Music

Michigan teacher suspended without pay for playing Macklemore & Ryan Lewis song "Same Love" in class

by Tyler Munro

Ms. Johnson thought her eighth grade performing arts students could learn something from the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis song “Same Love,” which preaches acceptance in the face of homophobic stereotypes. She played the track after a student ensured it was neither profane nor violent.

Unfortunately, doing so got her suspended without pay when another student went and complained to the school’s head office.

“This is one of the things in my school that we’re trying to practice and we’re trying to instill in our students is tolerance to diversity,” she told Fox’s Detroit affiliate. “I’m very disappointed in the bias, the bigotry that I feel that they’re really hiding behind.”

The school district says the song was controversial because of its homosexual, religious and political views. They also cite the song’s use of a “sexual slur,” perhaps referring to its use of the word “faggot.”

Johnson says there’s a lot of bullying and gay bashing in the U.S. and she wants her students to feel comfortable in her class regardless of who they are. The ACLU and Affirmation support group is reportedly getting involved in her case.