David Kelley, a teacher who also serves as the football coach at California’s Morro Bay High School, has been fired from his coaching position — but not from teaching — after allegedly directing an anti-gay comment towards a student athlete on Oct. 24, 2018.
According to the San Luis Obispo Tribune, the comment occurred in the locker room when Kelley, irritated that junior varsity players were wasting time before practice, said to one student, “Stop looking at me like a homosexual and get the (expletive) to practice.”
Students approached Principal Kyle Pruitt about Kelley’s comment, and Kelley was removed from his coaching position soon after.
A student in the school’s varsity football squad, Rocky Brebes, says that he has never heard Kelley use any anti-gay language before.
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Kelley is still teaching at the school, though the principal says the school board will ultimately decide whether or not he’s fired from that position as well. Some parents and students have spoken to the media in defense of Kelley, saying that he made a human mistake.
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Brebes claims that Kelley met with students after his firing, telling them that his dismissal was for the school’s losing football record rather than for his anti-gay language, something the principal reportedly agreed to while present at the meeting.
District Superintendent Eric Prater says that Kelley has apologized to parents and students. Prater also said that the school’s faculty had received sensitivity training on marginalized groups earlier this year.
Whether or not Kelley has ever uttered anti-gay language before, many athletes experience homophobia on and off the field.
A 2015 survey of 9,500 athletes from six English-speaking countries revealed that 84% had witnessed homophobia in a sporting match. As a result, 80% didn’t feel safe being openly gay as a competitor and 83% of male athletes said they stayed closeted to teammates.
In March of this year, the NFL received criticism for allegedly asking a newly recruited player if he was gay during an intensive training event, allegedly as a way to put him under mental pressure.
Fredrick Bertz
The parent should make a formal complaint to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. This would start an investigation into whether the coach’s credentials should be suspended or revoked.
Kangol
So many of these school officials don’t care. They allow and ignore bullying, homophobia, misogyny, racism, you name it. The parents should follow Fredrick Bertz’s suggestion, and also get an attorney.
Virpilosus
Agreed.
Billy Budd
Here’s some dialogue from the Drill Instructor in Full Metal Jacket (movie):
“There is no racial bigotry here! I do not look down on nig*ers, kikes, wops or greasers. Here you are all equally worthless! And my orders are to weed out all non-hackers who do not pack the gear to serve in my beloved Corps”
Billy Budd
Even though the trainer was wrong, he should be reprimanded, corrected, forced to apologize and promise not to repeat it. That should be enough. No need to dismiss him.
WillParkinson
I disagree. How do you think that kid is going to feel every time he has to see this person? Sure, I called you homosexual (or some variation) but it wasn’t important enough to remove me from this job.
boymikefl
He has to act that way as a cover, so he can look at teen dick. “Where’s coach? Shower time is over.” “He’s in his usual place. The bathroom stall.”
JH0607
Just because someone is disgusted by homosexual behavior does not make him gay.
Lacuevaman
let me take this opportunity to say JH0607 is a fool. he cannot even make a good “troll” comment on here. Be gone.
Dawson
Actually I am conflicted. I think our community has to try to figure out what type of community we are. Are we a forgiving community that says you made a mistake, as we all have or are we so quick to say “off with their heads”.
If someone is remorseful and if the school says we need to address this with some type of corrective measure then who am I to judge and why shouldn’t I be forgiving? Are we becoming so black and white about everything?
On the other hand if someone is trying to do us harm like so many people in the Republican Party then I am not forgiving. That said I will need to see how the teacher and school progress with this issue in making this a teachable issue.
Lacuevaman
what a bore. yawn
blazer68
The coach and principal said he was let go from coaching because of a bad season.. Not the gay slurs. If it had been a winning season, eould he have been let go?