Supporters of school principal say he's out of job because he's gay
GRESHAM, Ore. – An elementary school principal, Tom Klansnic, has been part of the Gresham Barlow School District for nearly a decade.
Now, the district is not renewing his contract without giving a reason why. Many think it’s because he’s openly gay.
Denise McCloud is among the parents standing up for Klansnic to find out why his contract is not being renewed. She’s leading a group of parents to attend Thursday night’s district board meeting to find answers.
“You know that’s what we’re trying to teach them. That we all stand up together,” she said. “That we all need to be looking out for each other. That we have each other’s back.”
Klansnic himself has been seeking answers from the school district since 2010. His attorney has filed legal documents with the district indicating that Klansnic is considering filing a lawsuit.
Klansnic’s attorney, Judy Snyder, said she believes the district is discriminating against her client because of his sexual orientation.
“Mr. Klansnic went through a divorce and he revealed openly that he was gay. And his relationship with the distict changed almost immediately.”
Contacted about the allegations, officials with the Gresham Barlow School District said they do not comment on personnel matters.
If in fact it can be shown that the announcement of his sexual preference was the reason for
not renewing his contract, it could be extremely costly to the district as there are currently
many laws regarding that sort of discrimination. In addition to any law suits that may be
filed, the district could find themselves subject to heavy fines because of breaking theÂ
current discrimination laws. There consequences for ones actions and that shouldÂ
always be remembered before acting.
If the school district can justify his firing, then they need to state the reasoning behind it. Has he been disciplined before? Write ups? Recurring issues that aren't getting addressed? Â
If there is no real justifiable reason to fire him, and they canât prove otherwise, then the school district should back up and reinstate his position.
Whether or not he is gay should not be the determining factor as to whether he loses or keeps his job â his sexual orientation should be a non factor, period.
This is so friggin funny! Â They force an agenda of tolerance and understanding on Oregon's children, teach them stuff that is morally offensive to some of the religious folks... and then, like true hypocrites, do this. Â The Oregon school system. we just teach tolerance, we do not live it!.
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@Felcher Uno I would not want heterosexuals teaching my children.  Between the soaring divorce rates, the adultery, child abuse, spousal abuse, and porn addictions, it just cannot be safe or healthy for my children to be around that!!!Â
I thought you were moving?
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Umm., I think DT was being sarcastic against the folks who spew 'Don't you dare let a gay person be my kid's teacher'....
And if you truly think that a child with a teacher or principal who's gay and following the standard cirriculum is being "forced to believe homosexuality is normal through some weird emotional logic, than my child is not learning the proper way to think", then you're the one with the issue, not the schools and not your children.  Gays are legal and socially allowed to be teachers. If they present thier 'gay' as nothing more than a part of thier life just like other people's 'straight', they are not 'forcing your children to believe anything'. If you don't like it - take your kids elsewhere.
@PuzzleFighter Umm... commented by Marvin above, but I sincerely hope that you aren't teaching your kids grammar along with those "values". Normally I wouldn't stoop so low as to comment on someone's grammar, but in an article on education it is warranted...
@Felcher Uno Especially if they are teaching grammar and spelling.  Oops.
Or maybe they just want somebody else? Â If you are an employer why should you have to give a reason for not renewing a contract? Â If the contract was for 5 years, 10 years or 20 years and you fulfilled your part by paying the contract every year why should you be required to forever renew it?
@Gaikokujin Because they're GAY, and that makes them SPECIAL, and gives them more RIGHTS than anyone else. (actually, not, but it sure gives more reasons to get lawyers, sue and draw attention to themselves)
Geez - you guys are hilarious in your being oblivious to what's in the article you supposedly read. Â
if 'GAY' is the reason, it's an illegal firing.
If no reason is given after requesting the reason, AND as the article says "he revealed openly that he was gay. And his relationship with the distict changed almost immediately". If that's true, then it's pretty apparent why he was let go.
@FormerMarineSgt read it again:
He was not fired, his contract was not renewed. Â That is a big difference.
@FormerMarineSgt ...recall this is a one sided story. Did his relationship change because of his open homosexuality? Or what it just his perception of the relationship? Or maybe even because he went through a divorce and came out of the closet his work ethics changed due to the stresses associated? Perhaps a dozen or so other scenarios but point is this article is written or is news purely because he is gay. Thousands of people who have had a solid long term association with a work environment have been terminated...and I'd venture to guess not all of them are gay, but you never hear their stories.
@Takamine @Gaikokujin So it'd be cool if you were fired from a job after 10 years because you liked to dress your wife up as a poodle on the weekends?Â
@DT @Takamine @GaikokujinHe was not fired, his contract was not renewed.  That is a big difference.
and you know for a fact that he was fired for being gay?