CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Speakers at a forum on the suspension of a Howell, Mich., high school teacher who kicked two students out of his class for making antigay comments say bullying is a problem at the school, and a teacher who stands up for gay kids should be saluted -- not disciplined -- for doing so.
Jay McDowell, an economics teacher at Howell High School, was suspended for a day without pay for kicking two students out of his class October 20. The argument started when one student said he "[doesn't] accept gays" because of his religion, according to the Associated Press. The student was wearing a Confederate flag belt buckle. When he was ejected from class, another student also voiced disapproval of gays and left as well.
"The classroom discussion was heading in a direction I didn't want it to head," McDowell said.
At Monday night's Howell Public Schools community forum, students discussed the bullying problem at Howell and praised McDowell for taking a stand (watch video below). McDowell said the youth who made the initial antigay comment is "a good student," but he wondered why he felt comfortable making the statement in class.
"That's on us," said McDowell. "We have to create an environment in these schools that makes it safe for everyone."
McDowell received support from students last week at a school board meeting: Fourteen-year-old Graeme Taylor of neighboring Ann Arbor urged the school board to reverse McDowell's suspension and grant him his pay.
"This teacher, whom I fully support, finally stood up and said something," Taylor said. "I've been in rooms -- in classrooms -- where children have said the worst things. The kinds of things that helped drive me to a suicide attempt at only 9 years old."
A video of Taylor's comments to the school board has been pulled from YouTube due to a copyright claim but can be found at the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus website here.
Watch video from the forum below.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
30 Steamy Photos of Folsom Street Fair 2023 Debauchery
October 15 2023 11:06 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
60 Burly Pics from Bearrison Street Fair 2022
October 08 2023 8:30 PM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
White House calls Republican spending bill’s ban on the Pride flag ‘inappropriate’
March 25 2024 8:17 PM
Plus
Yahoo FeedSexual Assault Survivor Stephen Hart Uses Theater to Heal
March 25 2024 5:55 PM
Neo-Nazis suspected of killing 72-year-old gay man after escaping from prison
March 25 2024 3:58 PM