Clint McCance announced Thursday that
he would resign from the Midland School District board after coming
under severe criticism for posting anti-gay comments on his Facebook
profile.
Appearing on CNN's Anderson Cooper
360, McCance said he was sorry.
“I'm sorry I've hurt people with my
comments,” the vice-president of the Midland School District in
Arkansas said. “I'm sorry I made those ignorant comment and hurt
people on a broad spectrum.”
In responding to Spirit Day, a day that
encourages people to wear purple to remember gay teens bullied to
death, McCance
cheered the suicides, saying he “enjoys the fact that [gay people]
they often give each other aids and die,” and declared that he
would disown his children if they were gay.
Speaking with Anderson Cooper, he
disowned the comments.
“I would never support suicide for
any kids,” he said. “I don't support bullying of any kids.”
McCance said he had sent his wife and
two daughters out of state after he and his family had received death
threats.
A protest rally to demand McCance's
resignation took place Thursday morning, meeting with resistance from
anti-gay counter protesters. Protesters held out signs that read
“All Kids Matter” and 'RESIGN,” while counter protesters wore
shirts that read “Pro-Bible.”
A
Facebook group calling for McCance's ouster swelled to over 60,000
members in just a matter of days.