Private Love, Public School: Gay Teacher Under Fire

by Christine A Yared, Jay Kaplan (Foreword by)

Overview

Gerry Crane had hit his stride. A talented high school music teacher, he was loved by students and parents-lauded as one of the best teachers at his school. Gerry had reconciled his conservative religious upbringing with his identity as a gay man, finding an affirming spiritual home in a local church. He enjoyed a close circle of loving friends and had found the love of his life. In October 1995, Gerry and his partner exchanged vows in a private commitment ceremony.

By the time Gerry returned to work the following week, word had spread that he had married a man. The once loved teacher was vilified. Parents removed their children from his classes. Most of his colleagues ostracized him. The school board publicly declared that "individuals who espouse homosexuality do not constitute proper role models as teachers" and pledged to investigate and monitor Gerry. Ministers and churches joined the fray, proclaiming contrasting views about Christianity and homosexuality. As these events unfolded under the glare of the local and national media, Gerry's life became agonizing.

Disturbing and deeply moving, Private Love, Public School recounts the true story of what happened when members of a midwestern community demanded that their religious beliefs be imposed on a public school-and the school followed suit.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781735237107
Publisher:	Penning History Press, LLC
Publication date:	12/24/2020
Pages:	280
Sales rank:	684,917
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.63(d)

About the Author

Christine A. Yared is an attorney, writer, educator, and activist. For over thirty years Christine's work has centered on LGBTQ+ legal, political, and social issues. Christine has taught about and fought against discrimination based on LGBTQ+ identity, gender, race, ethnicity, and against sexual harassment. Her cases and advocacy have been covered by numerous media outlets. She resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Jay Kaplan has been the staff attorney for the ACLU of Michigan's LGBT Project since its founding in 2001. Jay was one of the ACLU attorneys who represented Aimee Stephens, a transgender woman, whose case resulted in the 2020 landmark decision, Bostock v Clayton County, which prohibits employment discrimination based on a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. Jay was honored with the 2006 Unsung Hero Award from the Michigan State Bar and the 2010 Virginia Uribe Civil Rights Award from the National Education Association (NEA).

Table of Contents

Foreword

Author's Note

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1 Signs

2 First Notes

3 Connections

4 Confidentiality Is Appreciated

5 Ring

6 Don't You Quit

7 Inescapable

8 Escalation

9 Time

10 Lyrics

11 Collective Musical Hug

12 Broken Heart

13 Tender, True, and Brave

14 Trash

15 Aftermath

Conclusion

Appendix A

Appendix B

Endnotes

Index

Editorial Reviews

"Yared rigorously shares the details of Crane's struggle to defend his personal life and his courageous efforts to stand up to the school's many attempts to force him to resign...In presenting Crane's inspiring story, the author skillfully depicts the culture of a time when personal protests and supportive communities joined forces against discrimination, paving the way for activists to earn more rights for LGBTQ+ citizens everywhere...the moving book serves as a significant contribution to the history of protests that individuals have waged to improve the lives of all LGBTQ+ people. An important and touching account of a community's struggles against LGBTQ+ discrimination." - Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2021-02-17
A high school music teacher stands to lose his job after being outed as gay by a student in this work about LGBTQ+ rights.

Yared, an attorney, offers this true story about teacher Gerry Crane’s fight to keep his job at a public high school trying to force him out for being gay. The emotionally charged legal and personal fight began in 1995, the same year “Michigan Governor John Engler signed a law banning same-sex marriage and prohibiting the recognition of out-of-state same sex marriage.” Discrimination against LGBTQ+ citizens was legally endorsed, and a culture of homophobia was rife. A student of Crane’s, one he had disciplined, according to the author, obtained the program for the teacher’s ceremonial marriage to his partner, Randy, and shared it with the administration at Byron Center High School. The school, where Crane taught music and was recognized by students and the administration as an excellent teacher and role model, was “located in religiously and politically conservative West Michigan.” The administration used the town’s religious beliefs to fuel a homophobic battle to oust Crane, portraying him as morally unfit because he was gay. Yared rigorously shares the details of Crane’s struggle to defend his personal life and his courageous efforts to stand up to the school’s many attempts to force him to resign. Crane’s initial refusal to leave his teaching position was met with enmity from the town’s bigoted members but also with dedication and love from many of his students. Crane, a deeply religious man, became a champion for his LGBTQ+ students, closeted and fearful to come out in a hostile climate. Yared was formerly on the board of directors of the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Community Network of West Michigan. In presenting Crane’s inspiring story, the author skillfully depicts the culture of a time when personal protests and supportive communities joined forces against discrimination, paving the way for activists to earn more rights for LGBTQ+ citizens everywhere. The author’s prose is on the anecdotal side, missing opportunities to use rich descriptions to tell this compelling tale. Nevertheless, the moving book serves as a significant contribution to the history of protests that individuals have waged to improve the lives of all LGBTQ+ people.

An important and touching account of a community’s struggles against LGBTQ+ discrimination.

Kirkus Reviews