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Louisiana lawmakers have defeated a bill that sought to ban lessons related to sexual orientation or gender identity from school classrooms and would have gagged school employees from mentioning their own sexual orientation or gender identity. He also said the school and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod as a whole see “homosexuals as a problem that must be swept under the rug quietly and discreetly.” Gerhold said while he recognizes that Valley Lutheran is exempt from state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ employees - based on a legal concept known as the “religious exception,” which allows religious schools to make hiring and firing decisions based on their religious beliefs - he still takes issue with the school’s actions, its demand that he closet his identity, and its decision to punish him for the actions of a third party he didn’t have control over. Gerhold told the Iowa Capital Dispatch that he filed a police report in the case, but authorities indicated they don’t have the resources or tools to trace the source of the blackmail threats. She also found that Gerhold hadn’t publicly shared any information about his sexual orientation, and that there was no evidence to suggest that the “timeframe of the pictures” posted to the school’s Facebook page constituted a violation of his agreement with the school.Ĭarol Burnett Honored with Sondheim Award at Stellar Signature Galaīennett ruled that the school’s argument “breaks down to being told he would no longer have a job because of the actions of a third party, not controlled by, completely outside of work.” The evidence provided by the school failed to establish that Gerhold was discharged for misconduct, and found that his resignation was solely prompted by the actions of the blackmailer, who had “maliciously” shared personal information without Gerhold’s consent. The school appealed the decision, resulting in the hearing before Judge Bennett on May 2.įollowing that hearing, Bennett ruled that Gerhold was eligible for benefits because he had committed no workplace misconduct that would disqualify him from eligibility. Gerhold then applied for, and was granted, unemployment benefits. The pastor allegedly told Gerhold he would be fired after an upcoming board meeting, and that it would be better for all concerned if he would just quit. Gerhold then met with the school’s head pastor, who is also a board member at the school.
Valley Lutheran administrators then placed Gerhold on leave. Soon after he reported the alleged blackmail attempt, the information about him - including photos - was posted to the school’s Facebook page. But in January, Gerhold informed his superiors that his phone had been hacked and that someone was attempting to blackmail him by threatening to share information about his sexuality with his friends, family and employer.