a volleyball on gymnasium floor
Inoke Tonga says he was forced out of his high school volleyball coaching job for being gay.

Denounce your homosexuality or lose your job: that was the choice given to a volleyball coach at a private Christian high school. 

He chose to lose his job. 

Until very recently, Inoke Tonga was a volleyball coach at Valor Christian High School in Highland Ranch, Colorado. As he was ramping up for the 2021-2022 season, Tonga was unexpectedly called in to meet with the campus pastor and athletic director.

They explained that someone had stumbled onto his Instagram page and found posts indicating that he was gay. The administrators gave Tonga an ultimatum, and he chose to stay true to his identity. 

Although technically the school – being a private institution – has the legal authority to fire an employee for being gay, the incident has still provoked outrage. 

It also provoked some interesting questions around privacy. For example, is it ethical for an employer to search through your social media pages to determine your sexual identity? And then interrogate and fire you over it?

Denounce or Bounce

Throughout the 90 minute conversation, Valor Christian administrators interrogated Tonga about his home life, asking if he had any changes in ‘lifestyle’ recently, or if he’d posted anything online that might go against the private Christian school’s values. He says he was confused by their questions, arguing that, as a school employee, he’d never post anything remotely controversial on social media.

Finally, they let the cat out of the bag. Tonga had recently made several recent posts on Instagram using rainbow emojis and the #gay hashtag, leading them to believe he was gay, which he confirmed when asked.

“Parents pay too much money to have their kids be coached by someone like you who identifies as a gay man,” he quotes them as responding.

Tonga says they belittled him for over an hour, trivializing the LGBTQ movement (“LGGTBG or whatever”), and finally asked him to denounce his homosexuality or quit his job.

“I walked away knowing that my journey as a coach at Valor Christian had come to an end,” Tonga wrote. Instead, he’ll “be true to who God made me to be… A gay child of the almighty.’

Game, Set, Match?

According to Tonga, he wasn’t even breaking any official rules anyway. “The culture document of Valor Christian that was given to me during the interview process didn’t mention anything about their stance on LGBTQ+,” he says.

For their part, the school objects to Tonga’s version of events, saying he “misrepresented” them in his retelling of what happened.

They confirmed that they did indeed “become aware” of his pro-LGBTQ Facebook post, putting in motion the series of events that ultimately ended in his resignation. But they say that he wasn’t forced out, he left on his own accord. He “provided a statement to Valor in which he concluded that he does not support Valor’s beliefs, and he requested a separation from Valor,” they wrote. “Based on this conclusion, Valor agrees that a separation is appropriate.”

Valor students aren’t buying it. On Tuesday, about 50 Valor students walked out of class in support of Tonga, gathering across the street in protest. “Hiding behind Christianity as a guise for bigotry is not only disgusting, it’s not Christ-like,” said 16-year-old student Lucy Sarkissian. “We will not stand for it. We will not forget your bigotry. We will no longer stay silent.”

Some have also questioned the morality of scrubbing an employee’s social media for thoughts or morals you disagree with. Tonga’s employers didn’t know he was gay. By all accounts, it doesn’t appear that he brought up his romantic life at work at all. And now he’s out of a job for using a few emojis and a hashtag. Some have labeled it as tantamount to cancel culture.

What do you think? Valor is a private Christian school, after all. But is firing a good employee after learning he’s gay from social media justifiable?

77 comments

  1. Angel's Avatar Angel

    sucks, but that's what happens when you work for a private school, especially a religious one...

  1. Mrknowitall's Avatar Mrknowitall

    God loves everyone. He doesn't like Homosexuality for good reason, it opens you up to demons and a world of hurt, someone inflicted by demons can afflict someone else. But in this guys case why would he want to work there knowing he has very conflicting beliefs ? Just move on.

    1. Angel's Avatar Angel

      Hmm, I know alot of Chrstians who were opened up t demons and have xperieinced world of hurt. If God is spirit and the soul is genderless, why would God eve care? He doesn't, Go and leave it to man to determine what God wants, lol.

  1. Greg Formoe's Avatar Greg Formoe

    The lesson here is that a private school with religious orientation is bound to dig into your "morals" and decide if they approve of your influence around kids. Personally, having a gay coach is fine with me, but, I am not being paid by the parents bringing their kids to a private school. Those parents are looking for a place where the real world is not affecting their kids.

