A South Carolina high school fired a teacher after she handed out leaflets to her students about gay bears.
Officials at Spartanburg School District 6 said the language arts teacher at Dorman High School handed out “inappropriate and unapproved content” to sophonores. Namely, a leaflet detailing the “International Bear Brotherhood” that explained what the bear subset of the LGBTQ+ community is.
“Although the term ‘bear’ is slang for a larger, hairier gay or bisexual man, the International Bear Brotherhood takes the idea of a community much farther than that,” the leaflet noted. “They host events for men to come and enjoy themselves and meet new people within their community. You can always find someone friendly and welcoming at a bear event!”
The literature contained no images, just text on the history of the bear scene and its global reach. You can read a web version here.
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It seems the lesson did not go down well with some parents.
One parent of a child at the school told Fox 8, “It would be really disturbing for me, because it’s not in line with my views, or my family’s views. We would be open for discussion and conversation afterwards. But it’s not something that I feel like should be brought up and it would aggravate me that it happened to my child.”
The teacher told officials it had been her personal choice to share the information to help facilitate a discussion.
She was then placed on administrative leave while an investigation took place. The educator in question had recently been in attendance when the school had a meeting with all staff about the importance of only using approved materials.
At the conclusion of the investigation a couple of weeks ago, the teacher was fired.
According to ACLU, South Carolina lawmakers are currently mulling 19 different pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. Several of these relate to schools and education. Some codify the importance of parental approval of teaching materials and threaten schools with reduced funding for potential violations. Others, such as H.4047, target trans youth and criminalize medical professionals providing gender-affirming care.
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Queerty the people in the still for this page aren’t even Bears…
I don’t understand this teacher’s actions, but okay. What kind of discussion was she trying to facilitate exactly?
Not a lot of background information here, but it’s glaring that the teacher is a “she.” Great. So some straight woman (or lesbian woman?) has just created a new situation in which parents will yell about gay men. Totally unnecessary, and it puts gay people at additional risk. What an insane thing to do.
She thinks she’s going to be a local hero. When did teachers start getting personal with students? Mine taught me the curriculum, occasionally disciplined, and that was it. I didn’t know who they were outside the classroom and I didn’t want to know.
I somehow don’t think that she was putting out flyers about bears because the students were asking about it. I doubt she had students asking about bears.
I think it’s just as possible this teacher did this to shock the students about how scary gay people are. Showing children a pamphlet about bears does nothing to challenge these laws.
Well this certainly doesn’t help anything. What was the teacher possibly thinking? What pedagogical goal was there? More likely–and not to engage in conspiracy theories but it makes the most sense–was this a “false flag operation” in which a supporter of “anti-woke” crap did a thing (and was willing to lose her job) just to provide ammunition to the DeSatanistas?
There has to be more to this story, and I wish the post had focused on the ACLU information about dangerous antigay legislation, rather than a partial story about a South Carolina teacher firing. Authorized materials, authorized curriculum, authorized…. why not just have robots (robocops?) do the teaching?
Teachers need to STOP DOING this sh*t and get back to teaching the basics like reading, writing and arithmetic! I read a statistic the other day that says something like 70% of the kids in the Chicago school district aren’t able to read and write at their grade level, and similar statistics are popping up all over the country, yet there are tons of TikTok videos of LGBTQ+ teachers where they advocate or admit teaching kids about sexuality, trans ideology, gender ideology, personal pronouns, gender unicorns, etc.
I saw a Dr. Phil episode about trans activist Eli Erlick, boasting about how she introduces the Gender Unicorn chart (which she created herself) to pre-schools kids ages 3 to 4, which instructs them on gender identity, gender expression and correct pronoun usage, etc. Not only that, she made a long post on TikTok telling kids that if they don’t have access to hormones or hormone blockers because their parents or doctors refuse to give them treatment, they should just DM her and she will secretly supply them by mail!! No prescription, no therapy needed! Her organization has a warehouse full of hormone meds that she will make available to any trans kid who requests them! My jaw dropped to the floor…
We need to STOP this sh*t! Parents don’t send their kids to school to be indoctrinated on the lifestyle of their teachers or to be transitioned without their knowledge. THIS IS WHY so many states are over-reacting by enacting draconian anti-LGBTQ+ laws to curtail the excesses of those activists who seem unable to recognize and respect boundaries. And it’s the ENTIRE gay community that will suffer for it!
