Professor sacked for posting anti-gay message on Facebook

A Canadian professor has been sacked for a homophobic Facebook post after a former student sent screenshots to the school.

Rick Coupland, who teaches business at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ontario, had shared a news report on a Florida city raising a rainbow flag for their local Pride festival.

Coupland posted the link along with the caption, “It’s the queers they should be hanging, not the flag.”

Canada’s Metro News reported that an ex-student took a screenshot of the post and filed a complaint with SLC. After a quick investigation, the school announced Coupland’s dismissal on its Facebook and Twitter accounts.

“As a result of complaints about comments made on social media that were brought forward to the College, this matter was investigated internally. Mr. Coupland is no longer an employee at St. Lawrence College,” reads SLC’s pinned Facebook post.

Coupland’s sacking was applauded by the public, including SLC students. Here are some reactions on Twitter:

@jolisa_ @whatsinsideslc he is no longer an employee of SLC. As a present business student, I proud that SLC will not stand for ignorance

— Alca (@lil_ziah) July 21, 2015

@jolisa_ Totally unacceptable. I had him as a prof once – totally shocked by this.

— Krista Sayeau (@rambling911) July 21, 2015

https://twitter.com/JeanGuyFaubert/status/623277835977797632/

https://twitter.com/shawndearn/status/623591508143394816/

@whatsinsideslc Thank you for doing the right thing regarding Mr. Coupland. There should be NO room that kind of evil.

— Patrick Ⓥ (@PatrickVeg) July 21, 2015

https://twitter.com/QueenAhmedala/status/623595665210376192/