  1. Thom's Avatar Thom

    Isn't it just horrible when what someone posts in social media can affect what happens to them? I am sure liberals are going crazy since it is happening to a gay man. But, they are drooling knowing it was a gay man who works at a Christian school. I am sure this man did a fine job because, his students respect him. Plus, his students felt comfortable with who he was and there were no complaints. If this guy had been chasing kids I would have been in support of him going to jail but, this was not happening. He was a respected member of staff until someone found his posts. I believe liberals and conservatives know social media posts have consequences but, only conservatives suffer the consequences.

    So, if he was fired for what he thinks he can join the ranks of many conservative individuals who are fired, blocked, ridiculed, shunned and all for what they think.

  1. Thom's Avatar Thom

    What the bible will not say, well after it was edited and re-edited, and re-edited, Jesus was married to Mary Madeline and he was not gay. The disciples were not gay, they were also married but nothing was put into the bible. Why? Because the catholic church wants their priests to not be married.

  1. Keith's Avatar Keith

    I think his job should only be based on his work history and job performance. His sexuality has nothing to do with the way he performs his job. The school may be privately owned and may not be held accountable for firing someone for being gay. Morally and ethically, what they did was wrong. Asking him questions that were not pertinent to his job, they were fishing for personal information. Once he came out, he was given the choice to rebuke his homosexuality or be terminated. He chose to live his authentic self and is no longer employed their. He was a great teacher and his students stood up for him by protesting his dismissal and stating that the school needs to change it's views on homosexuality or any intolerance.

  1. Ericka Lee Stone's Avatar Ericka Lee Stone

    He absolutely should not have been fired! He should not be judged by what he does in his personal life. He was not teaching or telling the students about his personal life. And furthermore, I'm pretty sure not one of us would like or appreciate being judged by what we do in our personal lives or what happens behind closed doors!!

  1. P. Keith Benefiel's Avatar P. Keith Benefiel

    Christ bade us to treat others as we would be treated. All else is somebody's opinion.

  1. Gary Stephen Lowden's Avatar Gary Stephen Lowden

    I love how these "private" schools and churches try to use the cover of not taking public funds and being able to engage, therefore, in any discrimination they want. I say then take away their tax exempt status. Then they can truly be off the public dole. The holdings in property of all of the churches in the US is enormous. After all, Jesus said: "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's." Pay your taxes.

  1. Sheila Norman's Avatar Sheila Norman

    Prayer warriors give all situations to the LORD.

    1. Lionheart's Avatar Lionheart

      Would that be Lord Krishna, Lord of the Rings, or some other man made mythical Lord? 🤔

      🦁❤️

  1. Philip Joseph Ryan's Avatar Philip Joseph Ryan

    Of course, this is a breach of his fundamental human rights, but then America refused to sign up to it.

  1. Kathleen Baird's Avatar Kathleen Baird

    It seems that too many people who call themselves "Christian" are NOT followers of New Testament Christ, but follow the Old Testament ideas of bigotry and hatred. They appear better suited to become part of the Taliban, than to follow Christ's messages of love, tolerance and forgiveness.

    1. Carl Bernard Elfstrom's Avatar Carl Bernard Elfstrom

      Kathleen, individual christians just pick and choose which passages of the bible read, believe in, and follow. It is really quite hapless, without anything leading their way. And much of what they read in that bible is often misinterpreted, and passed on to others, for further misinterpretation.

  1. Rev Mark D's Avatar Rev Mark D

    I was wondering whether a gay private high school would employ a straight coach, or, having discovered he likes the opposite sex, would fire him (which firing is yet to be proved and may be quite untrue if the claims of documented evidence are provided in this case).

    And to those who would say "Well, there isn't a gay private high school," then the obvious question is "Why isn't there?"

    1. John Condron's Avatar John Condron

      Perhaps because gays don't have the same level of hostility towards their fellow humans as is displayed by many in the straight community?

      Of course, it may also come down to simple demographics.

    2. Carl Bernard Elfstrom's Avatar Carl Bernard Elfstrom

      That depends on how prejudiced the administrators of the gay highschool would be, Mark. My guess is that if they went through all the trouble of opening a gay highschool they would want everyone there (except for visiting parents) to be gay. And by the same token that's probably true of other secular schools (which are probably never even visited by gay parents, hardy har-har).

