Arkansas School Board Member Resigns While Appearing On CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360; Disowns Comments Posted To Facebook Suggesting He Would Celebrate Gay Youth Suicides; Tells Cooper He Fears For His And Family’s Safety

Clint McCance has resigned. While appearing on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360, the dangerously ant-gay Arkansas school board member who wrote on his Facebook page last Wednesday on Spirit Day, a day set aside to remember gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered youth who were victims of bullying or suicide, “Seriously they want me to wear purple because five queers committed suicide. The only way I’m wearin’ it for them is if the all commit suicide. I can’t believe the people of this world have gotten this stupid. We are honouring the fact that they sinned and killed themselves because of their sin.” Tonight, after a week of condemnation and calls that McCance resign, he told Cooper “I’m sorry I’ve hurt people with my comments. I’m sorry I made those ignorant comments and hurt people on a broad spectrum. I would never support suicide for any kids. I don’t support bullying of any kids. I’d like to extend apologies to those families that have lost children, for all those children who feel that suicide is the only way out, especially for the five families who have already lost children,” adding “I brought more hurt on them ... they didn’t deserve that and I do feel genuinely bad for them.” Though he says he disapproves of homosexuality, he told Cooper that “I give everyone a chance and try to love everyone.” He said that since his homophobic comments had been made public, he has received “thousands of phone calls, hate mails, people threatening to kill my family and me,” adding that he has sent his wife and two daughters out of the state because he fears for their safety, and that he has been forced to install a security system at his home. “I’m reaping what I’ve sown,” he said. I’ve had a lot of hate speech thrown at me and my family on every level.” Earlier Thursday, according to the Arkansas Times, an estimated 35 demonstrators gathered in front of Midland High School Thursday morning to protest McCance, the Midland School Board member recently re-elected to another four-year term. A small contingent of counter-protestors were on hand Thursday, 10 or so, including a preacher, all of whom arrived in a pick-up truck waving an American and a Christian flag. They said they were there not stand up for gays or straights, but to “stand up for God.”