commit suicide. This is NOT. OKAY. Never mind Clint McCance's personal views, which I find disgusting. He's an elected public official who is responsible for creating a nurturing environment for ALL students in the Midland, Ark. school district. I'm not sure how he can achieve this when he is so openly hostile to a student population. This story has been covered by MSNBCand CNN's Anderson Cooper.
McCance certainly has a first amendment right to speak his views, and with that freedom of speech comes the responsibility to accept the consequences associated with that speech. The calls are nationwide for McCance to resign ... will he? The local district has distanced itself from McCance's remarks and the Arkansas State Department of Ed has issued statements condemning McCance's posts on the matter. However, McCance is only responsible to the voters and cannot be "fired" from his position for these views. He should resign. Period.
I'm not gay. I have no idea what's like to grow up gay, much less grow up gay in rural Arkansas. But, I know what it's like to be made fun of for being a geek, dork, etc. Middle school girls are mean. Middle school boys are mean. And,I can't fathom the pain a child would experience at the hands of his or her schoolmates for being gay. Bullying for any reason is not acceptable. And, bullying is on the rise. Everywhere.
I do that I believe that everyone has a right to live their lives how they want to and a responsibility to be a productive member of society. These beliefs have nothing to do with who you love or spend your life with. And, I believe Clint MCance has absolutely no business serving his local school board if he isn't able to champion a safe and nurturing environment for all students in the district. And, given his views on homosexuality, I don't see how he can.