  1. Rev Mark D's Avatar Rev Mark D

    If he had simply learned to pay off politicians like the rest of us have learned to do, this wouldn't be a problem nor would it be an issue. It's a question of basic adaptation: It still matters in life to know where you are.

  1. Tammy Lynn Breeden's Avatar Tammy Lynn Breeden

    One thing God never makes a mistake on human beings. If he made a woman then you are a woman, If God made a man then you are a man. But when you listen to Satan a out what you are then that is what you are. But God never makes a mistake.

    So you are Gay so what. You lost your job. There more jobs out there. Why are you whinny about it. Show them you can find another job that can expect you for who you are.

    But if you just sit there and whin then you are not going anywhere but letting Satan win. Grow up and show God and everyone else who you really are. That's all I have to say

    God Bless

    1. Lionheart's Avatar Lionheart

      Did you have a particular God in mind that you are referencing? The last time I looked there have been hundreds that mankind believes is real, even though there is no demonstrable evidence to support any.

      🦁❤️

    2. Ilmenheru Terikson's Avatar Ilmenheru Terikson

      Tammy you really should take the advice of professional christian apologists like Ray Comfort and stay silent rather then help hurt the faith by your sheer ignorance and inability to construct a single logical statement.

      For starters the God of Abraham is outlined to have made numerous mistakes that required correcting. Lucifer and the fall of 1/3rd of and all of most powerful of the heavenly host.( Biblical scholars agree that for 1/3rd to hold its own in eternal conflict with the remaining 2/3rds and the almighty being they must be a numerically smaller but superior force of combatants)

      Then there was this little matter of the First Woman, Lilith btw not Eve, who actually had the will to defy Adam and God, and in fact invoked a Word of Power that let her be free of God and in fact made him fear her and cast her from Eden in terror of what she had become.

      Oh and then lets not forget he had to go and flood the Earth and kill every single life form but those he personally chose to see saved by sending them to the Arc.

      Those are very much all actions undertaken because of mistakes made by the creator.

      The fact you do not even follow the Christian Faith you seem to claim to be a part of based on your own lack of understanding and forgetting that as a woman you are not even allowed to speak up against men ever( something virtually no woman who claims to be a christian seems to grasp, that modern society does not end that rule dating back to the time of the Tribes in the desert. A woman is always bound to stay silent and serve the word and will of every man as if he is God in the flesh.

      You will never see Heaven, for you are surely damned to hell for all eternity as you are clearly Lucifer's harlot.

      1. Carl Bernard Elfstrom's Avatar Carl Bernard Elfstrom

        Atleast the women in my fantasies never say a contrary word. I've always liked that song, by Phil Collins. Too bad we can't only have fantasy lovers, Ilmenheru. For in reality they pay more attention to Tears For Fears, the way they "Shout, shout, let it all out"! I guess we'll just have to keep rolling with the punches.

  1. Daniel Gray's Avatar Daniel Gray

    They have the right to do so. When you sign a contract with ANY business, they have the right to terminate the contract if you violate it. And in Christian schools you have to obey their teachings. While discrimination against them because they are gay is illegal, firing a person for violating their legal contract is not.

    1. Lyndy Borden's Avatar Lyndy Borden

      I hear people like you constantly complain about cancel culture, and how people shouldn't be fired because of something they said on social media. But all of a sudden, when somebody posts something pretty innocuous (the hashtag gay and a rainbow emoji) they deserved to be fired because of a breach of contract? Really? If a straight person put #straight in one of their posts, these people wouldn't have a problem with it, but because he's gay, he must denounce his sexuality or be fired? What is that if it isn't discrimination against gay people based on what they do in their private life?

      1. Carl Bernard Elfstrom's Avatar Carl Bernard Elfstrom

        Don't worry, Lyndy, christianity is on its way out. They're digging their grave deeper all the time. And, "We're not gonna take it! No, we're not gonna take it! We're not gonna take it, anymore"!!! Christianity will soon be a faded memory, and later, never even heard of, in this world.

