A Seattle-area Catholic high school has come under fire and ignited protests after being accused of forcing the resignations of two newly-engaged LGBTQ teachers.
Officials at John F Kennedy Catholic High School in Burien, Washington, released a statement on Valentine’s Day saying that teachers Paul Danforth and Michelle Beattie ‘voluntarily resigned’ last week.
‘They are highly capable, gifted, and qualified teachers, who have served our community with dedication and humility. Their loss will be felt deeply by their students and the entire community,’ the statement claimed.
Seattle-area teachers Paul Danforth (left) and Michelle Beattie (right) were allegedly ousted from their Catholic school after getting engaged to their respective same-sex partners
Officials at John F Kennedy Catholic High School in Burien, Washington, said the teachers ‘voluntarily resigned’ last week. Someone later hoisted a gay pride flag outside the school in protest, but it was quickly removed
Danforth’s boyfriend, Sean Nyberg, proposed to the English teacher on November 1, 2019, on a trip to Disneyland. He even had custom T-shirts made to mark the occasion
The couple made no secret of their relationship and shared photos on social media, including this one showing Danforth’s engagement ring
The happy couple are pictured in their bespoke outfits, surrounded by their friends after Danforth said ‘Yes’
But Danforth’s fiance, Sean Nyberg, insists his future husband did not quit, but rather was forced out for accepting his marriage proposal.
Danforth taught English and the school, while Beattie was a health and fitness teacher, reported KING5.
Nyberg, an attorney and podcaster, released a detailed statement on social media on Monday addressing his fiance’s alleged ejection from the school where his father has taught for 39 years.
‘After teaching there for over five years, with a stellar record, he is no longer employed specifically because he and I got engaged,’ he wrote.
Nyberg popped the question to Danforth on November 1, 2019, during a four-day trip to Disneyland with their friends. He later shared a lengthy Facebook post describing the surprise proposal, accompanied by photos of the happy couple in their custom-made Mickey Mouse-themed T-shirts that read, ‘I Asked’ and ‘I Said Yes.’
On Tuesday, a large group of students, parents and alumni staged a protest outside the Archdiocese of Seattle and at the school in Burien, decrying the teachers’ ouster
Based on the couple’s social media posts, Nyberg and Danforth never made a secret of their sexual orientation or their same-sex relationship.
‘We entered into a agreement to take our relationship to the next level and enjoy the emotional, spiritual, and legal benefits that marriage provides,’ Nyberg wrote in his st. ‘However, in our case, Paul no longer is employed because I had asked him to marry me and he said yes.’
Nyberg said much like his fiance, Beattie (pictured) was forced out for getting engaged to her same-sex partner
Nyberg went on to say that while the teachers and the school officials cannot comment on the situation, he has no obligation to stay silent.
‘This is not only personally painful, it also harms their former students who looked up to them, families that don’t know how to explain this to their children, young LGBT students who will feel even more shame and guilt, and will weaken a community that seeks love and acceptance,’ he said.
According to Nyberg, his fiance’s co-worker, Beattie, also stepped down after getting engaged to her same-sex partner.
As news of Danforth and Beattie’s plight spread, the Archdiocese of Seattle released a statement saying the teachers voluntarily left, without going into further detail because it is a personnel matter.
On the day Danforth and Beattie’s departures from the school were announced, King County Councilmember David Upthegrove took to Facebook, publicly accusing the institution of ousting them for being gay/lesbian.
Nyberg, who is a lawyer, released a detailed statement saying ‘Paul no longer is employed because I had asked him to marry me and he said yes.’ He added that the school’s decision to force out the two gay teachers is harmful to LGBTQ youth
‘This is a reminder of the blatant discrimination that continues to exist in our community against members of the LGBT community,’ he wrote. ‘I hope everyone who values fairness and equality is as disgusted and outraged by the mean-spirited action of this anti-LGBT institution.’
Over the weekend, someone ran a gay pride flag up the pole outside the school, but it was quickly taken down.
On Tuesday, a large group of students, parents and alumni staged a protest outside the Archdiocese of Seattle and at the school in Burien, holding up rainbow flags and homemade signs reading ‘Love is Love,’ and chanting ‘Not OK,’ in reference to Danforth and Beattie’s alleged ouster.
Some students took part in a sit-in, while others planned to walk out of class and joined the protesters outside in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, a supporter has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help the two now-unemployed teachers financially while they look for work. As of Tuesday afternoon, more than $32,000 has been raised.