Indiana teacher suspended after anti-gay remarks
Thu. February 21, 2013 9:41 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
diana medley, sullivan high school
Sullivan, IN -
An Indiana teacher has been suspended for anti-gay remarks, according to the Indianapolis Star.
Northeast School Corporation Superintendent Mark A. Baker confirmed a teacher has been placed on administrative leave, but did not identify the individual by name.
"As many of you know and appreciate, our school corporation is continuing to manage as responsibly and respectfully as possible the fallout from comments made by an employee as she attended a meeting outside of school or a school activity," Baker said in a released statement.
Diana Medley, a special education teacher, created a firestorm of controversy with anti-gay comments amid news coverage of a "gay-free" prom at Sullivan High School in Sullivan, Indiana.
"Homosexual students come to me with their problems, and I don't agree with them, but I care about them," Medley told NBC affiliate WTWO. "It's the same thing with my special needs kids. I think God puts everyone in our lives for a reason."
When asked if the same goes for gays, Medley answered: "No I honestly don't [think they have a purpose in life]. Sorry, but I don't. I don't understand it. A gay person isn't going to come up and make some change unless it's to realize that it was a choice and they're choosing God."
Baker initially said Medley would not be disciplined; however, on Wednesday he indicated the need to place security outside the high school as reason for the teacher's suspension.
"In response to our concerns for the safety and security of everyone in our buildings, we have placed the employee at the center of this concern on administrative leave," he wrote.
A petition at Change.org to have Medley terminated has nearly 20,000 signatures.
Northeast School Corporation Superintendent Mark A. Baker confirmed a teacher has been placed on administrative leave, but did not identify the individual by name.
"As many of you know and appreciate, our school corporation is continuing to manage as responsibly and respectfully as possible the fallout from comments made by an employee as she attended a meeting outside of school or a school activity," Baker said in a released statement.
Diana Medley, a special education teacher, created a firestorm of controversy with anti-gay comments amid news coverage of a "gay-free" prom at Sullivan High School in Sullivan, Indiana.
"Homosexual students come to me with their problems, and I don't agree with them, but I care about them," Medley told NBC affiliate WTWO. "It's the same thing with my special needs kids. I think God puts everyone in our lives for a reason."
When asked if the same goes for gays, Medley answered: "No I honestly don't [think they have a purpose in life]. Sorry, but I don't. I don't understand it. A gay person isn't going to come up and make some change unless it's to realize that it was a choice and they're choosing God."
Baker initially said Medley would not be disciplined; however, on Wednesday he indicated the need to place security outside the high school as reason for the teacher's suspension.
"In response to our concerns for the safety and security of everyone in our buildings, we have placed the employee at the center of this concern on administrative leave," he wrote.
A petition at Change.org to have Medley terminated has nearly 20,000 signatures.