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Mich. school holds forum after free speech fallout

By AP

DETROIT –
A Michigan school district has scheduled a diversity forum after a teacher was disciplined for ejecting two students who said they didn't accept gays.

The forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday in the cafeteria of the Howell High School Freshman Campus in Livingston County.

Howell High School teacher Jay McDowell was suspended for a day without pay after removing the students Oct 20. It started after he told another student to remove a Confederate Flag belt buckle, and led to a discussion about how the flag differs from the rainbow flag, a symbol of the gay community.

Many in the district were observing Anti-Bullying Day.

The incident has gained national attention since a video went viral of a 14-year-old gay student defending McDowell at a school board meeting.

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