Tensions flare at KY school board meeting over member’s anti-LGBTQ+ comments
Tensions erupted at a Union County School Board meeting Monday night after attendees confronted a board member over anti-LGBTQ+ comments he made on Facebook.
School board member Don Yarber’s posts were brought up at the board meeting, where he was confronted by members of the public before leaving the meeting, WKYT reported.
Yarber commented on a Facebook post that LGBTQ+ people were “degenerates” and said “keep letting those queers influence the minds of your children.”
“They won’t have any sickness except aids, mental instability, suicidal thoughts, jobs, wealth, self-respect or righteousness,” Yarber wrote.
As the public comment section of the board meeting began, Yarber — who has been a school board member since January, according to the Union County Schools website — asked to excuse himself, but was told he must remain in the meeting.
Several community members, including parents and LGBTQ+ teacher Mark Lamb, addressed Yarber’s comments.
“I’ve dealt with bullies all my life, so Mr. Yarber, when you made those comments on Facebook, they roll right off me because I have developed a very tough skin,” Lamb said. “When I was a kid, I suffered messages like you said when you cavalierly mentioned suicide and they made me not want to be alive. I believe that all of us need to do better. Even the bullies, even you, Mr. Yarber.”
As Lamb finished speaking, Yarber stood up to leave the room, saying, “I don’t have to stand here and take this.”
On Tuesday morning, Yarber posted to Facebook again defending his comments.
“Once again the gay community has been allowed to say, ‘It’s OK to be Gay,’” Yarber wrote. “And I have not been allowed to say ‘No it’s not.’”
In a statement, Union County Schools said they “appreciate the input of our community and value the perspectives shared during tonight’s board meeting.”
“The views expressed on personal social media accounts by staff or board members are not representative of the official values or positions of our school district or Board of Education,” the school district said. “Since board members are elected officials and not school district employees, UCPS does not have the legal authority to regulate their actions or suspend their terms.
“To reinforce our commitment to positive leadership and responsible social media use, we recently partnered with the Kentucky School Boards Association to facilitate additional ethics training with our Union County Board of Education members.”