Georgia High School Teacher Arrested for Putting 'Hit' on Student After Asking Teen if He Was Gay

Police have arrested Randolph Forde, a teacher at Mundy's Mill High School in Jonesboro, Georgia for allegedly putting a "hit" on a student after an incident in which he asked the student if he was gay, WSBTV reports:

"Forde was charged after, officers said, he held up a piece of paper with the alleged victim’s name on it saying he had a hit on him. The student’s mother said her son came home frightened when he found out.' He says, ‘Ma, you’re not going to believe this but Mr. Forde offered another student money to kill me,’' said mother Marcia Killebrew. Killebrew told Channel 2 Action News reporter Tom Jones that she was shocked when her 16-year-old son told her his substitute math teacher at Mundy’s Mill High School was trying to hire a hit man to kill him. 'I was extremely upset. I called the school at that moment,' said Killebrew. Killebrew’s attorney said the incident began when Forde called the student out of the classroom one day. '(Forde) asked him if he was gay,' said attorney Terrance Madden. Madden said the student became angry at the suggestion and the next day the two had a verbal altercation. Weeks later, police said, Forde got a Mundy’s Mill student off a school bus and told him he had a hit on someone and needed him to take care of it. Officers said the student asked who it was and Forde said he would let him know. 'The teacher held a piece of paper up with the victim’s name on it,' said Otis Willis III of the Clayton County Police Department."

According to the teen's attorney, after questioning the student's sexuality, Forde "threatened to hit him in his ‘f-ing mouth." Forde reportedly also planned on paying another student to take out the "hit".

The AJC: "Forde told police he 'had no interaction with the witness or the victim, and he never made a statement regarding the victim,' according to the report. Forde's attorney, Borquaye Thomas, said the 16-year-old only complained after he got in trouble for another incident. 'The allegation is he made a hit on him, but that was not what was said nor what was intended,' Thomas said. 'The student only complained after he was getting suspended.' Forde asked the student about being gay after he saw the boy dancing inappropriately with another male student in class, Thomas said. 'All of the students knew Mr. Forde was joking,' Thomas said. 'The other students said Mr. Forde always plays around with them like that.'"

Forde was reportedly arrested last month, charged with making terrorist threats, and released on $10,000 bond. He is on administrative leave without pay.

Georgia Teen Leaves School After Being Told to Dress More 'Manly'

Jonathan Escobar, a new student at North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Georgia who considers himself a cross-dresser, was given an ultimatum last week:

"The 16-year-old says an assistant principal at North Cobb High School told him last week he needed to dress more 'manly' for school, or consider being home-schooled. He had only been a student at the school for three days. 'I told myself I can't accept this,' said Escobar, who wore a pink wig to school last Wednesday. Escobar said the  assistant principal told him his style of dress had caused a fight between students at the school."

Says Escobar: "They should've told the students to back off. They should have never given me the option of homeschooling or changing who I am. If I can't express myself, I won't go to school. I want to get the message out there that because this is who I am, I can't get an education."

Escobar withdrew two days later. An interview and his story, AFTER THE JUMP...

Report: Staff, Patrons Arrested in Raid of Atlanta Eagle Gay Bar

In a story eerily reminiscent of the June raid on the Rainbow Lounge in Fort Worth, Texas, Atlanta police reportedly raided the Atlanta Eagle gay bar last night. Mattthew Cardinale, a news editor for Atlanta Progressive News, filed a report:

"About ten police cars and about 15 cops raided the bar, allegedly looking for drugs. However, the police were said to have ordered all patrons to get on the ground--including patrons who were just dancing or standing at the bar--and numerous patrons said people were handcuffed indiscriminately. Bar patrons were furious at the aggressive and indiscriminate treatment and called the incident 'harassment.' Patrons also stated that at least three undercover cops were present. One patron stated he knew this because he saw the undercover police first without their badges, mingling with the crowds, and then again with their badges on...According to one patron, APD handcuffed all Eagle staff members and dancers, patrons in a leather shop, and anyone who was wearing only underwear; Thursday is advertised as underwear night."

