
By Lucas Grindley
Originally published on Advocate.com August 24 2011 7:48 PM ET
A Florida teacher who refused to apologize for calling same-sex marriage a "cesspool" that makes him sick is returning to his high school social studies classroom.
Lake County school superintendent Susan Moxley appears to have sided with Jerry Buell's argument that he has a First Amendment right to write what he did on Facebook, according to reports about a hearing before the school board.
"If I did not stand up for my rights after telling my students to stand up for their rights then I would be a hypocrite," the Orlando Sentinel reports that Buell said while outside the district offices.
WKMG Local 6 reports that Buell has been given a list of 10 directives he must follow. But Moxely won't yet disclose the terms of Buell's return to the classroom. It might include a reprimand, it might not.
Some gay rights proponents were concerned that Buell's Facebook posting had sent a signal to gay students that they aren't welcome in his classroom. Here are the complete comments, according to WKMG:
"I'm watching the news,
eating dinner, when the story about New York okaying same sex unions
came on and I almost threw up.
"If they want to call it a union,
go ahead. But don't insult a man and woman's marriage by throwing it in
the same cesspool as same-sex whatever! God will not be mocked. When did
this sin become acceptable???"
Links:
[1] http://www.advocate.com/
[2] http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/08/23/Teacher_Who_Called_Gay_Marriages_a_Cesspool_Do_I_Apologize_No/
[3] http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/os-jerry-buell-gay-facebook-end-20110824,0,6667399.story
[4] http://www.clickorlando.com/news/28965406/detail.html