From Malta To Maryland, Gay Teachers Face The Hard Truth About Being Out At School
Malta’s education system and the US Supreme Court are at the centre of two cases that show how schools handle modern teaching challenges.
In Malta, a government primary school faced backlash when parents pulled their child from class after finding out the teacher, Stefan Vassallo, carried a rainbow flag bag. The parents told St Clare College Primary School they were a “conservative family” who didn’t want their children mixing with non-straight people.
Prime Minister Robert Abela, along with Education Minister Clifton Grima and Parliamentary Secretary Rebecca Buttigieg, stepped in. They met Vassallo and headmaster David Caruana on Thursday to show support.
“Teachers, no matter who they are, do a lot of good,” Abela wrote on Facebook. “I was struck by the determination and love Stefan has for his work.”
Meanwhile in Maryland, US, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a case about parents wanting to remove their children from classes with diverse content. The lawsuit comes from Muslim, Catholic, and Ukrainian Orthodox parents in Montgomery County Public Schools.
What’s causing the debate? The school dropped an opt-out option for literacy classes in 2023. These classes include books like Pride Puppy and Love, Violet.
Parents on both sides have strong opinions. “We have the religious right to raise our kids based on the Bible,” said Soloman Hailemariam, speaking to The Daily Signal.
But John Zittrauer offered a different view at a July protest: “We’re here to show support for the Board of Education and what they’re doing.”
The US Supreme Court’s decision could affect how schools handle these situations. Recent rulings have supported religious freedom claims, including the 303 Creative v. Elenis case.
We’ll see how these cases shape the future of education. The Malta case brought positive change through leadership support, while the US case continues through the legal system.