        1. Daniel Gray's Avatar Daniel Gray

          Sorry carla, nobody believes your myths. Christianity is the largest religion in the world and unless they lose 80% of their members, they will still be around LONG after you turn to dust.

      2. Daniel Gray's Avatar Daniel Gray

        Sorry Lyndy but you should read the contract BEFORE commenting. We had a teacher who signed a contract and then broke it in Toledo Ohio with a christian school. They fired her and she sued it all the way up to the 5th US District Court (one step below the US Supreme Court) and they ruled that her firing was legal and justified as she signed the contract of her own free will. As such when she broke the contract the school was justified in firing her. IN short she LOST her case. Same thing here. If the person didnt read the contract that isnt the schools fault. And if they did read the contract and it clearly stated no homosexual activity and they broke it, then their firing is all on them. Sorry but you lose yet AGAIN

        1. Lyndy Borden's Avatar Lyndy Borden

          Lol, how did you read the contract? Were you somehow able to get your hands on it? Did you go up to the school, apply for a job, and look at the contract they gave you? I wouldn't put it past you to lie about that, you've said more egregious lies just to prove a point to shield your ego. The only place we get a hint of what was on the contract was in the article:

          "According to Tonga, he wasn’t even breaking any official rules anyway. “The culture document of Valor Christian that was given to me during the interview process didn’t mention anything about their stance on LGBTQ+,” he says."

          There was apparently nothing in the handbook about their stance on gay people. As for your case that went to the 5th US District Court, I can't find any record of it. I also find it weird that the 5th district, which deals with cases from courts within Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi would hear a case from Toledo, Ohio whose jurisdiction is in the 6th US District Court. Maybe you can try your case in a different court? I don't know, but your story doesn't seem to hold water. The only loser here is you, why don't you actually get a life instead of trolling on some random forum.

          1. Daniel Gray's Avatar Daniel Gray

            Its no different then the one in the Toledo case that the Homosexual teacher lost. And its no different then the one in Virginia where the school board tried to fire a straight coach who refused to follow thier idiotic decision to call a boy a girl all because the boy wanted him to. The school board also lost that case from the Virginia state supreme Court. You have been proved wrong more times then Carter has liver spots. And as for trolling, YOU are the one going through each conversation to reply to me. So I guess we know who is doing the trolling, say hello next time you pass a mirror.

  1. David Arthur Lewis's Avatar David Arthur Lewis

    I agree that private employers can and should make their own rules for employees. However, the claim that religious schools do not receive government financial support is absolutely false. Religious institutions in America own Trillions of dollars worth of real estate for which they pay no taxes. That amounts to Billions every year in subsidies to religion. That is wrong. I resent paying my taxes to cover services to bigotry businesses. If they choose to discriminate, they should be taxed like every other business.

  1. Nicholas J Page's Avatar Nicholas J Page

    The school should not have fired him Gay or Straight as long as he does his job and doesn't interfere with the students Then that's fine.What happens in his private life is nothing to do with the school.how date they go through his personal life or social media.Thats discrimination in the UK

    1. Carl Bernard Elfstrom's Avatar Carl Bernard Elfstrom

      That would only be true in a fair world, Nicholas. Too bad no such place exists where the Golden rule is required by all, atleast not on this side of the light. And please, try not to get there any sooner, because of it. Then again, don't they say that all is fair in love and war? There may be some truth to that. Just something else to ponder.

  1. Ann's Avatar Ann

    Private Christian School. He knew the rules going in. My own opinion is superflouous.

    1. Jim D.'s Avatar Jim D.

      Comment removed by user.

    2. Jim D.'s Avatar Jim D.

      Ann, you are assuming the school made it clear upon hiring the coach that being gay was not allowed, and the coach simply hid his sexuality from them. The article made no mention of this. In fact, the article states they questioned him for 90 minutes asking about changes in his home life, a line of questioning I would consider off limits. Finally, they flat out asked him if he is gay, and he confirmed that he is.

      Like I said in an earlier post, if the school does not want gay people at their school, the application for employment should state in big, bold letters, "GAYS NEED NOT APPLY." You and I both know they would never do this because they are gutless and would never be able to stand up to the criticism and backlash.

      1. Ann's Avatar Ann

        No, I'm assuming anyone who applies to a Christian school would know their views on the matter especially if they fall into that category. It is rather common knowledge.
        Why would you apply for a job anywhere without learning the views and attitudes that particular place holds.

