by Andy Kelley
New Media Organizer, Courage Campaign
This is outrageous.
I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t watched it myself: An NBC station in Texas actually asked their members “Do you think this country’s acceptance of homosexuality could lead to it’s downfall?” But that’s exactly what happened today both online and on the air on KETK-NBC in East Texas:
What is more, the station’s website continues to display the footage of this segment as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. Cordially remarking that their viewers were asked to “bend the ear” of the segment host, as if it had been a story discussing the relative cuteness of kittens.
I find it both outrageous and disheartening that NBC, the network that brought us such forward thinking and inclusive shows as “Will and Grace,” would stand for this sort of anti-gay nonsense from one of its affiliates. In that though, at least, I am not alone.
Already there are efforts being organized on Facebook, seeking to stop this NBC station from continuing to spread this type of anti-gay “news.”
It’s disconcerting that amidst the progress and positivity of the “It Gets Better” Project, that there would be such huge setback on our airwaves, and by our elected officials. A crystal clear reminder that though the road ahead will get better, it is up to each of us to continue to hold those in positions of power accountable.
I want to know whether NOM’s Maggie Gallagher thinks Clint McCance should be fired. McCance is the Midland, Arkansas school board member who wrote on his Facebook page:
Seriously they want me to wear purple because five queers killed themselves. 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. REALLY PEOPLE.
No because being a fag doesn’t give you the right o ruin the rest of our lives. It you get easily offended by being caleld a fag then don’t tell anyone you are a fag. Keep that shit to yourself. I don’t care how people decide to live their lives. They don’t bother me if they keep it thereselves. It pisses me off though that we make special purple fag day for them. I like that fags can’t procreate. I also enjoy the fact that they often give each other AIDS and die. If you aren’t against it, you might as well be for it.
I would disown my kids if they were gay. They will not be welcome at my home or in my vicinity. I will absolutely run them off. Of course my kids will know better. My kids will have solid christian beliefs. See it infect everyone.
What does this have to do with Maggie? Just the other day she warned Australian conservatives that America is persecuting anti-gays:
We are already seeing the engine of state power being used to exclude traditional religious believers, especially from posts of cultural power…
It seems obvious that a man who celebrates — even hopes for — gay teen suicide has no business on a school board. On the other hand…
Would Maggie point out that Midland is public, taxpayer supported school district?
Would Maggie argue that firing McCance means the government is persecuting him for his religious beliefs?
Would Maggie say that kicking him off the school board is an example of “the engine of state power being used to exclude traditional religious believers, especially from posts of cultural power”?
So Maggie, tell us, do you think Clint McCance should be fired? If so, wouldn’t that violate all of NOM’s rhetoric?
And if not, Maggie, if not — then is there any religious behavior you wouldn’t excuse?
UPDATE BY EDEN: HRC just deployed this press release:
HRC to Arkansas School Board Hater: Resign or Face Investigation and Removal
HRC Sends Letter to Education Officials
WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today once again called upon Clint McCance – a Midland School Board Member from Arkansas – to resign following an anti-gay tirade he unleashed on Facebook in response to national Spirit Day last week. Today, HRC also sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education, the Arkansas Department of Education and the Midland School District calling for an immediate investigation into McCance’s conduct and to suspend him from office if he does not heed our call to resign. A Facebook page calling for McCance’s resignation has swelled over 17,000 “likes.”
The messages were first brought to HRC’s attention by R. Anthony Turner, a 1998 graduate of Midland High School. A PDF of the Facebook page with the message is at:
Text of the letter from HRC President Joe Solmonese:
October 27, 2010
Dr. Tom W. Kimbrell
Arkansas Department of Education
Four Capitol Mall
Little Rock, AR 72201
Mr. Bryson Wood
President, Midland School Board
P.O. Box 630
741 Main Street
Pleasant Plains, AR 72568
Dear Dr. Kimbrell and Mr. Wood:
I am writing about the recent hateful anti-gay tirade by Midland School District Board Member Clint McCance on Facebook. Given the severity of his remarks and the position which he holds, we are demanding that your agencies immediately launch investigations into his conduct. Furthermore, we ask that Mr. McCance be suspended from his position immediately if he does not heed our call to resign.
No students should be subject to the kind of hate that came from Mr. McCance. All kids deserve better and that’s why it’s imperative for your agencies to act swiftly and with resolve.
The record of McCance’s conduct is clear. In response to national Spirit Day last Wednesday, an individual that guides the education of children took to Facebook and wrote: “Seriously they want me to wear purple because five queers committed suicide. The only way im wearin [sic] it for them is if they all commit suicide.” Unfortunately, his tirade did not end there. Screen captures of his Facebook postings can be found at: www.hrcbackstory.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/ClintMcCanceFacebookimage.pdf
You are no doubt aware of the letter sent to all school districts on Monday by the U.S. Department of Education informing them of their requirement under Title IX to protect all students from harassment, including harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity. There is no doubt that Mr. McCance’s conduct is clearly at odds with this requirement. Mr. McCance’s comments also violate the Midland’s School District’s nondiscrimination policy, which reads: “The Midland School District is committed to having an academic and work environment in which all students and employees are treated with respect and dignity. Student achievement and amicable working relationships are best attained in an atmosphere of equal educational and employment opportunity that is free of discrimination.”
