In Union County, Tennessee, a teacher and his colleagues believe he was fired for sponsoring the gay-straight alliance at the high school where he worked.

Chris Richeson’s contract with Union County High School was not renewed for the upcoming school year, and he wasn’t given a reason why. He has a perfect track record at his school and has consistently earned the highest performance rating for his job, yet the administration refused to tell him why he was let go. 

However, he says that when he helped students start a GSA this year, they faced extreme hostility from administration and other students alike. One example: students reportedly hung posters up at the school that said “GAY IS NOT THE WAY” and “Stay Straight, God Is Coming Back Soon!” 

Richeson said being asked by a student to sponsor the club was his proudest moment as an educator, but that afterward, there were more than a dozen instances where students were asked to change the club, or Richeson was questioned about it.

“I was called down to the principal’s office repeatedly and given lectures involving the GSA’s attempts to do different activities,” he said. “It was very difficult to get approval for basic things that other clubs do such as making announcements or hosting an event.” […]

Richeson feels like he lost his job because of his involvement with GSA and now he’s worried that his former students will be left without an adult to stand up for them and give them a safe space.

“I always told them they were completely safe in my classroom, that I would lose my job before I ever allowed anything to happen to them,” he said. “Unfortunately that did happen.”

Those last two quotes break my heart. Protect teachers who defend their LGBT+ students without apology, and raise hell for those who are mistreated.