Board member wrote, "Gay students should kill themselves"
PLEASANT PLAINS, AR -- It's a story that's creating outrage across the country. Now, the Arkansas school board member who said gay children should kill themselves is stepping down.
The head of an anti-bullying group is applauding the decision, but the controversy surrounding Clint McCance's comments is far from dying down.
Until last night, McCance was a member of the Midland school board in Pleasant Plains, about 70 miles northeast of Little Rock.
He announced his resignation last night on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360." "The only thing I can do is extend my apologies for my poor speech," McCance said. "I don't wish death on anyone."
This story started getting legs earlier this month, when people in his community were asked to wear purple to show solidarity in the wake of several young gay and lesbians killing themselves after being bullied.
This is a story that hits close to home for many Central New Yorkers. Cyberbulling is a problem we've dealt with locally. Just last week, CNY Central was instrumental in getting Facebook to take down several offensive pages.
Local parents were outraged when they found pictures of their teenagers and comments about them posted on pages like "Syracuse Smuts" and "North Syracuse Smuts." After we contacted Facebook, the pages were removed after officials said they violated company policies.
It's a story that sparked plenty of dialogue on CNYCentral.com with dozens of comments posted. One person writes, "If you put pix on the internet, you get what you get. Have a little common sense. And mom, where are you while she's posting these pix? Maybe mom needs some parenting skills training."
Another writes, "It is very very sad and disturbing what these kids have resorted to. I mean as adults we all know that kids can be ruthless but this is a WHOLE new level. I am thrilled that actions are being taken. I know several students who have been personally attacked and do not even want to go to school anymore."
From Syracuse to New Jersey and across the country, cyberbullying has been in the national spotlight recently in light of several recent suicides by teens who were apparently bullied online. It's prompted lawmakers, parents, school administrators and teachers to look at what more can be done to protect young people in cyberspace.
Back in Arkansas, the school district is trying to distance itself from that school board member who unleashed that vitriolic rant about gay children. On his personal Facebook page, McCance unleashed a tirade. "Seriously they want me to wear purple because five queers killed themselves," he wrote. "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 went on, saying he likes that gay people "can't procreate (and) I also enjoy the fact that they often give each other AIDS and die."
That sparked outrage, which soon made its way to forums online. Other Facebook users responded with their own anger at McCance's comments. One person wrote, "Subhuman, lowlife, scum of the earth. McCance, you are not wanted in our society. Shame on this vile, pathetic excuse for a human being."
Several gay rights groups have condemned McCance's Facebook posting, including the Human Rights Campaign, which launched its own Facebook page calling for McCance's resignation, which eventually came last night.
The school district superintendent issued a statement saying McCance,"does not represent the board or speak for the board when he posts on his Facebook page." McCance has not ruled out the possibility that he may run for the school board again.
This all begs the question when does speech become hate speech and when should it be censored? Because it was posted on a personal Facebook page, does he have a right to do it? Should people be prosecuted for posting pictures and derogatory comments about people online like in the local Facebook case we had? What can be done to prevent cyberbulling? Leave your comments below.