Students in the Midland School District, across Arkansas and America were put in harm’s way by Mr. McCance’s insidious remarks. These are exactly the kind of statements that will lead some kids to bully and others to continue a destructive pattern of self-loathing behavior. When an authority figure of Mr. McCance’s standing repudiates gay people, it sends a very powerful message that violence and/or discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people is acceptable. It also emotionally devastates those who are LGBT or may be struggling with their sexual orientation or gender identity. His words were not only inaccurate, they were also dangerous and you have a responsibility to act NOW.
We await your immediate response.
Sincerely,
Joe Solmonese
President
Cc: Russlynn Ali
Assistant Secretary, Office of Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights
400 Maryland Ave SW
Washington DC 20202
Mr. Dean Stanley
Superintendant, Midland School District
P.O. Box 630
741 Main Street
Pleasant Plains, AR 72568
The Arkansas Department of Education strongly condemns remarks or attitudes of this kind and is dismayed to see that a school board official would post something of this insensitive nature on a public forum like Facebook. Because Mr. McCance is an elected official, the department has no means of dealing with him directly. However, the department does have staff who investigate matters of bullying in schools and we will monitor and quickly respond to any bullying of students that may occur because of this, as we have with other civil rights issues in the past.
“In Arkansas law, the only way to recall a school board member is over a felony [committed by him or her] or absentee issues,” said Julie Johnson Thompson, the director of communications for the Arkansas Department of Education in Little Rock. Thompson says McCance, as an elected official, answers to voters, not Midland school district’s superintendent. “[The Arkansas Department of Education] doesn’t have any control over his job,” Thompson pointed out.
Update 3: MSNBC’s openly gay host Thomas Roberts covers the story.
On Monday, he did graciously speak to us for more than 15 minutes and the following video is one segment of our discussion (apologies for not getting it up sooner; we had some technical difficulties).
Brown and others who oppose marriage equality frequently like to talk about the necessity of having one man and woman to raise a child.
So I asked him, “what is it that a man can do that a woman can’t?”
You’d think that would be a simple question for him to answer, right?
Quote: “A mother can nurture and take care of a baby. A man can’t do that.” Unquote.
In the final week of a contentious midterm election when voters are understandably focused on pocket-book issues, a collection of anti-gay groups and politicians are crisscrossing Iowa in a bus tour aimed at ousting three state Supreme Court justices who took a particular view of the state constitution.
Funded by the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) and the Family Research Council (FRC), this campaign has nothing to do with Des Moines, Dubuque or Waterloo. Instead, it’s all about sending a chilling warning to state justices sitting everywhere else: either enforce your state constitution in the same, rigid ideological way as we do, or we’re coming to get you.
The wrath of NOM is notable: it’s already spent over $500,000 on what is usually a sleepy retention election and may spend even more before election day. This high-octane effort to knock off three justices, centers on the Iowa Supreme Court’s unanimous 2009 decision that allowed same-sex couples to marry. The well-reasoned and deliberative decision was entirely consistent with Supreme Court rulings in California, Massachusetts and Connecticut. It is also unlikely to ever be revisited by the court, making this campaign even more transparent for what it really is.
Frankly, this campaign is more wild west vigilante than democracy in action. The three judges under fire in NOM-financed television ads refuse to mount a counter attack believing it sends the wrong message to litigants who may appear in court before them.
It also disregards a scrupulous selection process based on merit, not politics or ideology. Iowa judges are chosen after review by the Judicial Nominating Commission which forwards qualified candidates to the governor for appointment. Newly appointed judges are immediately seated and hear cases for at least a year until the next retention election. Once “retained” by voters, they serve an eight year term.
Since the merit selection and retention system was established in 1962, only four judges have been thrown out, and none of them from the state’s highest court. The system was designed to flag gross misconduct, not punish judges for one ruling.
But that was before outside groups weighed in with their money and their fear-mongering. To read the announcement of NOM’s bus tour, voters are left to believe that unless these three judges get the boot, everything is up for grabs, from Iowans’ hunting rifles to their very right to vote.
Is it worth restating that the state Supreme Court’s decision on marriage was unanimous? But that’s a small point to 2012 presidential hopeful Rick Santorum who’s flying out for the Iowa tour. Santorum’s homophobic views are well documented; he’s compared homosexuality to bestiality, incest and adultery. This is clearly his opportunity to travel around a presidential primary state while burnishing his right-wing credentials.
Process and precedent also didn’t deter the American Family Association (AFA) from being an early campaign backer. The AFA is perhaps best known for boycotting Disney for eight years claiming it promoted a gay agenda. It moved onto the auto industry in 2005, boycotting Ford Motor Company because it advertised in gay periodicals.
It makes sense, doesn’t it, that organizations bent on intimidating businesses would be game to take on judges?
Like most people, I want to live in a country where judges look at the case before them and apply past precedent and sound legal principals to the grey areas. Like former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Conner, appointed by President Reagan and viewed as a moderate, I’m terrified of a judicial system hijacked by well-heeled ideologues, on the left or the right, unhappy with a single decision.
What’s happening this election cycle in Iowa has nothing to do with the Hawkeys and everything to do with threatening judicial independence everywhere. And it’s about right-wing, anti-gay groups like NOM, FRC and AFA getting a notch in their belt by attacking judges who are too principled to fight back.
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