    3. Carl Bernard Elfstrom's Avatar Carl Bernard Elfstrom

      And Catholic priests know they aren't supposed to suck off altar boys, Ann. So what's your point?

  1. Bishop William Dusenberry, DD's Avatar Bishop William Dusenberry, DD

    Apparently, the Catholics who wrote the St. James Christian Bible (approx 325 ACE) considered Jesus to be gay, and so were all of the disciples, and even the Holy Ghost.

    So, sometime between 325 ACE, and now, the Catholic Church has decided to “bash the gay” rather than be “Jesus-friendly” — abide by the Golden Rule, and truly “love thy neighbor.”

    How the GOP has managed to maneuver itself, from being the party of choice of misogynists, homophobes, racists and bigots — into being a party started by Mussolini (fascism) is clearly due to D J Trump — Steve Miller, and Steven Bannon.

    As fascism is currently experiencing a renaissance in Europe, and until civics education becomes required in the schools of the USA, if Trumpists keep multiplying like rabbits, it’s all over for the USA’s Democratic experiment.

    1. John P Maher's Avatar John P Maher

      YOU SAID IT TOTALLY CORRECTO" Mr. DUSENBERRY MUSIC to MY BUCCANEERs !

    2. Rev Mark D's Avatar Rev Mark D

      Gosh, and here I thought he was bi and curious, and had a thing for hash oil, premarital sex, and socialism.

      1. Carl Bernard Elfstrom's Avatar Carl Bernard Elfstrom

        Is that why you voted for him, Mark?

        1. Rev Mark D's Avatar Rev Mark D

          Voted for who? Can't see what your reasoning, or lack thereof, is. Were you thinking of someone else perhaps?

    3. Rev Mark D's Avatar Rev Mark D

      Well with Bannon and Miller, you have a Jew and a Catholic, so the Western spectrum seems adequately covered. Are you sure when you say GOP and how awful it is, are you actually using code words for the Abrahamic religions?

    4. Rev Mark D's Avatar Rev Mark D

      William, it seems the experiment is already over, since you yourself seem to have canceled a large segment of the population on your own. Going from your example, it seems democracy is finished, but you might not like having to learn of your own role in killing it.

  1. Jim D.'s Avatar Jim D.

    Oh, here we go again. So what we have here is a PRIVATE school (PRIVATE meaning they don't take public money, so they can make, and break, their own rules) that gave a gay coach a choice (no, not really) of either staying employed or staying gay. The school only figured this out by seeing posts on the coach's SOCIAL MEDIA (SOCIAL meaning "in the public" and MEDIA in this case, meaning internet) that the coach either expressed or implied he is gay. The coach chose to stay gay, as if that was a choice.

    So what are the take-away's from this story. First, if you run a private school (Christian or otherwise), and you do not want to hire gay people, then say so on the job application. Of course, you won't because you're gutless.

    Second, if you are gay, and you apply for a job at a private school (Christian or otherwise), read the room. Do you get the sense they may have an issue with gay people? If you do, and you still want to work there, don't put your private life on the very public internet. If you are not okay with that, make sure your prospective employer knows your gay. (No, I don't know how to do that subtly.) If they hire you, then the don't care. If they don't hire you, maybe they care or maybe they don't. Either way, you're looking for another job.

    This problem resolves itself in the long run. The coach's story will get out, and some other school will hire him either because they need a coach or they want to make a social statement. Doesn't really matter which. The coach will have a job. The private school is already feeling the fallout from their actions. Students are protesting. I'm sure some parents are going to rethink their decision to have their children attend that school next year. New student enrollment is sure to decrease. When the school experiences a decline in revenue, they will adapt, or they will die off. That's how it works.

    We don't need a new law to tell us how to think, in spite of what some social activists and politicians say. The court of public opinion will do nicely, thank you. Will there be some folks that support the school's actions? Of course. But are there enough families in that area to support the school financially? Doubtful. It took a really long time for the dinosaurs to die out. While it won't take eons, the dinosaur thinking from people like the ones in charge of this school will eventually die out as well.

