Illinois Teacher Suspended Over Gay Animal Article

11/2/09-by Paula Brooks MrDelong
Last week, Dan Delong, an English teacher at Southwestern High School in Piasa, IL was suspended after giving an optional assignment of reading an article about homosexuality in the animal kingdom to his students and is scheduled to face a school board hearing later today.

Delong is said to have allowed students to read the article “The Gay Animal Kingdom” from the June 7, 2006 science and culture publication, Seed magazine.

The controversy and Delong’s suspension began after the parent of one of the Delong’s students saw the website, thought it was not appropriate for her child and complained to the local school board.

Delong of Carlinville, Ill, is a straight married teacher who identifies as an ally of the LGBT community. He acknowledged his suspension to the local paper, but declined to comment further until he spoke with his union representative.

The article by Jonah Lehrer talks about the research of Joan Roughgarden, a biology professor at Stanford University who said she has documented homosexual societies among the more than 450 animal species.

A Facebook group called “Bring back Mr. Delong” has been created to show support and share information about this situation. Delong has the support of more than 400 parents, students and friends, seeking to have him reinstated.