Today in victims of High School theatre:

The Internet: giving your uninformed
opinions the appearance of value since 1990.

So what is this guy suing over? Who? The gym teacher--sorry, Corey McNellis, the guy who's suing Ponderosa High School in Colorado is actually the former assistant principal...but also the athletic director. And if I'm denigrating his position--former position--by calling him a gym teacher just know that it's because I'm dismissive of sports in general and not him personally. Although I'm also dismissive of Corey McNellis and his dumb lawsuit which, despite not being a lawyer or involved in this in any way, I have an opinion about. Because the internet.

"Florida: we don't even know the meaning
of the word "gay." Because we banned it."

-a small, ignorant man

McNellis says he's suing because he was let go after complaining about the school putting on a production of The Laramie Project, which, if you're unfamiliar, is a play dealing with the Matthew Shepard's murder. The play, written by Moisés Kaufman and the Tectonic Theatre Company in New York draws from interviews with people involved in the case as well as news reports. It's sort of the theatrical equivalent of a documentary as well as being an important and powerful piece that every high school in America should make a part of the curriculum. Especially in Florida, you know, the worst state?

Above: McNellis, whose email
proves that everyone is not cool.

McNellis, upon learning that Ponderosa High intended to put on The Laramie Project, emailed his colleagues saying:

"As a Dad of a student here and also as an employee in the school, what is my recourse if I disagree with the production? Was this a heads up to see if everyone is cool?"

-Corey McNellis, noted 

school official and Karen 

According to the Greeley Tribune, the lawsuit alleges that McNellis was fired "because of his Christian belief and because he expressed his views, which are protected by the First Amendment." 

And we're bound to have a lot more
of them thanks to a certain beer-loving
sexual assault enthusiast. Sorry, alleged.

Additionally, McNellis told the Denver Post that "It [his objections] absolutely never had anything to do with anti-LGBTQ [sic]" and that none of his comments could be taken as such. So, couple of things and again, I'm not a parent, I don't live in Colorado, and I haven't the slightest stake in this situation. That said, first, can I just take a moment here to push back on the notion that being a parent entitles one to the moral high ground? I mention it because making a child is, as I understand it, not exactly difficult. They let anyone, anyone have kids. Not matter how unqualified.

"Show me where I condemn gay people.
No? So you've got nothing? Thought so."

-Jesus, kind of over these people

Sure, he has a child in the school, but if he objects to the play, can't he just not let his kid go? He asks "what is my recourse if I disagree with the production?" as though the play was being produced at him--which, wait was it? I mean, he does go on to complain that he was fired for expressing his views. Maybe someone felt like this community could use The Laramie Project. Of course, he did say that his objections weren't anti LGBTQ, but I often find myself questioning both the self-awareness and the theological knowledge of the people who can't stop talking about how Christian they are.

Ugh...gay people...always going door
to door, trying to give you Bibles and--
wait, sorry, I'm thinking of Christians.

He might not even get how anti-LGBTQIA+ his objections are. The sentence "I've got nothing against those people, as long as they're not shoving it in our faces" leaps to mind. Then again, maybe he does. I mean, if he was fired for his beliefs, and those beliefs were expressed in the context of objecting to The Laramie Project, but weren't routed in anti-gay sentiment, which beliefs did he express? Surely it would have to have something to do with the show, right? His lawyer says that he doesn't like how Christians are portrayed in the play and the lawsuit cites his objection as the fact that the play presents "Christian leaders, some of whom share unsavory opinions regarding Shepard's murder...cite[ing] their Christian faith as the reason for their views." 

But the piece is based on actual interviews and show is quoting the Christian leaders the lawsuit is referencing, so it kind of seems like McNellis should have an issue with them, rather than the school for putting the show on. 

Hey, you don't suppose McNellis is actually motivated out of either discomfort with
LGBTQIA+ subject matter or even outright homophobia and that he's hiding behind some
weird, right-wing Christian persecution complex in order to win his lawsuit, do you?