Ark. school official accused of antigay posting

October 28, 2010|Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A member of a northern Arkansas school board, commenting on a campaign to get people to wear purple to show support for bullied gay and lesbian youth, purportedly posted on Facebook that the only way he would wear purple is “if they all commit suicide.’’

The Arkansas Department of Education yesterday condemned the alleged posting by Clint McCance, a Midland school board member.

The Advocate, a magazine that reports about gay issues, first reported the posting on its website. The Facebook page has been disabled, but The Advocate posted a screen grab of the alleged postings that it says someone forwarded to it.

McCance’s alleged posting was in response to a Facebook campaign that asked supporters to wear purple last Wednesday to show solidarity after several gay and lesbian youths killed themselves, reportedly because of bullying.

“Seriously, they want me to wear purple because five queers killed themselves,’’ the posting reads. “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.’’

McCance told the Arkansas Times that the issue had been “blown out of proportion’’ but declined to comment further. In a statement, the Midland School District distanced itself from McCance’s comments and said the school does not “support or condone’’ what was written on the Facebook page.