Teacher fired for bashing Trump, anti-vaxxers, and asking her students to get vaccinated

A Utah high school teacher has been fired from her job for hitting out against anti-vaxxers, homophobes, climate change deniers, and former President Donald Trump in the classroom. Leah Kinyon was recorded by one of her students before the video was posted online. Conservatives and right-wing media, who often raise hell over 'cancel culture,' called for the teacher to be fired after the video went viral. The four-minute video starts with the teacher talking about vaccines and the importance of getting vaccinated, reported God.Dailydot. 

Kinyon said she would be 'super proud' of her students if they got vaccinated, before adding that not taking the vaccine could lead to new variants and put more people at risk, including her and her family. The Lehi High teacher said the Coronavirus pandemic would “be over in five seconds” if everyone got vaccinated. When someone brings up Donald Trump, she doesn't hold back. "I hate Donald Trump. Trump sucks. He's a sexual predator. He's a literal moron," Kinyon can be heard saying. When someone tries to interject, reminding the teacher that this is a "chemistry class," she responds, "Go tattle on me to the admin, they don't give a crap." When someone appears to make a point about the freedom to not get vaccinated, she tells one of the students to "turn off Fox News."

"This is my classroom and if you guys are going to put me at risk, you're going to hear about it because I have to be here. I don't have to be happy about the fact that there are kids coming in here with variants that could get me or my family sick. And that's rude and I'm not going to pretend like it's not," said Kinyon. "I'm not going to lie. I'm not going to sugarcoat it either. Y'all need to hear that." Utah County, where Kinyon worked has a poor vaccination record, reaching just below 41 percent. Kinyon's speech comes at a time when kids and teachers are being forced to return to classrooms while authorities are refusing to permit schools to mandate masks or vaccines.

She also tells the students that they should start thinking for themself. "Most of y'all parents are dumber than you," before referring to her own experience. "My parents are fricking dumb and the minute I figured that out, the world opens up. You don't have to do everything your parents say, and you don't have to believe everything your parents believe because most likely you're smarter than them," she adds. 

Some students bring up other issues that conservatives don't agree with and she shoot them down. "If you don't believe in climate change? Get the hell out," said Kinyon. When someone else appears to talk about homophobia, she adds, "It's pathetic that you think that. You're the problem with the world. If you're a homophobe, get out. I love gay people. All LGBTQIA+ people. If you don't like it, get out. If I hear you say a damn word against any of them, I'll open a can and make your life a living hell. If you say shit to any LGBTQ kids in school and you'll be in trouble," she said. As the video ends, one can student can be heard telling the teacher, "I think I love you even more."

Parents and conservatives targeted the teacher over the video. Many of them felt personally attacked, considering 66 percent of voters in Utah county voted for Donald Trump, and that she said most of the parents are not as intelligent as their kids. Alpine School District released a statement following the backlash. “We became aware late this afternoon of an incident that took place today in one of our high school classrooms,” read the initial statement. “An immediate investigation ensued. The employee has been put on administrative leave pending a thorough investigation. This behavior is inappropriate, not reflective of the professional conduct and decorum we expect of our teachers, and will not be tolerated.” Later, Alpine School District confirmed that she had been fired, stating, “the teacher involved is no longer an employee of Alpine School District.”