Teacher says he was fired from Catholic school for being gay

A gay third-grade teacher says he was fired from his job at a Catholic elementary school in Long Island after someone had sent the local diocese photos of him kissing his boyfriend. Michael Califano, 26, learned of his termination from Maria Regina School in Seaford, New York, Wednesday, after being told that he had violated

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A gay third-grade teacher says he was fired from his job at a Catholic elementary school in Long Island after someone had sent the local diocese photos of him kissing his boyfriend.

Michael Califano, 26, learned of his termination from Maria Regina School in Seaford, New York, Wednesday, after being told that he had violated diocese guidelines related to “living a Catholic lifestyle,” News 12 Long Island reported.

“Somebody had sent in some pictures of my boyfriend and I, and it escalated from there,” he told the outlet.

Califano said he did not feel that he had done anything wrong.

Califano has deep roots in the Maria Regina community: He has been a parishioner at the local church for years and had attended the school as a child, as did his late father, veteran Nassau County police officer Michael Califano, who was killed in a crash in 2011 when his son was just 13 years old. 

Michael Califano was allegedly fired over an anonymous email containing photos of him kissing his boyfriend. Brigitte Stelzer
Michael Califano, 26, says he was fired from his teaching job at a Catholic elementary school over photos of him kissing his boyfriend. News12
Califano had taught for two years at Maria Regina School in Seaford, New York, which he had attended as a child. News12

The Califano family fundraises at the school each year for scholarships in the fallen cop’s name. 

“I didn’t think this would happen in 2023, even in the Catholic Church,” Califano said.

Many parents and students have come to Califano’s defense on social media and through a petition on Change.org demanding that he be reinstated.

The author of the online petition, which so far has drawn more than 2,650 signatures, praised Califano as “an immensely beloved, committed and diligent educator” whose ouster “not only affects Michael personally but it also deprives the community of a dedicated servant who consistently contributed to its enrichment.”

Califano (center) says the diocese accused him of not living a Catholic lifestyle. News12

The petition goes on to say that the decision to fire Califano was based on a “malicious” anonymous email from someone who had gone “digging” for photos of Califano and his boyfriend on a social media account that was not even his own with the apparent intent of getting him fired.

Califano told Newsday that both the school and the diocese were aware that he was gay when they hired him two years ago, and no one ever raised questions about his sexuality until the Rev. John O. Barres, the bishop of the diocese, received the email with the kissing pictures from his boyfriend’s Facebook page.

“They said they found things on that account that were inappropriate for a Catholic schoolteacher,” said Califano. “There’s nothing vulgar on that account.”

A petition has been launched on Change.org demanding that Califano be reinstated. Change.org
Students and parents alike stand by Michael Califano. Brigitte Stelzer

Mary Ann Hasbrouck, a retired teacher, slammed Califano’s firing as a “kind of a witch hunt.”

“This gentleman teaches at the school, he is beloved by all the students and parents, did a great job, goes above and beyond,” she said, adding that everyone was “blindsided” by the diocese’s decision to fire him. 

Parent Toni Lichtenberger said Califano helped her daughter through her school anxiety when she was in his class last year.

Califano said that if he were told he could have his job back, he would accept without any hesitation.

Supporters of Michael Califano agree that there was nothing inappropriate on his social media account. Brigitte Stelzer
A retired teacher referred to Califano’s firing as a “witch hunt.” Brigitte Stelzer

A spokesman for the Diocese of Rockville Centre denied that Califano was fired for being gay in an email to The Post Friday, but offered no alternative explanation for the teacher’s ouster. 

“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,” said Sean Dolan, director of communications for the diocese.

On Friday morning, dozens of parents and students rallied outside of Saint Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre to support Califano and demand that he be allowed to return to the classroom.

Protesters chanted “love is love” and “bring back Mr. Califano,” and waved signs and rainbow balloons. One of the handmade posters carried by elementary school children read: “God loves Mr. Califano and so do we.”

Califano, who attended the rally with his family, spoke to The Post, saying that he appreciated the love and support of his community.

“This goes beyond just me, because it affects my students as well, and it will hurt them more in the long run, and I hope this can be rectified,” he said.

“My ideal end result is to have my job back and be back in my classroom with my kids. That’s all I want from this,” Califano added.

One of the people who came out to speak up for Califano was Matthew LaBanca, an openly gay actor and former parish music director and teacher who was fired by the Brooklyn Diocese in 2021 for marrying his boyfriend.

LaBanca told The Post that the diocese had offered him $20,000 “to keep quiet” about his termination, but he turned it down and instead wrote the one-man play “Communion,” premiering on Broadway next year, which tells his story.

“I landed on my feet,” LaBanca said,” but it’s not without the scars of religious persecution and being excluded by your community of faith.”

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