School board member's Facebook post urged 'sinful' gay youths to commit suicide



Controversy: Clint McCance made the remarks on Facebook

A school board member has sparked outrage after writing a Facebook post in which he urged bullied gay and lesbian youths to 'commit suicide'.



The controversial posting by Clint McCance came in response to Spirit Day, on October 20, which asked people to wear purple in recognition of bullied gay youths following several related suicides.



McCance, a board member at Midland School in Litte Rock, Arkansas, allegedly wrote: 'Seriously they want me to wear purple because five queers killed themselves.



'The only way im wearin it for them is if they all commit suicide. I cant believe the people of this world have gotten this stupid.



'We are honoring the fact that they sinned and killed thereselves because of their sin.'

His further comments allegedly promised he would disown his own children if they were gay, and stated that he enjoys 'the fact that [gay people] often give each other AIDS and die.'

McCance's Facebook page has since been disabled but before that happened a screen grab of it was published by The Advocate, a magazine that reports gay issues.



McCance has so far refused to comment but told the Arkansas Times that the issue had been 'blown out of proportion'.



Max Brantley, the Editor of the Arkansas Times, said McCance had seemed calm when they spoke and told him he had to consider his family before issuing a response.



Condemned: Midland School, where McCance is a board member

McCance, a husband and father, has already had his personal details posted on the internet in the backlash.

'I think there has been some ugly blowback so perhaps he is feeling a little threatened,' said Brantley.



A statement signed by Midland School headmaster Dean Stanley, distanced the school from McCance's remarks.



"The district strives to foster an environment that discourages all forms of bullying, and an environment that encourages a safe and productive educational climate of all of our students.



'The district is very diligent in pursuing and addressing bullying of any variety on our campuses.'

Arkansas Department of Education's director of communications, Julie Thompson, condemned the alleged posting but said the body cannot fire McCance because he was elected to the post. His removal can only be triggered by resignation or defeat in re-election.

Backlash: A Facebook group has been set up demanding McCance be fired

'(The department is) dismayed to see that a school board official would post something of this insensitive nature on a public forum like Facebook,' said Thompson.



Regardless, a Facebook group demanding McCance be fired has been set up and protestors have already stated their intent to demonstrate at the school if McCance is allowed to continue in his position.



One internet poster, David Insherwood, said: 'I am ashamed to be from Arkansas when people such as this spew such hatred.



'How the hell can you say you love your kids and value your family while wishing the death of other kids who also have families?



'People like this are the ones that make the rest of the country look at us and just shake their heads in disbelief!'

Schools in the area are reportedly to be monitored to provide a quick response in case students are bullied because of McCance's comments.