A school board member who urged bullied gay and lesbian youths to ‘commit suicide’ has quit his post

A school board member who urged bullied gay and lesbian youths to ‘commit suicide’ has quit his post.

Clint McCance, the vice-president of the Midland School District in Pleasant Plains, Arkansas, apologised for the comments which caused public outcry.

He had posted them on Facebook in response to Spirit Day on October 20, when people were asked to wear purple in recognition of bullied gay youths after several suicide.

Apology: School board member Clint McCance was forced to apologise for comments in which he encouraged bullied gay youths to commit suicide

McCance speaks to CNN's Anderson Cooper: He had earlier dismissed the reaction to his comments as 'overblown'

He has now made an embarrassing apology on CNN. ‘I’m sorry I hurt people with my comments,’ he told Anderson Cooper.

‘I’m sorry I made those ignorant comments and hurt people on a broad spectrum. 

‘I would never support suicide for any kids. I don’t support bullying of any kids.

‘I’d like to extend apologies to those families that have lost children, for all those children who feel that suicide is the only way out.’

He added that he disapproved of homosexuality but would ‘give everyone a chance and try to love them.’

McCance, who in September was re-elected to the school board for a four year term , has received received death threats, hate mail and thousands of abusive phone calls.
The original Facebook post has been taken down but caused wide spread controversy.

Controversy: Clint McCance made the remarks on Facebook

'Seriously they want me to wear purple because five queers killed themselves,’ McCance 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.'
He also promised to 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.

He had earlier claimed that the incident had grown ‘out of proportion.’

Today, however, he was forced to grovel. ‘I’m reaping what I’ve sown,’ he said.
McCance’s comments had been savaged by his peers.

Tom Kimbrell, Arkansas commissioner of education: ‘I strongly condemn the statements that appeared on Mr. Clint McCance's Facebook page

‘ The divisiveness and disruption of these comments cause me to seriously question the ability of Mr McCance to remain as an effective member of the Midland School Board.’

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

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

Condemned: Midland School, where McCance is a board member

'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.

'(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.

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

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.

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