N.J. Teacher Posts Anti-Gay Entry on Facebook

If there's any question as to why anti-gay bullying continues to run rampant in the nation's public schools, one need look no farther than Viki Knox, a teacher at Union High School in Union Township, New Jersey. Knox's school had put up a display recognizing October as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History month that included among other things photos of Virginia Woolf, Harvey Milk and Neil Patrick Harris. That recognition that LGBT people exist and that the vast, vast majority of us are not disease ridden drug users and alcoholics (the image the Christianists disseminate daily) apparently was too much for the bigoted Ms. Knox who went on a bigoted rampage on Facebook. One can only wonder at the treatment students at Union High receive from Ms. Knox and those with similar mindsets. In the New York Times coverage, it's no surprise to read that Ms. Knox "advised a student prayer group." Given New Jersey's new anti-bullying law, it would seem that Ms. Knox needs to join the ranks of the unemployed so that she's not in a position to harm youths. Here are some highlights from the Times story:

A New Jersey high school teacher became the center of a Facebook controversy on Thursday after writing on the site that “homosexuality is a perverted spirit that has existed from the beginning of creation” and complaining about a school display recognizing October as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History month.

In subsequent posts, Ms. Knox, who teaches special education classes, defended her views in lengthy exchanges with other Facebook users, referring at times to God and her Christian beliefs. A copy of the comments was provided to The New York Times; her Facebook page was removed from public view.

The state’s teacher database showed that Ms. Knox had 12 years of experience in the district and that she earned $72,109 in 2010. Some residents and parents said that she also advised a student prayer group . .

“Because her postings raised questions about her conduct within school, the school district can and should investigate whether she is performing her job in accordance with school policies and the state’s Law Against Discrimination.”

Members of Garden State Equality, a statewide civil rights organization that advocates gay rights, sent hundreds of e-mails and made phone calls to the district on Thursday demanding that Ms. Knox be dismissed because of her comments.

John Paragano, a lawyer and former member of the Union Township Committee, said he had been offended by Ms. Knox’s comments, and questioned her ability to enforce the state’s tough new anti-bullying law.

“Teachers are at the forefront of that, enforcing that,” Mr. Paragano said. “My concern is that if this teacher has these feelings, is she going to call out the bullying of a gay, lesbian and transgender person?”

I suspect that we already know the answer to that last question. Once again we see a "Christian" wanting to ride rough shod over the rights of others to be free from abuse. Why is it that it's always the Christians peddling the rank hatred?