Actor Daniel Franzese has accused Walsh University of homophobia after he says he was fired for being gay. The Mean Girls star says the Catholic, Ohio-based school abruptly canceled a planned gig only after the Vatican spoke out against its clergy blessing same-sex unions.
“I come to you still reeling from the horrific terrorist attack that killed eight Asian women in Georgia which has inspired me to share this experience because I truly believe that it is the microaggressions and injustices against minorities that cause hate crimes like Pulse Orlando and the horrific events of the other day,” he said at the beginning of a YouTube video he titled: I was fired today for being gay.
Related: Former priest explains why the Bible does NOT condemn same-sex unions
As Franzese tells it, he was initially approached by reps from the University and asked to host and emcee their upcoming Mr. Walsh Pageant. In the video, Franzese emphasizes this — he was approached by the university, not the other way around. He says the contract details were finalized by February 18.
Then, one day after the Vatican announced its stance on blessing same-sex unions, the school backed out of the contract.
“‘I’m following up via email from my conversation with Gary,’ that’s my manager,” Franzese said, quoting an email he says came from the school’s director of student activities. “Regarding how the institution has decided to no longer approve the contract for Daniel. I am incredibly disappointed and sincerely apologetic, for this is, I know, unprofessional and clearly based on personal beliefs of the the higher administration. Please give Danny my sincerest apologies.'”
Related: The Catholic Church is trending and you know that can’t be good for the gays
“I realize that I’m privileged and that I have this audience of followers that I could share this experience with, ” Franzese added. “But what I started thinking about was what if this was a teacher or a student or a doctor or a patient, or a cook at the Welsh commissary, or someone enjoying food in the Welsh restaurant? When does it end? This is a sad example of how tax-exempt institutions are using their own beliefs and the unfair Religious Freedom Protection Act, the RFPA. And it can cause a ripple effect of discrimination and bigotry to further alienate LGBTQ people and our livelihoods.”
He also added a message directed at the schools LGBTQ students:
“To the LGBTQ students at Welsh, because I know you’re there, I’m so sorry I can’t be there with you. I imagine that you’re feeling frustrated and isolated right now but you must know that God knows everything about you and he loves you just as you are. No Vatican statement can change that, no university action can change that, nothing can separate us from the love of God and Jesus Christ.”
In a statement released Friday, the university unsurprisingly denied the claims:
“Mr. Daniel Franzese has neither been employed nor under contract for any services in any form at any time with Walsh University. The email cited by Mr. Franzese from Director of Student Activities and Leadership reflects her personal views.”
Watch:
ptn2719
What galls me about the Catholic Church (in which I was unfortunately raised) is how they totally disregard the actual teachings of Jesus, and how they continue to ignore the plague of pedophiles in the priesthood. News flash: gay does not equal pedophile!
Harley
Most of the reported pedophiles are heterosexual. Man/girl love.
Chrisk
Well, it is a Catholic Institution. Expecting a bunch of loony tune bigots to be accepting and not hateful shitbags is probably like how the Log Cabin Republicans feel about the Republican Party.
Cam
If they want to continue being a bigoted organization they need to be barred from ANY government money including grants and government backed student loans.
My guess is that they’d throw a pride parade the day after such a law got passed.
BearCityGreg
HAHAH! Yep! With a blessing from the U.S. Bishops, no doubt!
Doug
I’m so sick of the Catholic Church and their views on gay people. Pope Francis blesses gay people and then two days later slaps them in the face.
Mr C
Why bring up Pulse and Atlanta? That was a a stretch
Robothedestroyer
I believe he was using Pulse and Atlanta together as an example of an event that can punctuate a mountain of bigotry subtle enough to go unnoticed. I don’t believe it’s too much of a stretch, although Atlanta is much more obviouse. When unstable people are given permission to hate long enough, after all, they eventually will just try and exterminate.
TMBisAOK
Really!? How is it a stretch!? EVERY discriminatory act leads to more and worse acts! And if people dont speak up like he is now, that aids in that progression of hate and discrimination.
OhPlease
Attention whoring, which given the fact that there is no factual evidence presented or a conviction in the Atlanta case, makes his claim libelous as hell. There is just as much chance that those crimes were targeted hits or involved some kind of organized criminal activity as a hate crime. Massage parlors usually are fronts for other felony activity including human trafficking, weapons and drug smuggling, and money laundering. The shooter may be white power, but there may be something else involved because all of those crime syndicates work cooperatively in joint criminal activity.
