Clint McCance: Anti-Gay Facebook Comments Allegedly Made by Ark. School Board Member

MIDLAND, Ark. (CBS/KTHV/AP) Anti-gay comments allegedly made by Clint McCance, a member of the school board of Midland, Ark., have sparked outrage and calls for his removal from the board.

McCance is accused of posting on his Facebook page that several recent high profile suicides of gay students across the U.S. were due to the "sin" of those students, reports CBS affiliate KHTV.

McCance also said that the only way he would wear purple - in reference to a recent anti-bullying initiative by GLAAD - would be "if they all commit suicide."

"Seriously they want me to wear purple because five queers killed themselves," McCance allegedly wrote. "I cant believe the people of this world have gotten this stupid. We are honoring the fact that they sinned and killed thereselves because of their sin."

McCance told the Arkansas Times that the issue had been "blown out of proportion" and he planned to issue a statement later Wednesday. Officials at the Midland School District said Superintendent Dean Stanley was out of the office and not available for comment.

The Arkansas Department of Education has condemned the purported Facebook comment, but says that "Because Mr. McCance is an elected official, the department has no means of dealing with him directly."

The Midland School District has posted a notice on its website that it does not condone McCance's comments, and that the district discourages bullying.

In response to the comments, a Facebook page calling for McCance to be removed from the board has been set up.