In an echo of an incident in Florida over the summer, a public school teacher in Union Township, New Jersey, is under fire for spewing anti-gay hate speech on her Facebook page.
Over the weekend, [Viki] Knox, in response to an exhibit at the school celebrating October as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history month, apparently wrote, “Homosexuality is a perverted spirit that has existed from the beginning of creation . ”
The comment went on to say that homosexuality is a “sin” that “breeds like cancer.”
Knox apparently also wrote, “Union is not South Orange/Maplewood where one out of four families consist of two Mommies or daddies Why parade your unnatural immoral behaviors before the rest of us? I/we do not have to accept anything, anyone, any behavior or any choices! I do not have to tolerate anything others wish to do.”
Actually, you might! The 49-year-old Knox was “escorted off school property Thursday by school officials” and is now under investigation by the school district, her case destined to become the latest test of the limits of free speech. Does Knox have a right to be a homophobic bigot on her own time without being punished by a school that probably doesn’t want homophobic bigots mentoring its students? While the ACLU released a statement noting that Knox’s “comments are protected by the First Amendment,” it also pointed out, “The school has the right to investigate whether she is performing her job in accordance with school policies and the state’s Law Against Discrimination.”
Union Township school officials investigate teacher who allegedly made anti-gay remarks on Facebook [Star Ledger]
Union High School Teacher Under Fire For Alleged Anti-Gay Comments On Facebook [CBS NY]
