Tenn. Principal Quits After Telling Gay Students They're Hell-Bound

Tennessee high school principal Dorothy Bond has resigned under pressure following an incident in which she told gay students they were going to hell and a pregnant student that "her life was over."

Bond was the principal of Brownsville's Haywood County High School until Thursday, just days after her remarks were discovered by the press.

During the contentious conversation, Bond was discussing which public displays of affection were appropriate at her school. She then turned to gay students and said, "If you're gay, you're going to hell, and if you're pregnant, your life is over," according to some students. Local reports indicate Bond later confirmed to her superintendent that she indeed uttered the remarks.

Groups including the Human Rights Campaign called on Bond to resign -- the HRC circulated a petition that received 5,000 signatures in four hours. After the announcement of Bond's resignation, the Haywood school system released the following statement: "The Haywood County Board of Education acknowledges its student body's right to free speech. Further, the Haywood County Board of Education strives to provide an atmosphere of tolerance and diversity while maintaining high academic standards."