    1. Jim D.'s Avatar Jim D.

      "So what are the take-away's from this story. First, if you run a private school (Christian or otherwise), and you do not want to hire gay people, then say so on the job application. Of course, you won't because you're gutless."

      Just to clarify, I'm referring to the school as gutless for not having a "Gays need not apply" statement on their application. Just didn't want anyone to get the wrong impression. Thanks.

    2. Carl Bernard Elfstrom's Avatar Carl Bernard Elfstrom

      It's not necessarily about condemning gày people for being gay. Màybe he did a dragshow on Facebook, in his black fishnet pantyhose and go-go boots, while waving around a red feather boa, and gave his students extra credit for watching his fabulous performance. And there's nothing wrong with watching dragshows. I've been to some of them, and really had a good time,even though I stuck out like a sore thumb, the way I was only cruising the lesbians.

      1. John Condron's Avatar John Condron

        There is no evidence of any of that in the article, Carl. In fact, the article did specify exactly what they found on his social media.

  1. Lionheart's Avatar Lionheart

    Hopefully he will now see the error of his ways and leave Christianity and get on with his very happy loving life without religion.

    🦁❤️

    1. Carl Bernard Elfstrom's Avatar Carl Bernard Elfstrom

      I must say, my good man Lionheart, that lack of religion is better than christianity. We can't expect everyone to be born again Pagans.

  1. Dr. Samuel D Goldman, Ph.D. D.D.'s Avatar Dr. Samuel D Goldman, Ph.D. D.D.

    Rabbi Samuel D. Goldman, PhD. DD.

    I'm so very disappointed in this school. If this is such an issue then they should have been up front with their prejudices during the interview process and asked every applicant, " are you Gay, White, Black, Jewish, Etc." I think they don't do this because they know this is wrong. I must wonder whom cast the first stone in the first complaint, since in this story there is no mention of this teacher doing anything wrong other than posting something on a social media site, which is his right, and should have nothing to do with the school or his behaviour during school hours.

    I have noticed that many businesses as well as others such as schools at various levels troll social media with the sole purpose of trying to use what they find against people, why, simply because they can, for what reason, their own. Poor choices.

    Our society is making poor choices, choices of if your not like us then your not welcome, I had for many years when I was younger wondered what G-d looked like, then I grew up and found out, he looks like Us, all of us. We have a lot of growing still left to do.

    1. Rev Mark D's Avatar Rev Mark D

      Nothing in the account is illegal, so if you don't happen to like the laws my dear friend, get them changed. In this country you do have that privilege. It is not so in many contemporary places.

    2. Rev Mark D's Avatar Rev Mark D

      If, as you say, God looks like us, is he circumcised or not? Is he male or female or something else? Does he wear a black hat and a captain or a little red skull cap? Is it the white North European Jesus, or the genetically North African Jesus? Or does one just simply look in the mirror in order to see god?

    3. Carl Bernard Elfstrom's Avatar Carl Bernard Elfstrom

      What if he posted on social media that he's got some really hung students, and is always trying to bump into those Moby Dicks on the volleyball court. Do we know that his behavior was outstanding, and always kept his gaiety to himself. I'm just saying that he could have done something to provoke an inquest. I'm not at all prejudiced, and am all for equal rights, but it's a two way street. Just because he was fired, and the reason they gave was because he's gay, doesn't mean that's all there was to it. Also, he must have done something for his boss to have a reason to question his sexual orientation. None of my bosses ever asked me if I was gay. How many of y'all have been asked that question?

  1. The Rev. William C, Millhouse's Avatar The Rev. William C, Millhouse

    Unfortunately, according to their beliefs they are justified in firing him. I do believe that he should have known that this could happen before he applied to that school. Personally I could never support an institution like this.

    1. Rev Mark D's Avatar Rev Mark D

      How can you call it unfortunate? He knew who he worked for and what he was doing and he's a grown man and liable for the consequences that flow from his actions and decisions. Right to self-determination doesn't mean free of consequence or cost. If you're going to make a social statement out of your position and discount somebody else's deeply held religious beliefs, there's going to be the possibility of a clash.

      Also there's the question of he said she said, and if they have it in writing from him that he requested separation, then regardless of how he may present to the public, in which he may or not be telling the truth, or if multiple people were present and heard it their way as opposed to his, then all this is just political posturing about the lawful decision making of a private enterprise.

