A gay teacher was sacked after he explained to his pupils why he was wearing his rainbow pride bracelet.
Substitute teacher Jay Bowman had been asked by some pupils about the bracelet he wore and explained the importance behind it and offered them the one he had on.
However, that led to his sacking from his school, Huntington Local High School, in Ross County, Ohio.
His sacking led to a huge protest as hundreds of people, including parents, teachers and pupils voiced their support for him.
Bowman said he was asked by some students about his ‘First Capital PRIDE’ rainbow-coloured ban, a local LGBTQ+ rights organisation.
He told the Scioto Valley Guardian: "When approached by students who expressed a certain point of view, I happily slid the band off my arm, offered it to the student, and explained that First Capital Pride offered support groups for teens who may be struggling, are suicidal, are ostracized, and need support."
However, he was dismissed soon after, and claimed it was because of this action as school policies prevent teachers from discussing “religious and political topics”.
The school considered supporting LGBTQ+ rights amongst this and he said the school told him they had received "community complaints",
Mr Bowman spoke out to ABC about his sacking, he said: "I know I've opened a can of worms and I know I've started a discussion, and I trust that the members of this community know that I did that with no ill intent."
On Facebook he added that the "greater lesson here isn't about me ever being welcomed back", saying that instead it is about "that student sitting alone in the classroom, feeling like they are somehow less".
The now openly gay man, who has been teaching for over 30 years, added: "If a kid has questions, if a kid wants honesty, I don't think I should be forbidden from providing that."
However, the teacher’s sacking proved unpopular and he received overwhelming support from parents and students.
Pupils even staged a protest outside the high school and some even reportedly wore pride bracelets in class to support of Mr Bowman.
The school board maintained that he “violated board policies by speaking to students about political and religious topics, as well as distributing bracelets”.
In the past, Mr Bowman had remained “closeted” not telling anyone that he was gay to avoid the sack.
He is now speaking up after his dismissal because he does not want any student to “feel less”.
He said: "Huntington is my home. It is where I got my first teaching job. It is everything to me. I love this community. I love this school."
He said in a post dated 24 March: "I am a good, student-first teacher. I love all God's children and the kids at Huntington will always hold a place in my heart.
“Huntington Schools is home to me. I lived there for more years than anywhere else. I do not ever put students at risk.
“I work hard at reaching out to every single student I meet. These great kids respond well to me and we have a genuine teacher/student affection for one another."
He added: "By the way Ohio state law still permits firing anyone just for being LGBTQIA+. Some don't realised this fact."
Then, he posted a second time three days later, adding: "The purpose of my 3/24 post was not for the district to be punished in any way, shape or form but feel they should be open & honest about how lowly they regard the LGBTQIA+ and not hide behind a flimsy policy. I hold no ill will towards anyone affiliated with their decision to cancel me."
He went on to say: "The admin's reasoning for cancelling me (community complaints/violation of policy of which I was unaware until I was cancelled) rings more than a bit hollow to me.
“If the bands (pic of offending phrase and color scheme is below) had been supportive of any number of other ideas/entities, I believe the outcome would have been far different.
“Current post responses/shares reveal a strong disparity between the policy used against me & the views of the broader community (specifically parents & students)."
Bowman also said: "Remember, the greater lesson here isn't about me ever being welcomed back (going public probably sealed that door forever) or about showing hatred towards anyone.
“It is about that student sitting alone in the classroom, feeling like they are somehow less. And showing them that they can change their world!!" (sic)
Members of the local community are planning to bring the matter up at a school board meeting scheduled for 11 April in a bid for them to reconsider the policies.
The Scioto Valley Guardian reports that the school is now at risk of losing its federal funding over the matter, saying: "On his first day in office, President Biden issued an executive order declaring that prohibitions on discrimination on the basis of sex cover discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. [...]
"It is unknown how much of the local school district's funding is federal, but it is believed millions of dollars are at risk."
