The LGBTQIA+ community often faces discrimination in various forms. They encounter challenges during recruitment, appraisal, renting apartments, booking hotel rooms and even adoption.
According to BBC, English teacher Paul Danforth and soccer coach Michelle Beattie were allegedly forced to quit their jobs at Kennedy Catholic High School in Washington because they got engaged to their same-sex partners.
Subsequently, on February 18, students gathered in the corridors to stage a sit-in protest and then expressed their displeasure by walking out, reports Metro UK. Many parents and locals joined their rally demanding justice.
Student sit-in today at Kennedy Catholic HS in Burien, WA. Last week, two #LGBT teachers were, according to reports, forced to resign from their positions. The school says they resigned "voluntarily." The fiance of one teacher denied that. More here: https://t.co/7kIIZtn3RY pic.twitter.com/buLBFtVMcP
— James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) February 18, 2020
Just some of the posters students at Kennedy Catholic High School are holding right now inside the school as part of this morning’s sit-in.
Students are protesting the recent resignations of 2 teachers.
More here: https://t.co/cWva37Boer pic.twitter.com/GChzXJFX0y
— Steve McCarron KOMO (@SteveTVNews) February 18, 2020
Kennedy Catholic High School did a walk out yesterday in support of two teachers who “voluntarily” resigned because of the school’s issues with their sexual orientation.
Look at them storming out, shits beautiful😭! (Footage from B-town blog on FB) pic.twitter.com/rQfTrj9i85— De Andra Morgan (@de_andramorgan) February 19, 2020
According to The Independent, the school issued a statement saying that the teachers had “voluntarily resigned” on Valentine’s Day. However, Paul Danforth’s fiancé Sean Nyberg claims that his partner had to vacate his position due to their sexual orientation. CBS News quoted saying,
“This is not only personally painful, but it also harms former students who looked up to them.”
DEVESTATED! On Nov 1st I proposed to my partner in @Disneyland … three months later he was forced to resign his job as an English Teacher at Kennedy Catholic High in Seattle, because of the same sex engagement. It’s heartbreaking 😢 Parents/students are protesting on Tuesday pic.twitter.com/UYz5tKcVZm
— SeanNyberg (@SeanNyberg) February 16, 2020
Nov 1st I proposed to my partner in @Disneyland
Feb 13th my partner was forced to resign as a high school teacher
Today, Feb 18th, students walk out in protest.
This was one of the most amazing things I have ever witnessed. Our engagement should be celebrated not punished. pic.twitter.com/m8eK6wIySI— SeanNyberg (@SeanNyberg) February 19, 2020
The teachers have hired an attorney named Shannon McMinimee. The lawyer has issued a statement saying,
“Paul and Michelle resigned because they were honest about being gay and being engaged to their respective same-sex partners, and that were ultimately told that this was not compatible with continued employment at Kennedy.”
We hope that the student rally prompts a discourse about the policies of the school and brings about much-needed change.