A gay third-grade teacher who was fired from a Long Island Catholic school has agreed to settle his federal civil rights lawsuit against the diocese.
Michael Califano was a teacher at Maria Regina School from September 2022 until he was fired in 2023 after photographs surfaced of him kissing his boyfriend.
Califano was told he had violated the local diocese’s rules regarding “living a Catholic lifestyle.”
She told DailyMail.com that “an anonymous email was sent to the bishop’s official with some photos of my boyfriend and I kissing that were taken from my boyfriend’s social media, my account is private.”
Michael Califano was a teacher at the María Regina school from September 2022 until he was fired in 2023 after photographs surfaced of him kissing his boyfriend.
Califano said he didn’t blame the school, that he knew he was gay when he was hired, but that it came directly from the diocese.
Califano was told he had violated the local diocese’s rules regarding “living a Catholic lifestyle.”
In late September, Judge James Wicks rejected arguments from the diocese and the school that Califano’s case should be dismissed.
Wicks said the diocese’s defenses are “riddled with factual issues, and none of them lead to the conclusion that … the complaint should be dismissed.”
Wicks also said there is “direct evidence” that Califano was fired because of his sexuality and the defendants have not addressed the “merits” of the teacher’s claims, he reported. news day.
“The diocese decided to withdraw its motion to dismiss and allow this case to proceed as normal,” said Kathryn Russo, one of the defendants’ attorneys. “The diocese will present its legal arguments to the court at the appropriate time in a later phase of the litigation.”
According to Califano, his pastor and principal had always supported his sexual orientation.
He said he didn’t blame the school, that he knew he was gay when he was hired, but that it came directly from the diocese.
Califano said news day that “they said they had found things for that reason that were not appropriate for a Catholic school teacher…there is nothing vulgar about that.”
The Diocese of Rockville Center disputed the claims made, telling DailyMail.com in a statement: “For privacy reasons we do not comment publicly on personnel matters, but we can say that the school did not terminate Mr. Califano’s employment because of his sexuality. “.
Many parents and community members rallied for Califano to be reinstated, and a petition was started on change.org that has already garnered nearly 29,000 signatures.
Many parents and community members rallied for Califano to be reinstated, and a petition was started on change.org that has already garnered nearly 29,000 signatures.
The petition said Califano was an “immensely beloved, committed and diligent educator” who had been “wrongfully terminated.”
Califano had strong ties to the school after attending as a child and was a parishioner of Maria Regina Roman Catholic Church.
His father, who was a Nassau County police officer who died while on duty in 2011, had also attended the school. Each year, Califano hosts a fundraiser and the proceeds go toward scholarships in his father’s name.
The petition said Califano was an “immensely beloved, committed and diligent educator” who had been “wrongfully terminated.”
Califano’s mother, Jackie Califano, told DailyMail.com that her son did nothing wrong.
“He followed all the rules and made his social media private,” she said. “Someone sought to harm him and violated someone else’s social media.”
He said since the ordeal it has been a rollercoaster of emotions.
“My heart breaks for him,” she said. “This was his passion and seeing all those people and kids supporting him shows what kind of person he is.”
Details of the lawsuit have not been made public. It is not yet clear whether Califano will be reinstated and allowed to return to teaching at the school.