Tennessee teacher transferred after 'It's OK to Be Gay' article in yearbook

[Newsjock]

Source: Knoxville News-Sentinel

The Lenoir City High School teacher who found himself at the center of a series of controversies surrounding the school newspaper and yearbook has been transferred to another position within the school system.

James Yoakley, who served as chair of the English department at LCHS, has been transferred to the Lenoir City Middle School, according to Rosemary Quillen Chairwoman of the school board. Yoakley has been teaching at the high school for 11 years and has been supervisor of the school paper and yearbook for six years.

... In February, LCHS senior and editor of the school newspaper Krystal Myers created a stir when an article she wrote about atheism for the school newspaper generated a national debate on the issue.

... Earlier this month Yoakley came under fire from parents and other residents for allowing the LCHS yearbook to publish a student-written article on the experiences of a gay student. The article, titled "It's OK to be Gay," ignited a storm of protest including calls for a criminal investigation into Yoakley's influence on his students.

Read more: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/may/25/lenoir-city-teacher-in-yearbook-02/

Earlier DU discussion here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/113711103

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. If he loses his newspaper and yearbook adviser posts, this is a cut in pay

That's probably why they transferred him.

Bastards.

[RKP5637]

2. America has a lot of sick people that constantly want to suppress others rights.

Equality and freedom, what a joke America often is ... Our history is filled with outrageous behavior against equality and freedom, and the pursuit of happiness.

[riderinthestorm]

3. K&R, not because I like the story or the teacher's punishment

but because of the important content.

What a damn shame.

[d_r]

4. Meanwhile in other parts of Knoxville

a right wing republican family values county commissioner gets arrested for cruising in a park. It seems like there is some sort of connection here...oh, I know: being gay is something that you should hide and deny in knoxville.

[pnwmom]

5. K & R n/t

[msongs]

6. christian terrorists using their religion to discriminate...nothing new here nt

[riderinthestorm]

7. Morning kick! nt

[GoneOffShore]

8. There are a lot of frightened people out there.

Frightened of brown people, of gay people, of women, of gods that don't exist.

[4_TN_TITANS]

9. Believe it or not, attitudes are changing here in Tennessee...

this article is about dead-red East Tennessee. Here in middle TN, our town had it's first Pride Fest a few weeks ago and it was a spectacular success! Nashville's Pride event is coming up soon, it should be even better.

[adigal]

10. So it's not OK to be gay in this school?? Should gay kids be beaten??

Tortured?? Shunned?? What is OK to these pseudo-Christians.

This makes my blood boil. That teacher should get a lawyer and file some kind of anti-discrimination suit against the district.