Parents and school officials of a Tennessee high school are calling for a teacher to be criminally investigated for supporting an openly gay student's story in the school yearbook.
James Yoakley, journalism adviser for Lenoir City High School, supported the student editor's decision to publish student Zac Mitchell's story about coming out, being bullied, an experience with cross dressing and his family's donations to gay rights causes. The yearbook theme: In My Element.
While some community members are calling for Yoakley's termination, others are asking for his arrest.
School board member Van Shaver wrote in his blog that Yoakley or any teacher who discussed a student's sexuality in any way, "should be charged with child sex abuse by an authority figure and arrested."
Yoakley's dedication to his students should be celebrated rather than attacked.
Support Yoakley's decision to give every student a voice!
We the undersigned would like to express our gratitude and support for your decision to keep Zac Mitchell's story in the 2012 Lenoir City High School yearbook.
The intolerance boasted by some community members is shameful.
We believe that your dedication to students, their stories and their creative visions should be commended.
Thank you for your continual support of Lenoir City High School students.
