Students protest after teachers reportedly fired for being gay

Sean Nyberg proposes to Paul Danforth at Disneyland – Danforth, a teacher, is now without a job (Photo: Sean Nyberg)

Controversy has hit a Catholic high school in Burien, Washington after it last week parted ways with two of its most “gifted” teachers. Those who know the teachers allege they were forced to resign because of their sexuality.

Paul Danforth, an English teacher who’d been with Kennedy Catholic High School for five years, and a female colleague who worked as a soccer coach – had recently got engaged to their respective same-sex partners.

Although Washington has anti-discrimination legislation, the school has religious exemptions. The Archdiocese of Seattle demands all employees, “live a lifestyle compatible with Catholic teaching.”

On Friday – Valentine’s Day – the school issued a statement saying both teachers had “voluntarily resigned.”

Related: “Ex-gay bisexual” professor fired from Christian university for talking about too much gay stuff

It praised both teachers as “highly capable, gifted, and qualified teachers … Their loss will be felt deeply by their students and the entire community.”

Over the weekend, a different story began to emerge. King County council member Dave Upthegrove posted a Facebook posting alleging both teachers were “forced” to resign because of their sexuality.

He said, “Kennedy High School in Burien today fired (forced the resignation of) two of their teachers solely because they are gay/lesbian. This is a reminder of the blatant discrimination that continues to exist in our community against members of the LGBT community.”

He went on to post that someone….

Read full story, and more, from Source: Students protest after teachers reportedly fired for being gay

Share

About Gay Today

Editor of Gay Today