Equality Garden State To Protest Teacher Viki Knox’s Abhorrent Anti-Gay Facebook Rant; Star-Ledger Editorial Calls For Knox To Be Let Go From Position

Gay rights activists plan to protest at a school board meeting in a Union County town where a teacher is under investigation for allegedly posting anti-gay remarks on her Facebook page. The Associated Press is reporting that Garden State Equality wants protesters to urge the Union Township board take action against Viki Knox when they meet Tuesday night. Knox, a high school teacher and faculty adviser to a prayer group, came under fire last week after allegedly calling homosexuality “perverted” on Facebook and posting other negative comments about a school display celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month. Messages left for Knox at her school were not returned, and a home phone number could not be located. A local attorney brought the comments to the attention of school officials, who say they are investigating.

Also Monday, The Star-Ledger editorial board called for Knox to be either suspended or terminated, writing “While we all should be allowed an inner circle with whom we can speak freely, Knox gave up those protections when she posted her comments on the most public forum there is — the internet. She created a fearful, hostile environment for students. That’s unacceptable. Knox has the right to a hateful view, but once her beliefs are made public, she doesn’t have the right to a taxpayer-funded, $70,688-a-year job in which she is expected to treat all students equally and with respect. She should absorb the harshest action possible, suspension or firing. Knox’s original rant was aimed at a display at the school, marking Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender History Month: "Why parade your unnatural immoral behaviours before the rest of us?" she wrote. "I DO NOT HAVE TO TOLERATE ANYTHING OTHERS WISH TO DO. I DO HAVE TO LOVE AND SPEAK AND DO WHAT’S RIGHT!" Knox is wrong. As a teacher, she must have tolerance. No student should be the target of prejudice by any school employees, especially teachers. Later, Knox posted: "God cannot abide, tolerate, accept, go along with SIN." She added: "Sin is sin. Wrong is wrong." A self-described "Jesus freak," Knox wrote that she is compelled to "love" others and do what’s right, but then spouted hate speech, using God as her public defender. Her choice of words is damning: She didn’t write that while she doesn’t condone a particular lifestyle, her beliefs won’t interfere with her job. She insists, in all caps, that she has zero tolerance for it. So, she has to go.”