UPDATE 2/24/15: Teacher wins first court battle to get her job back (see excerpts below)
UPDATE 10/10/12: Viki Knox, career destroyed, resigns
UPDATE 10/24/11 video:
-- From "NJ Teacher Being Investigated for Her Anti-Gay Remarks on Facebook" by ABC News Radio 10/14/11
The [Facebook] posts have prompted the statewide civil rights organization Garden State Equality to call for the firing of Viki Knox from her job at Union High School in Union Township.
On her Facebook page, Knox wrote that “homosexuality is a perverted spirit that has existed from the beginning of creation.” What seemed to spur her ire was Union High recognizing October as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History month.
Knox was particularly incensed by a display at the school showing author Virginia Woolf, activist Harvey Milk and actor Neil Patrick Harris, who all acknowledged their homosexuality. She claimed that the school was “not the setting to promote, encourage, support and foster homosexuality.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Union H.S. Students Debate Teacher’s Anti-Gay Facebook Posts" posted at CBS TV-2 New York 10/14/11
“Homosexuality is a perverted spirit……..I know sin and it breeds like cancer!” Knox posted. “Why parade your unnatural immoral behaviors before the rest of us? YOU ARE WRONG.”
“Technically it’s under freedom of speech and that’s on her own time,” [Union High School] senior Eddie Sprague told CBS 2's Christine Sloan.
“It would have been okay if she said it on her Facebook, just not directed to Union High School,” said student Michael West.
Students said Knox is on administrative leave, but the District won’t confirm that, citing privacy issues.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Viki Knox, Union Township New Jersey Teacher, Investigated For Alleged Anti-Gay Facebook Posts" reported by Huffington Post 10/13/11
"Union is not South Orange/Maplewood where one out of four families consist of two Mommies or daddies… Why parade your unnatural immoral behaviors before the rest of us?" Knox wrote. "I/we do not have to accept anything, anyone, any behavior or any choices! I do not have to tolerate anything others wish to do."
Knox was escorted from school property . . .
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "N.J. teacher's Facebook comments about gays spark firestorm of controversy" by Jeanette Rundquist and Steve Strunsky, The New Jersey Star-Ledger 10/14/11
Union Chief School Administrator Patrick Martin said . . . "We're going to do the right thing."
State records show Knox has taught for at least 20 years, including 10 in the Union school district, and earns $70,688 a year. On her Facebook page, she describes herself as a special education teacher.
Knox is also faculty adviser for the school's Bible study group, the Seekers Fellowship, according to district records. On Facebook, she refers to herself as a "Jesus freak."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "New Jersey High School Teacher Posts Anti-Gay Entry on Facebook" by Winnie Hu, New York Times 10/13/11
Edward Barocas, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union in New Jersey, said in a statement, “Although we do not agree with the sentiments expressed on Ms. Knox’s personal Facebook page, her beliefs and comments are protected by the First Amendment.”
But Mr. Barocas added, “Because her postings raised questions about her conduct within school, the school district can and should investigate whether she is performing her job in accordance with school policies and the state’s Law Against Discrimination.”
Members of Garden State Equality, a statewide civil rights organization that advocates gay rights, sent hundreds of e-mails and made phone calls to the district on Thursday demanding that Ms. Knox be dismissed because of her comments.
Mr. Paragano said . . .“My concern is that if this teacher has these feelings, is she going to call out the bullying of a gay, lesbian and transgender person?”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Christian hate: NJ teacher makes anti-gay remarks on Facebook" by Michael Stone, Humanist Examiner 10/14/11
[Knox wrote on Facebook,] "Why parade your unnatural immoral behaviors before the rest of us? AND YOU ARE WRONG! I/WE DO NOT HAVE TO ACCEPT ANYTHING, ANYONE. ANY BEHAVIOR OR ANY CHOICES! I DO NOT HAVE TO TOLERATE ANYTHING OTHERS WISH TO DO."
One can only shudder and imagine what a young, probably confused and uncertain gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered student, must feel when having to face an authority figure so vehemently and aggressively condemning your very worth as a human being.
Viki Knox's anti-LGBT rant flies in the face of LGBT history month and is out of line with the message she should be sending to all of her students -- that they are worthy of respect and dignity regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "NJ Teacher Probed by School District for 'Anti-Gay' Messages on Facebook" by Allison Summers, Christian Post Contributor 10/13/11
While some users expressed approval of Knox's views, other Christians spoke out against the teacher's comments.
"You are kidding me!" said user Judy Greco Amorosa. "I heard about this post - What kind of Christian are you? God made each and every one of us - gay, straight, black, white, Christian, Jew, blond, brunette - and we should all love eachother - that is the Christian way."
Knox noted in one lengthy Facebook comment: "I have friends and loved ones who are practicing/living as homosexuals. Yes I love can care about them. We hug and exchange gifts. We have family dinners. But how they live and their actions, behaviors - CHOICES are against the nature and character of God!"
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
What did Viki Knox say? Here it is:
"Homosexuality is a perverted spirit that has existed from the beginning of creation. The word of God refers to it often. That's if you believe the Word to be truly God's intended blueprint for his people. I have friends and loved ones who are practicing/living as homosexuals. Yes I love can care about them. We hug and exchange gifts. We have family dinners. But how they live and their actions, behaviors—CHOICES are against the nature and character of God! Do I tell me so? Yes, of course. Do I treat them bad? If course not! Jesus never did that to ANYONE he meant. He spoke to them of their situation and offered them life eternal. He didn't say it was okay but we've all sinned and come short if God's will for us daily. That's why we Christians true followers pray, repent, and spend time with Christ daily."UPDATE 2/24/15: From "N.J. teacher who made anti-gay remarks on Facebook scores legal victory in bid to get job back" by Thomas Zambito, The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ) 3/13/15
"God cannot abide, tolerate, accept, go along with SIN. That's why Jesus came and gave his life as an offering for our souls; so we could once again be right-standing...Everything God has created, Satan has perverted, EVERYTHING! Sin is sin. Wrong is wrong."
U.S. District Court Judge Kevin McNulty rejected an effort by Union Township Board of Education officials to dismiss a 2013 lawsuit filed by Jenye Viki Knox, who claims school officials violated her free speech and religious rights.
School officials claim Knox negotiated away many of her lawsuit claims when she agreed to settle a challenge to her tenure -- an argument McNulty rejected.
"The settlement by its terms extended only to the Tenure Charges," the judge wrote. "The Board denies Knox's assertion that they explicitly agreed to her reservation of rights as to other claims. It is undisputed, however, that the Board only settled the Tenure Charge, and did not obtain a general release as part of that settlement."
Knox was tenured in 2003. The board filed charges of insubordination and "conduct unbecoming" against Knox in December 2011.
The ruling means Knox, who has not worked since 2012, could soon have a chance to argue her case before a federal jury. She is seeking reinstatement, back pay and monetary damages.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read 'Gay Rights' Winning, Loss of Religious Liberty Documented - Washington Post writer demonstrates it's a "zero sum" game: Winning homosexual 'rights' means Christians must lose freedom of religion.
