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A psychologist who has publicly called homosexuality a mental illness that needs treatment was scheduled to speak at Jefferson High School on the achievement gap. The district cancelled his appearance after learning about his views from The Oregonian.

(Casey Parks/The Oregonian)

UPDATED 3:50 p.m.:

A psychologist who has declared homosexuality a mental illness that must be treated is scheduled to speak at a Jefferson High School event on Thursday as part of a diversity initiative.

Umar Johnson

Umar Johnson, a prominent school psychologist known for being a blood relative of abolitionist Frederick Douglass, is scheduled to participate in a Black History 101 Mobile Museum at Jefferson High School.

The event, which is part of the district's Focus on Diversity film and lecture series, is associated with the district's Office of School-Family Partnerships.

Johnson has

at various talks and on radio shows, according to multiple videos posted on YouTube.

In an interview with KTL Radio posted on YouTube, he

.

Johnson, reached on his cell phone, confirmed he was speaking at Jefferson High. When asked about whether he has called homosexuality a mental illness in the past, he replied, "No, ma'am."

He referred a reporter to his publicist before abruptly hanging up the phone.

Khalid el-Hakim, the founder of the mobile museum, said he had not heard of Johnson's view of homosexuality before being contacted by a reporter. He confirmed that he asked Johnson to speak at the exhibit, and it would be Johnson's first time being associated with the event.

"I chose him based upon his work in the black community in terms of giving lectures over special education and overmedicating black students in terms of special education and that piece in the achievement gap," said el-Hakim.

el-Hakim said he is paid between $750 and $1,800 for his services with the museum. He noted Johnson would be paid, but said he did not know the exact cost.

el-Hakim said he had no comment on Johnson's views, since he had not heard from him on the issue.

He also noted the museum is inclusive of historical black figures who are gay, mentioning openly gay poets Langston Hughes and James Baldwin.

"I haven't discriminated personally in regards to people who are homosexual in this exhibit," he said.

A call to Jefferson High School Principal Margaret Calvert was not immediately returned and district spokeswoman Christine Miles had no immediate comment on Johnson's appearance.

Johnson is scheduled to address education challenges for African-American students. He was described on a district flier as a "an expert on helping schools and parents modify challenging behaviors that can ultimately lead to disruptive behavior disorder diagnoses in Black boys."

Check back for more on this story later this afternoon.

Betsy Hammond of the Oregonian staff contributed to this report.

-- Nicole Dungca

Follow @ndungca