Almost all states have academic standards that call for students to analyze or compare and contrast different groups within their own state. This teacher may not have notified parents that this would be part of the lesson ahead of time, which would’ve allowed so-called adults to pull their child out of the lesson.
Could the be a planted story to reinforce the idea that schools are a liberal hellhole and legislation is needed to control teachers? There is very little detail surrounding this story. Something does not add up.
you’re right. those two guys aren’t even close to being bears. a beard doesnt make you a bear. it only makes you a wannabe with dreams youll never see.
First off, blaming this on politics or anything like that is irresponsible. Secondly, all schools have policies regarding materials handed out in classrooms. What she handed out was meant for consenting adults, not under age minors. Sophomores in HS are not adults. They are still underage minors. Why is no one getting that? If you’re more upset with the teacher getting fired, there’s a problem. She knew the policy and violated it. She got what she deserved. As a gay man interested in bears, I don’t want to be around high school boys. I want to mingle with adult men. When are we going to say enough is enough and stop making ourselves look like pedophiles?
Teachers in a variety of classes on topics like civics often use on examples which demonstrate a point being made: in this case it may have been, for example, self-image, and she may have used the example of a group which works against the prevailing self-image of what is seen as desirable or attractive. A gay/bi group that does this is as legitimate an example as any other. To tell kids of 14+ that there are such things as gay/bi bears in the very tame way this teacher did this is not going to do them any harm whatsoever and may do some good. I don’t think you need to be a consenting adult to be told that there is a subcommunity of gay/bi people called bears: it’s pretty much general knowledge. Young people watch TV: by the age of 14 they know there are prostitutes, fetishists and all manner of other people as well – is it so terrible that someone just TELLS them what bears are?
One really has to wonder why she would talk about it. I have suspicions that perhaps she’s trying to stir up more hatred for the LGBTQ community. It’s a not a gay man talking about his boyfriend, it’s a woman who probably has no experience with a “bear”. Very suspicious to me. I guess next week we’ll hear from the State Legislators about a new law banning discussions of “bears”.
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Godabed
Queerty the people in the still for this page aren’t even Bears…
I don’t understand this teacher’s actions, but okay. What kind of discussion was she trying to facilitate exactly?
papatez01
Same – but as a teacher. Why? What did she hope to accomplish? For what reason?
Diplomat
Seems like she may have wanted unemployment.
MrGoldman
I would that they very much appear to be bears.
Brian
Not a lot of background information here, but it’s glaring that the teacher is a “she.” Great. So some straight woman (or lesbian woman?) has just created a new situation in which parents will yell about gay men. Totally unnecessary, and it puts gay people at additional risk. What an insane thing to do.
ShaverC
She thinks she’s going to be a local hero. When did teachers start getting personal with students? Mine taught me the curriculum, occasionally disciplined, and that was it. I didn’t know who they were outside the classroom and I didn’t want to know.
dbmcvey
I somehow don’t think that she was putting out flyers about bears because the students were asking about it. I doubt she had students asking about bears.
ShaverC
This is why those laws are being passed. Teachers continue to overstep.
DBMC
I think it’s just as possible this teacher did this to shock the students about how scary gay people are. Showing children a pamphlet about bears does nothing to challenge these laws.
dbmcvey
I question this teacher’s motives.
GentlemanCaller
Well this certainly doesn’t help anything. What was the teacher possibly thinking? What pedagogical goal was there? More likely–and not to engage in conspiracy theories but it makes the most sense–was this a “false flag operation” in which a supporter of “anti-woke” crap did a thing (and was willing to lose her job) just to provide ammunition to the DeSatanistas?
Fname Optional Lname
Unless there is a little more to this story it sounds like this teacher maybe shouldn’t be teaching.
