Jim Whitney a Teacher and Homophobe } “ Moral of The Story, Don’t Be Gay” Talking about gay Suicide Victim

 POSTED BY KEVIN FARRELL ON OCT 26, 2011 IN OH HELL NO! 

How More many kids most die before this teacher and others care?


Jim Whitney is the latest teacher to find himself embroiled in controversy after his homophobic remarks on Facebook about gay kids committing suicide have gone viral.

 

The Joplin High School teacher commented on a former student’s post about the suicide of gay teen Jamie Hubley and the necessity to end these deaths with the remark, “Moral of the story: Don’t be gay.”

For a lesser homophobe that would have been enough. But Whitney posted again, this time in response to a question about how many more gay children have to die before this issue receives the attention it deserves. His answer? “11-13 ought to do it. Somewhere in that vicinity.”

Whitney did not respond to requests for an interview but released a statement via email on Monday afternoon saying he was sorry the incident occurred.

“I do not condone bullying or harassment of any kind and I am very aware and saddened by the negative impact this type of behavior creates. I regret that the posts appeared on Facebook. They do not reflect my personal views and I apologize for any and all offenses caused by the comment.”

Whitney, however, did not respond to follow-up emails and telephone calls to explain how comments that do not reflect his views came from his Facebook account, nor has he been available for additional questions.

Not only is it morally reprehensible that Whitney needs a baker’s dozen of dead gay kids before he’ll consider taking gay bullying and suicide seriously, but employing a teacher who is unsympathetic to the plight of children in his care certainly seems like a lawsuit waiting to happen. The fact of the matter is that Jim Whitney has now created an atmosphere of hostility with his homophobic remarks. The fact that they were on Facebook does nothing to muddy the issue. No, that they were so flippantly made to a former student of his only makes the course of action here that much clearer.

Fire this homophobe.

School Board President Ashley Micklethwaite has stated that Mr. Whitney’s remarks will be discussed tonight at a meeting of the board. Please take a moment to voice your concerns to her and the board. No cussing, no yelling, no condemning anyone to hell – Just be polite, yet stern about the fact that this homophobic teacher has got to go.

Board President Ashley Micklethwaite ashleyrviii@hotmail.com

Vice President Jim Kimbrough kimbrough-j@mssu.edu

Board Member Anne Sharp auntanne@cableone.net

Board Member Michael Landis mlandis@cableone.net

Board Member Randy Steele jrsteele@cableone.net

Board Member Jeff Flowers jflowers@ilcenter.org

Board Member Phil Willcoxon pmwillcoxon@freemanhealth.com

(via Joplin Globe)