Tag: clint mccance

Who are the “real Christians?”

On Wednesday, a coalition of groups led by Linda Harvey, issued a press release titled, “Real Christians Say ‘No’ to Bullying and Homosexual Behavior.”

Clint McCance who thankfully will resign (click the link to read his remarks) from his post as the Vice President of the Midland, AR school district said that his views were based on his Christianity. Tonight, he apologized for his remarks on Anderson Cooper’s AC 360 news hour.

After the McCance interview, I saw the parents of Asher Brown interviewed who in their grief said they were praying for Clint McCance. They were devastated again by the remarks of McCance which were directed at the recent suicide victims on his Facebook page. Brown’s parents said they knew Asher believed he was gay and demonstrated unconditional love toward him.

Read the news release and note the attitude of the writer toward GLBT people. How does it come across to you?

Now consider people watching and reading and looking for some evidence of Jesus in the positions taken and the rhetoric offered by McCance, Asher’s parents and the “real Christians.”

It is actually offensive to me when a group suggests they are the “real Christians” so I will not engage in the same kind of rhetoric. My point is to wonder aloud what a watching world thinks about “real Christians” and if they are seeing Christ in any of us.

Midland AR School District official will resign over anti-gay comments

The Midland School Board Vice-President who made remarks suggesting that gay kids should commit suicide will resign. Clint McCance told Anderson Cooper just a few minutes ago that he will resign from the school board. He also expressed sorrow for the hurt he caused the families of recent suicides. He acknowledged that he said “hateful and hurtful” things. Video is here.

Yesterday, the Midland School District issued this statement on the district website:

October 27, 2010
 
For Immediate Release:
 
The Midland School District, Board of Directors, administration, faculty, and staff do not support or condone the comments Mr. Clint McCance posted on his personal social networking page. Mr. McCance was not acting as an agent of the school board, but as a private citizen when this comment was posted. This post does not reflect the thoughts of the board or administration of the Midland School District.
 
The district strives to foster an environment that discourages all forms of bullying and an environment that encourages a safe and productive educational climate of all of our students. The district is very diligent in pursuing and addressing bullying of any variety on our campuses. 
 
Sincerely
 
Dean Stanley, Superintendent
Midland School District
The statement seems a little restrained to me but nonetheless makes it clear that McCance does not speak for his peers.
No doubt there will be video on the CNN website, and I will embed it when it is available.
Currently, I cannot find McCance’s Facebook page – perhaps Facebook or McCance removed it.
Anderson Cooper had this summary in preparation for the broadcast tonight:

As we reported last night, McCance wrote a series of posts on Facebook against “Spirit Day”, where people were asked to wear the color purple to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.

His rant had offensive language and many misspellings.

“Seriously,” McCance wrote in one post, “They want me to wear purple because five queers committed suicide. The only way im wearin it for them is if they all commit suicide. I cant believe the people of this word have gotten this stupid.”

McCance added, “We are honoring the fact they sinned and killed thereselves because of their sin. REALLY PEOPLE.”

Six people actually pressed the ‘like button on that post. But others fired back.

McCance responded in part with this:

“It pisses me off though that we make special purple fag day for them. I like that fags can’t procreate. I also enjoy the fact that they often give each other AIDS and die.”

He also wrote, “I would disown my kids if they were gay. They will not be welcome at my home or in my vicinity.”