Washington – The Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization – issued the following statement today regarding the alleged anti-LGBT rant of New Jersey high school teacher Viki Knox. Knox, a teacher at Union High School, posted a slew of homophobic and transphobic remarks on her public Facebook wall after she saw a bulletin board celebrating LGBT history month in her school’s hallway.

Garden State Equality obtained a PDF OF Knox’s posts, which include her saying:

“Homosexuality is a perverted spirit that has existed from the beginning of creation… how they live and their actions, behaviors -CHOICES are against the nature and character of God! …I know sin and it breeds like cancer!”

“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.”

“Viki Knox’s remarks are shocking to hear from an educator charged with serving as a role model for all students– regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Educators have a responsibility to nurture their students as they develop into young adults – and that includes making sure they feel supported and know that there is nothing wrong with being LGBT. Her alleged public rant is irresponsible and sends a dangerous message to her students.”

“It is one thing to hold anti-gay views – that’s protected in America – but it would be another thing to vow to teach them in the classroom in a public school,” said Garden State Equality Chair Steven Goldstein in a statement. “If these posts are indeed those of Union High School Teacher Viki Knox, it is difficult to see how she could be a role model, or be effective in implementing a law designed to ensure that youth of all different backgrounds teach each other with mutual respect.”

The New Jersey Star-Ledger reports that school officials have opened an investigation into Knox’s public postings. Her remarks came to light after a local attorney provided the school district with a copy of Knox’s posts.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.