      As to the students, it's up to their parents to decide where they go to school, whether the students personally like it or not. They can decide these things for themselves on to become legal adults. Students can have their opinions, but that is all they are, that is all the amount to, and that's where it ends. They get to learn a little bit about life, which is partly supposed to be what school is about, and part of life is that you don't always get what you want and don't always find it fair... And that sometimes, if you want something, it may come at a price. You decide whether the price and risk is right, and if you take the risk, the price may be applied and some time or other.

      Luckily, here in a democracy you don't get put in prison for your religious beliefs, personal beliefs, or your sexual preferences and identity. Compared to a large part of the world, this is rather advanced. Think about that, because for much if not most of the world, neither of the above is true.

  1. robert's Avatar robert

    Seems to me that him knowing he was gay to start with is trying to make a social statement more so than anything else! Just such a queer situation ya know?

    1. John Condron's Avatar John Condron

      Robert. Did you actually read the article? If you had, you would have read that "According to Tonga, he wasn’t even breaking any official rules anyway. “The culture document of Valor Christian that was given to me during the interview process didn’t mention anything about their stance on LGBTQ+,” he says."

      1. robert's Avatar robert

        Lol the rules he broke is by being involved with a CHRISTIAN organization that does not abide by his life style! So therefore he is trying to make a social statement for his gay cause!

        1. John Condron's Avatar John Condron

          Hmmm... unable or unwilling to read and comprehend TWICE!

          Sad.

          1. robert's Avatar robert

            No no no, sadly you are the one not comprehending that he deliberately went and got a job at a Christian organization knowing that Christianity ( as well as most other religions ) condemn any homosexuality, so therefore knowing that , he was trying to make a social statement, like for example, when gays go into a bakery and want a cake from a Christian owned store and they refuse to make cake , they knew beforehand what they was doing and did it for their social agenda! Think about it!

  1. Brien's Avatar Brien

    Ok, first, I believe that every human being should live their best life, however that may be. Having said that, if you are living your best life, why would you use your energy and talent to support an organization that shows such disdain for your life? It just makes no sense to me. Instead of spending so much energy on a worthless battle, why not take your energy and talents to somewhere that will appreciate them?

    1. John Condron's Avatar John Condron

      "Instead of spending so much energy on a worthless battle, why not take your energy and talents to somewhere that will appreciate them?"

      Umm... he did, Brien.

  1. flugo's Avatar flugo

    His firing is justifiable! From a private school's perspective, any lifestyle of an employee that is detrimental to the influence and well-being of the students, is unacceptable! The LGBTQxyz lifestyle is abominable, amoral and obtuse.

    1. Douglas Robert Spindler's Avatar Douglas Robert Spindler

      What you are saying is pure evil and un-Christian. LGBTQxyz is NOT a lifestyle, it is how God created them. Instead of condemning your fellow being learn about them first.

      1. flugo's Avatar flugo

        'do spin': FALSE! God never created these misfits! It's a chosen lifestyle . . . an option. Show me one Scripture that supports your absurd, heretical blather concerning God's creating these abnormal people.

        Firstly, you likely don't know God, in order to make an inane statement as you did above. Secondly, God created the original pair and termed it 'very good'. Thirdly, the just, righteous, holy God would NOT bring about a creation termed 'very good', and later call it an abomination.

        1. Ilmenheru Terikson's Avatar Ilmenheru Terikson

          Forgetting about the actual First Woman in the OT again eh poor foolish flunkie of false god flugo.Considering your little god from the get go couldnt even make a set fit to mate kind of shows a real failing on its part. Even hard line christian apologists agree it suggests that god was fallible then, and why it had to experience mortality as Jesus. But we all know you are not even half as competent as the likes of Ray Comfort or Sam Harris when it comes to arguing for your idea of christian faith. Those men may be scum, but at least they know how to engage as civil humans and not prove in the first line they write every time that they are not outright liars when it comes to being devout members of their faith.

          A true christian may never speak in contest nor seek to cause conflict which you do in every post here, and prove you are not a ULC minister in good standing, as to be one you have to accept and support the LGTBQX community. The very fact you dont means your posts here have no validity.