Cardinale also received an email from a patron who was there: “My roommate and I were there for the police raid at the Eagle on September 10, 2009.  We had arrived about 20 minutes before the raid took place. Everyone was ordered to get on their stomachs and face down during this ordeal. As far as I could tell everyone was searched at least once, most of us twice. Most, but not all, of the officers were incredibly derogatory and insulting whether they found evidence of drugs or not,” Alan Vives wrote in an email to APN."

(image source)

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #522: Town Hall Mob Edition

WITH A BULLET: At the Obama town hall yesterday, the New Hampshire Republican Volunteer Coalition made its voice heard: “Why are we bankrupting this country for 21 million illegals who should be sent on the first bus one way back from wherever they come from. We don’t need illegals. Send them home once. Send them home with a bullet in their head the second time. Read what Jefferson said about the Tree of Liberty — it’s coming baby.”

SWASTIKA: Congressman David Scott (D-GA) finds swastika on a sign outside of his office after Scott accused people of hijacking a meeting about transportation to talk about health care.

ARREST: Man arrested for having gun and knife at Obama town hall event (not the guy bearing the gun from yesterday).

MISSOURI: Senator Claire McCaskill's health care town hall gets unruly.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

News: Dwan Prince, Puerto Vallarta, Attack Dogs, Brian Boitano

Former Republican staffer Jason Wetherington, who boasted about sleeping with Florida governor Charlie Crist, charged with grand larceny, dealing in stolen property, and false verification of ownership after theft of engagement and wedding rings from pastor's daughter.

It would be very cool to witness the annual sardine migration in the Philippines.

Candy Bra: Loco Mama has a hit on her hands..

Dwan Prince, victim of brutal 2005 anti-gay assault in NYC, claims changed sexual orientation and writes letter to attacker in prison, taking blame for the attack.

Gay bashing case in Utah delayed after victims fail to show in court...

Brian Boitano does not want to be perceived as gay.

Marietta, Georgia columnist suggests setting attack dogs on men cruising in public parks: "With a little instruction, dogs could be taught to severely dislike the gay lovers in Burruss and Wildwood and bite them in the fanny and do what City Council should have done years ago - chase them off to Atlanta where they belong."

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg tweets.

Jennifer Hudson is a mother.

Teen claims gay panic in Puerto Vallarta murder: "According to published reports in the Mexican media, the body of the victim, Sergio Daniel Baltasar Guerra, was found  early Sunday morning, August 9, near the seahorse statue, on Los Muertos beach, just south of the gay Blue Chairs section of that beach.  The victim was between 25-30 years old and had been a manager at a local supermarket."

Brokeback Mountain shirts featured in Western pop culture exhibit at L.A. Autry museum.

News flash: gaydar tougher to use than you think.

Closet still familiar to many in the Philippines and Malta.

CIRCUS: Crazy claims she's the mother of all three of Michael Jackson's children, and that she and MJ are the biological parents of Tom Cruise's child, Connor Cruise.

Milo Ventimiglia is in a jam.

Despite resolution from the American Psychological Association, "ex-gay" therapy continues in El Paso, Texas.

Facial asymmetry in men linked to greater risk for dementia?

Portland Mayor Sam Adams recall campaign faces challenge: "With another 56 days to go, they’ll have to gather 786 signatures per day in order to meet their goal of 50,000. So far, they've been operating with an average of 176 signatures a day, according to our calculations. They now need to increase their rate of collection by a whopping 345 percent to meet the deadline."

Justin Timberlake to release his own scent.

ACLU reaches settlement with Yulee High School in Florida over Gay-Straight Alliance: "Earlier this year, the ACLU filed the lawsuit on behalf of a student who was denied a request to form the GSA at Yulee Middle School and Yulee High School the following year. As part of the agreement, the district must prohibit any discrimination against the club and the students and faculty members associated with it.The district must also allow the club to meet on campus and to use the name Gay-Straight Alliance.The district has also been ordered to pay $40,000 in court costs associated with the case."

Georgia Tech Sees Tennessee's Muscle Car, Raises it One

Deadspin points out that Georgia Tech recently released images from its own shirtless college football poster photo shoot, outdoing the Tennessee Volunteers by one muscle car, and with it the addition of a theme — Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. No smiling allowed.

Three more shots, AFTER THE JUMP...

Previously...
Tennessee Volunteers Football Players Muscle Up for Team Poster [tr]