catholic school won in court after a lawsuit was filed by a gay drama teacher who was fired for posting about his marriage on social media.
In 2021, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, reversed a previous ruling that found Charlotte Catholic High School in North Carolina discriminated against Ronnie Villard.
Villard worked full time as a drama teacher and continued teaching English as a substitute teacher after North Carolina legalized same-sex marriage in 2014, announcing on Facebook that she was planning to get married.
“Apparently there were some teachers who were unhappy with it,” Villard said in a 2015 interview with WCNC-TV.
“If I’m in the closet, that’s fine.”
Villard claimed that most people at school knew he was gay and that his male partner often attended school events with him.
David Haynes, a spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, explained in 2015 that “the Catholic Church opposes same-sex marriage,” adding, “Marriage can only be between one man and one woman. He’s not being bullied because he’s gay. He’s not being bullied because he’s gay. He lost his job as a substitute teacher because he broke a promise he didn’t make. Because even though he had done so, he chose to oppose the teachings of the church.
Villard worked at the school for 15 years, winning the Teacher of the Year award one year.
“The fact that I’m in a long-term committed relationship with a wonderful man is obviously abhorrent, but if I’m in the closet, that’s fine. That’s my understanding of the church’s position.” said Villard.
The church argued that Billard was not technically fired because he was working as a substitute teacher.
Circuit Judge Pamela Harris agreed with the church and ruled that the decision falls under the “ministerial exception” to the Civil Rights Act.
“This court has previously recognized that seemingly secular tasks, such as teaching English or drama, may implicate the ministerial exception because they take on religious significance,” Harris said. wrote.
The American Civil Liberties Union denounced the decision, saying the court widened a loophole that allows organizations to discriminate against homosexuals.
Church and school advocates said the ruling was a victory for religious rights.
Read more about this decision below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uelbOkMmJwhttps://www.youtube.com/watch
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