FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Wayne Besen, Executive Director
Phone: 917-691-5118
E-mail: wbesen@truthwinsout.org
Intolerant Principal Lacks the Principles to Lead a Public School, Says TWO
Burlington, Vt. – Truth Wins Out called on the Haywood County School District today, in Brownsville, Tenn., to fire high school principal Dorothy Bond for allegedly warning gay students that they were “not on God’s path.” TWO launched a Change.org petition that urged the immediate dismissal of Bond for “outrageous comments and unprofessional, if not illegal, conduct.”
“This unconstitutional, anti-gay abuse has no place in America’s public schools,” said Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen. “Instead of doing her job by nurturing and protecting all students, Bond is singling out LGBT teenagers for ridicule and acting like a schoolyard bully. If the charges are confirmed, the Haywood school board must immediately dismiss Bond for her cruel behavior and dereliction of duty.”
According to reports, the offensive comments were made at a school assembly last month. Bond allegedly told students that gay people are “ruining their lives,” and she said public displays of affection among gay students could result in 60-day suspensions and even expulsion. The ACLU says that this is not the first time Bond has made homophobic remarks, once telling a lesbian student that she would “go to hell” for being gay. Bond also reportedly has incorporated prayers and proselytizing into school events and allegedly insulted pregnant students and made them feel unwelcome.
“The daily harassment of LGBT students is bad enough without a principal leading the bullying,” added Besen. “Given the suicide statistics for LGBT youth, it would be grossly irresponsible for a role model and school leader to engage in such reckless behavior.”
Truth Wins Out is a nonprofit organization that fights anti-LGBT extremism. TWO specializes in turning information into action by organizing, advocating and fighting for LGBT equality.
