An inspiring group of students from Bishop Watterson High School in Clintonville, OH rallied today in front of the Diocese of Columbus, protesting the firing of a gay teacher.

Holding signs with messages such as “Come together” and “We are all children of God,” students from the Catholic high school chanted and sang – a physical accompaniment to a change.org petition which has garnered over 60,000 signatures.



When Bishop Watterson High School teacher Carla Hale returned to work last month after her mother’s death, administrators at the Catholic school in Clintonville confronted her with a letter. An anonymous parent had written to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus, appalled that Hale had listed her female partner’s name in an obituary. Within weeks, Hale said, she was fired because she is in a gay relationship.

The circumstances surrounding the firing of Carla Hale, a dedicated physical-education teacher of 19 years, could not be more cruel or drenched with irony. After the death of her mother, Hale returned to school and, instead of receiving consolation and a loving embrace from administrators, was confronted about her sexual identity:Hale was fired for "immoral" behavior, but she is challenging the firing on the grounds that it violates a Columbus city ordinance that criminalizes discrimination based upon sexual orientation.

The Catholic high school purports to teach its students about love, acceptance and tolerance. And from the students who showed up today in Columbus, it appears that such education indeed is being transmitted.

It's too bad the school's administrators don't believe in the message.

Follow @David_EHG

