Yahoo News New York Teacher Says He Was Fired from Catholic School for Being Gay, School Refutes Claims
"I felt the values I learned in Catholic school were ingrained in me... and to be told that’s one of the reasons why I was let go — it’s hurtful," Michael Califano said
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Michael CalifanoA teacher claims he was fired from his job at a Catholic elementary school in New York due to his sexual orientation — and now, students and parents are rallying to bring him back.
Michael Califano told News12 Long Island, WABC-TV and Fox 5 New York that he was fired as a third grade teacher at Maria Regina School in Seaford, New York, earlier this week. He said he believes he lost his job because school officials found out about his sexual orientation.
"I felt the values I learned in Catholic school were ingrained in me, and I wanted to share that with the next generation and to be told that’s one of the reasons why I was let go — it’s hurtful to my heart," Califano, who is gay, told Fox 5 New York.
Califano said that photos of him kissing his boyfriend on Instagram were sent to officials at the school, according to WABC-TV. The school’s administrators then allegedly told Califano on Wednesday that he had “violated handbook policy of adhering to Catholic values” — which he denied doing — and that they would let him go, per the outlet.
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"They called me in, laid it out, and then that was the end of that ... Shocked that this could happen in 2023, 2024," Califano told CBS News.
Califano did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The Diocese of Rockville Centre, which runs the school, also did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on the situation.
However, the diocese did refute Califano’s claims in a statement to WABC-TV and News12 Long Island, saying, "For privacy reasons, we do not comment publicly on personnel matters, but we can say that the school did not end Mr. Califano’s employment over his sexuality.”
A rally was held on Friday by school parents and students requesting that Califano be reinstated in his teaching position. Califano’s mother, who attended the rally, told Fox 5 New York that Maria Regina was her son’s alma mater and that he had been excited to return to the school as an educator.
"All he wants is his job back," she told the outlet.
Another parent at the march told WABC-TV that Califano was “the best teacher.” “He's been Jameson's teacher for three months so far and he's changed my son's life," she said.
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A Change.org petition in support of Califano has so far garnered more than 8,000 signatures asking for him to return to his job at the school.
“Michael Califano, an immensely beloved, committed and diligent educator, has been unjustly dismissed from his role at a Catholic school,” the post said. “This decision not only affects Michael personally, but it also deprives the community of a dedicated servant who consistently contributed to its enrichment.”
According to CBS News, Califano has obtained legal counsel and plans to publicly reveal more details about his firing.
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