MOE-X
The way he worded his statement did seem a little like he was putting his situation on the same level as mass murder so I get what you’re saying but I don’t think he meant to. As a person of color I am a little tired of the term “microaggressions” since most of the time what we experience is blatant racism there’s nothing “micro” about it. He probably was fired for being gay and hopefully he’ll be able to prove it in court but I don’t think because of the nature of the gig, this is going to have any impact in the realm of LGBTQ Rights but I hope he gets some form of justice.
tjack47
I find this action abhorrent. Even in a Catholic school, what does any of that have to do with a man, period, performing his duties as emcee? A male beauty pageant, well I’ve nothing against that, certainly not, but oh the irony! The vast majority of Catholics support same sex marriage. I may be incorrect, but I think that percentage is about 70%. When I was a hospice employee, my career began with a transgender female prostitute who had full blown AIDS and was very near death. It was the Catholics who provided housing in a hostile they created from an old empty motel. I had 3 patients there. They otherwise would’ve been on the street self-medicating. I can’t in good conscience paint all Catholics with a broad brush. I’m an atheist with an extremely strict evangelical upbringing. I’ve been loved and cared for by several Catholics over the years, nuns, priests and laypersons. My ex left the seminary to become a Catholic priest, before we met. We certainly knew gay priests, not child molesters, and hosted a priest in our home when he came to the deaconate of one of their classmates. It’s been complicated, but many are just loving people raised in the church, gay, trying to reconcile and integrate their being LGBT+ and people of Faith. I’m so glad to see him stand up and ask for donations to thetrevorproject.org I must check out that churchclarity.org website too.
wilf
The same thing happened to me. I lived in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada in 1986. I was employed in a Catholic school as a grade 5 teacher. I had separated from my wife and someone reported to the Bishop of the local catholic church that I was going to divorce her. This was not the case but I was terminated at the end of the school year by the bishop of the area. I had a 4-year-old child that I had to support and he could care less. I left and got a job working for the Federal Government and taught on reserves for a few years. The bad part was they would not acknowledge that I had worked for them. Karma set in though, three years later this same bishop was discovered as being a father of 3 native children when he had been the headmaster of an Indian School several years back. He was defrocked and went into exhile. Nothing has changed with the Catholic church
papahelmut
It is my opinion that the school is overreacting. Emceeing a pageant has nothing to do with same sex marriage. The Vatican is very specific about the announcement and for anybody to take that statement by the Vatican beyond what the issue it is addressing is ignorant. We have an obligation in accept any individual with love and compassion. We may not be able to bless the union of 2 same sex individuals (marriage) but we can bless any individual upon request. Pope Francis keeps on reminding us about the love we should have for one another, especially in todays diverse society.
TimberWolf
I do agree, the ignorance of the Cardinal in Rome that seem more and more to lose their grip on reality, politics and religion do not mix. While is is clearly a Walsh University for being meek and shallow by denying, it certainly shows this is a university that practice the game of political ignorance . I do not see what Pulse and Atlanta have to do with his situation, no violence was involved or fatalities.
However, I do feel the Catholic Church should be less political and practice what is the true religion . they do not deny contributions, they do not pass the basket over LGBT during mass. When the Pope blesses the people, LGBT are not excluded. when children are baptized, Godparents are not excluded if they are LGBT. Just seems good for the money but still promoting ignorance and hate by their political shaming
Fname Optional Lname
Wait, Daniel Franzese is gay? Who knew!
Kangol2
I wonder whether this third-rate university’s officials, the ones behind canceling Daniel Franzese’s contract, didn’t repeatedly watch his clips, especially the one(s) where he’s complete frontally nude, on the gay drama Looking, for “research” purposes of course, and resort to various manual means to relieve their frequent, excited emotional responses at what they saw.
James
catholic church……. medieval racist dump for bigots and phonies.
Tombear
They are Catholics! Only one IQ point above Evangelicals. I can say that. I’m a recovering Catholic!
Prinny
Nothing good has ever come out of religion
jsmu
Catlicks–one of the two most toxic of all rilijizz poisons.
Pope Francesca is such a hypocritical little Qunt for so many reasons.
Fahd
He says he had a contract; the email seems to confirm that. Venting in social media is important to bring light to what happened, but i wish he’d funnel his outrage and support for the community into taking the next step and suing them for breach of contract. Important issues could be raised in just the initial pleadings. The university denying there was a contract seems like one of their anticipated legal defenses.
jsmu
What you said, exactly.
Rock Star
I wonder how gay Jesus feels about this whole thing.
muscl954
Is it Walsh or Welsh?
ShiningSex
WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO WORK FOR A RELIGIOUS SCHOOL?
THAT’S GROSS. THEY’RE CRAP!
Chrisk
Because he’s a gays for Jesus guy. Most likely indoctrinated into it as a kid himself.
nitejonboy
Daniel filmed a movie in my hometown and is one of the sweetest, most genuine people you could ever hope to meet. I am proud of him for speaking out in honor of others who may not have the visibility and audience that he has. We need more people like him. And shame on Worst College.
karterb
Interesting. I have another POV on him. Despite promoting a “body positive” message, when I’ve seen him out he’s always trying use his “celebrity” to hook up with muscley prettt boys. When he’s rebuffed he becomes rude and arrogant.
cuteguy
These cults need to cease to exist. Is it no wonder ppl, esp young ppl are running away from joining these cults masqueraded as “churches” or “temples” or the like. It’s 2021 and we are still dealing with this ignorance
ShowMeGuy
On the flip side……one of the reasons he was hired; in the first place, is because he is gay. The people who hired him knew he was gay. There are people inside the Catholic Church who aren’t shit stains.