Christian High School in California got in the way to recruit talented baseball players and rejected him as he had two gay dads.
Caleb Degara Barnett, a recently graduated from Union City, was invited to a high-level scouting event for the 2029-2030 class, where 20 top prospects participated in professional-style training and games. According to statistical analysis, he threw the fastest outfield throw in his class. The website’s Perfect Game evaluates him for potential pro-drafts “college prospects” and “involving development.”
Even before the scouting event on May 10th, Caleb’s baseball skills were attracting attention from experts and coaches, including baseball coaches at Valley Christian High School in Dublin, California.
“Caleb’s name came out a few times last night, and I hope he will be part of a truly amazing school,” the coach texted Caleb’s father, Mike Degara on March 5th. San Francisco StandardI reviewed the message.
Caleb was excited about the prospect of joining Valley Christians. He was drawn to the size of his small class, the opportunity to play baseball, and the opportunity to make new friends.
According to standardthe coach told Degala that private school administrators, which cost $24,000 a year, are supportive. In the text, he said that Joe Fuka, the school’s assistant executive, was “all” in Caleb, “playing varsity baseball for us next year.”
Newspaper texts, emails and calendars show that school officials were engaged in several weeks of consultation with their families.
However, the school later rejected the idea that Caleb would register, Degara said he spoke to Fuka on the phone on April 13th.
“He said, ‘You’re a same-sex-marriage family doesn’t match our Christian values,” Degara said. standard. “We have lost our supporters and are not in line with the school’s mission.”
Valley Christian administrator declined to comment when contacted standard.
Caleb said he was shocked and disappointed by the sudden turnaround at the school.
“Because it really doesn’t matter what your family is,” Caleb said. “It’s important about the students and how they are as people.”
Because Valley Christians are private religious schools, federal law does not prohibit discrimination against students based on sexual orientation, including their parents’ sexual orientation.
“I have never experienced this kind of discrimination against our family on this scale,” Degara said. “In this era, it’s crazy.”
However, such discrimination may not be uncommon in religiously affiliated schools.
when standard Ten of the top Christian high schools in the San Francisco Gulf region listed in the Educational Site Niche voted. The school said it would accept LGBTQ students and LGBTQ families.
Caleb says that although his parents are not religious, he wants to explore faith, especially Christianity.
“I just want to know more about it,” he said, adding that Valley Christian’s rejection was a “small set-off” of his journey.
Caleb’s other father, Master Barnett, told his son to explore his faith for himself. He is disappointed that this was one of his son’s first encounters with Christianity.
“We don’t consider discrimination to be Christian values,” said Burnett, who grew up in California’s Central Valley by Southern Baptist missionaries.
Barnett added that he was not surprised that the school rejected his son due to his parents’ relationship.
“I grew up with some degree of religious bias, so I’m used to it,” Burnett said. “I call it ‘Sunday Christian’. We are all open and inclusive on Sundays, but for the other 313 days of the year, we are judgemental biases who hold everything against you. ”
Degala shared the story in a June 1 Facebook post to raise awareness about how Valley Christian treated her son. He hoped that if Caleb changed courses or Caleb was not present, it might encourage the school to rethink its policy. He will instead attend James Logan High School, a local public school in Union City this fall.
“That’s their loss,” Degara said of her son Snub at the school.
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
