Jerry Buell, FL "Teacher of the Year" Suspended for Homophobic Rant on Personal Facebook Page

Florida "Teacher of the Year" Jerry Buell suspended after going on homophobic rant on personal Facebook page, says he "almost threw up" when he read NYS legalized gay marriage.

Florida "Teacher of the Year" Jerry Buell Goes on Homophobic Rant

Jerry Buell, a "Teacher of the Year" at Mount Dora High School in Mount Dora, Fla., was suspended for a homophobic rant on Facebook. According to the NY Daily News, Buell, who teaches social studies, wrote on his Facebook page that "almost threw up" when he read that New York legalized gay marriage last month.

He also slammed the same-sex unions as a "cesspool" and called gay marriage "a sin," officials said. Lake County school officials suspended him for violating their newly-adopted social media policy that warns teachers to think before they post.

"Social media is a minefield," Chris Patton, a school district spokesman, told the Sentinel. "People think they're free to say what they want to, but in some aspects it can come back to haunt you."

Buell protested his suspension by saying the comments were written on his personal page while he was off duty – but the school district wasn't buying it. Source

Where do you draw the line with what teachers and students alike can write on Facebook? We have seen a principal at a Forsyth County elementary school, Debbie Napier Smith holding a gun at a shooting range, but yet she wasn't reprimanded or fired. Was that okay and who determines the social media policy? Because it seems to me, if that had been a student with a gun, then he or she would have been suspended. Mr. Buell, fight for your job. Don't give in to the unconstitutional stance taken by the school district.

Here's my two cents on this matter: Jerry Buell didn't say anything derogatory about homosexuals, except that he called these unions a cesspool, which I wouldn't have. But he has a right to voice his opposition to gay marriage. The U.S. Constitution affords his that right, so what's the problem? Personally, I believe marriage is between a man and a woman but I wouldn't object if the court gave them the right to marry. Isn't that my right to feel that way? It would seem that members of the LGBT community are trying to ram their sexual orientation down our throats by going after anyone who dares voice opposition to gay marriage or teaching gay history in schools. I don't want the government encroaching on my rights as a parent, whether it's to teach "gay history" or by introducing a "gay book" in school about two mommies and two daddies. Deal with the opposition. There are still people out there who have a problem with President Barack Obama because he's black.

UPDATE#1 (08/24/11): Jerry Buell has been reinstated by Lake County Schools Superintendent Susan Moxley. A directive has been placed in his file, though they won't elaborate on what that directive is. Buell will return to classes on Thursday!