        2. Brien's Avatar Brien

          Who are you to judge what God did or didn't do? Who are you to condemn someone else? I thought your God said not to do that. You are free to live your best life, why do you not give that same right to others? I do agree that the coach should not be there.... I think it is a waste of his talents.

          1. Rev, Rene L.'s Avatar Rev, Rene L.

            I totally agree, and as a second thought I think the students who participated in the rally against the school should talk to their parents about moving to another less bigoted school next semester!

        3. Lyndy Borden's Avatar Lyndy Borden

          Look at that, it's a judgy Christian, such a rarity (not).

        4. Carl Bernard Elfstrom's Avatar Carl Bernard Elfstrom

          Is that how it happened with you and your gaiety, flugo?

          1. Rev, Rene L.'s Avatar Rev, Rene L.

            Pease stop with the nasty comments against "Flugo", he or she has the right of their convictions even when we disagree.

            1. Brien's Avatar Brien

              I wonder if you would say the same to flugo. I just don't think so. I believe that everyone has the right to live their best life, yet the radical organized zealots deny that right to others. I will forever speak against zealots that show their bigotry and hatred all in the name of a mythical being. They have been allowed to spew hate without impunity for far too long. I normally end with "Peace ", but I just don't feel peaceful right now.

        5. Dan Anderson's Avatar Dan Anderson

          Flugo - God never created homosexuality? Please explain, then, how over 2,500 different mammalian species on this little blue marble have homosexual populations.

          (Yes, you ARE an animal - a mammal - a form of great ape.)

        6. James Earl Montgomery's Avatar James Earl Montgomery

          Flugo,

          You might actually have a valid argument if, God had not made homosexuality into every mammal species on the planet. We know it is a fact that same sex "activities" take place in every species of mammal and therefore must be from the almighty's design. Secondly, being Christian literally means to be "CHRIST-like", and from scripture Jesus taught to love thy neighbor, to judge not - because judgement is reserved for the lord almighty alone, and for only those without sin to cast a stone. By your post here alone it would seem that you have paid no attention whatsoever to those requirements of Christianity, but that is for the lord to determine.

          1. flugo's Avatar flugo

            'jem': To avoid further embarrassment to yourself due to your obvious lack of scholarship, you'd do your homework before posting such erroneous blather. Jesus TAUGHT us to judge.(John 7:24) And, in Luke 17:13 He told us to 'rebuke', which initially involves judging. And in I Corinthians 2:14.15, there are 'judging' instructions. Sorry, but your fluffy, porous, and obtuse comments are so inane.

    2. Dan Anderson's Avatar Dan Anderson

      Flugo -

      I am curious about your post. You seem to think that the God of Abraham is against anything that is not 100% heterosexual. Am I correct in this perception of you?

      I understand that maybe you are busy listening to the claims of those who are 'ministers' who claim that homosexuality is an abomination. Did you ever ask them about their degree, what seminary they attended, and if they had actually studied the culture and historicity of the Bible? Most likely, they never looked into what the various writings actually say and how they relate to the claim.

      One of the most popular references to this topic is Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. Are you familiar with the Canaanite religious practices? These passages had to do with the condemnation of the Canaanites using male temple prostitutes in their ceremonies. It had nothing to do with two people of the same gender who love each other.

      Next? 1Cor 6:9-10. Look at the KJV1611. NOWHERE will it mention the homosexual. That is an addition to the "Word of God", which supposedly was a thing was to NEVER do, 'not one jot, not one tittle.'

      Romans 1:26-30? You must know this one by heart. No, it was not about two people of the same gender who care about each other or who are having sexual relations. It was Saul/Paul writing about an ancient Roman fertility ritual to the Goddess Diana for improved crops and increased calvings & lambings. The end of this ceremony ended in a massive orgy. THIS is what it was complaining about, not homosexuality.

      Then, you have the story of Sodom & Gomorrah, supposedly about homosexuality, when no, it was the condemnation of rape and inhospitality, OF WHICH THE GOD OF ABRAHAM WARNED THESE COMMUNITIES NUMEROUS TIMES.

      By the way, homosexuality is NOT a choice. It is about as much a choice as the color of your eyes, your skin, your hair, or whether or not you are left-handed or right-handed. It is built-in from birth.

      Just a quick note: Notice how Jesus NEVER mentioned ANYTHING about homosexuality?

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