Fahd
There has to be more to this story, and I wish the post had focused on the ACLU information about dangerous antigay legislation, rather than a partial story about a South Carolina teacher firing. Authorized materials, authorized curriculum, authorized…. why not just have robots (robocops?) do the teaching?
inbama
South Carolina. was the birthplace of the Confederacy.
Its senators are the anti-gay Tim Scott and the closet-queen Lindsay Graham.
Kangol2
Tim Scott might not be unfamiliar with the closet herse…himself, allegedly.
GlobeTrotter
Teachers need to STOP DOING this sh*t and get back to teaching the basics like reading, writing and arithmetic! I read a statistic the other day that says something like 70% of the kids in the Chicago school district aren’t able to read and write at their grade level, and similar statistics are popping up all over the country, yet there are tons of TikTok videos of LGBTQ+ teachers where they advocate or admit teaching kids about sexuality, trans ideology, gender ideology, personal pronouns, gender unicorns, etc.
I saw a Dr. Phil episode about trans activist Eli Erlick, boasting about how she introduces the Gender Unicorn chart (which she created herself) to pre-schools kids ages 3 to 4, which instructs them on gender identity, gender expression and correct pronoun usage, etc. Not only that, she made a long post on TikTok telling kids that if they don’t have access to hormones or hormone blockers because their parents or doctors refuse to give them treatment, they should just DM her and she will secretly supply them by mail!! No prescription, no therapy needed! Her organization has a warehouse full of hormone meds that she will make available to any trans kid who requests them! My jaw dropped to the floor…
We need to STOP this sh*t! Parents don’t send their kids to school to be indoctrinated on the lifestyle of their teachers or to be transitioned without their knowledge. THIS IS WHY so many states are over-reacting by enacting draconian anti-LGBTQ+ laws to curtail the excesses of those activists who seem unable to recognize and respect boundaries. And it’s the ENTIRE gay community that will suffer for it!
DBMC
Dr. Phil is not a great resource.
dario717
Almost all states have academic standards that call for students to analyze or compare and contrast different groups within their own state. This teacher may not have notified parents that this would be part of the lesson ahead of time, which would’ve allowed so-called adults to pull their child out of the lesson.
storm45701
Regardless, it’s a weird choice (and I say that as a bear).
MrGoldman
Could the be a planted story to reinforce the idea that schools are a liberal hellhole and legislation is needed to control teachers? There is very little detail surrounding this story. Something does not add up.
scotty
you’re right. those two guys aren’t even close to being bears. a beard doesnt make you a bear. it only makes you a wannabe with dreams youll never see.
gayconservative
First off, blaming this on politics or anything like that is irresponsible. Secondly, all schools have policies regarding materials handed out in classrooms. What she handed out was meant for consenting adults, not under age minors. Sophomores in HS are not adults. They are still underage minors. Why is no one getting that? If you’re more upset with the teacher getting fired, there’s a problem. She knew the policy and violated it. She got what she deserved. As a gay man interested in bears, I don’t want to be around high school boys. I want to mingle with adult men. When are we going to say enough is enough and stop making ourselves look like pedophiles?
uberhund
Teachers in a variety of classes on topics like civics often use on examples which demonstrate a point being made: in this case it may have been, for example, self-image, and she may have used the example of a group which works against the prevailing self-image of what is seen as desirable or attractive. A gay/bi group that does this is as legitimate an example as any other. To tell kids of 14+ that there are such things as gay/bi bears in the very tame way this teacher did this is not going to do them any harm whatsoever and may do some good. I don’t think you need to be a consenting adult to be told that there is a subcommunity of gay/bi people called bears: it’s pretty much general knowledge. Young people watch TV: by the age of 14 they know there are prostitutes, fetishists and all manner of other people as well – is it so terrible that someone just TELLS them what bears are?
Mack
One really has to wonder why she would talk about it. I have suspicions that perhaps she’s trying to stir up more hatred for the LGBTQ community. It’s a not a gay man talking about his boyfriend, it’s a woman who probably has no experience with a “bear”. Very suspicious to me. I guess next week we’ll hear from the State Legislators about a new law banning discussions of “bears”.