Anthony Nicodemo has handled plenty of hate in his career. The high school basketball coach and social studies teacher knows what it’s like to face threats. When he came out in a 2013 interview with Outsports, the backlash got so severe that his school hired undercover cops to attend his games.
Over 325 members joined GNC United’s annual meeting yesterday! We highlighted why our union matters, the benefits it brings, and our plan for the year ahead. Educators are the first line of defense against fascism—and we’re ready for the task. ✊📚 @nysut@AFTunion@rweingartenpic.twitter.com/lvM2iUFQa0
— Anthony Nicodemo(he/him/his)🏳️🌈🇺🇸🏀 (@coachNicodemo) September 23, 2025
When right-wing influencers target teachers.
In early October, Nicodemo posted a video showing himself hanging a sign in his classroom that read “Fascists Fear Teachers.” The poster references American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten’s new book, Why Fascists Fear Teachers. In the video, he explained how fascists throughout history have targeted educators first. He mentioned Stalin, Hitler, and Mussolini as examples. He never mentioned the Republican Party or the current president.
Right-wing influencer Corey DeAngelis and Chaya Raichik, who runs the Libs of TikTok account, reposted Nicodemo’s video. What followed was a wave of harassment so intense that for the first time in over a decade of being publicly out, Nicodemo made his social media accounts private.
“This one got so nutty,” he told LGBTQ Nation. “When the Libs of TikTok people start, they’re actually dangerous.”
Here’s something worth noting about DeAngelis. The anti-LGBTQIA+ activist who built his career attacking queer educators and pushing Project 2025’s agenda appeared in gay adult films under the name “Seth Rose” back in 2014. His past came to light in September 2024 when a gay porn blog exposed his involvement in multiple scenes.
After weeks of silence, DeAngelis finally admitted to his porn career during an interview on the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). He claimed he was “lured” into the industry with promises of fitness modelling and quit when asked to touch other men. He framed the revelation as a “cancellation attempt” by the left.
The American Federation for Children, where DeAngelis worked as a senior fellow, fired him after the videos resurfaced. GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis told The Advocate that DeAngelis is “yet another public figure whose anti-LGBTQ extremism already makes him deeply unqualified to be an expert in improving safety and education at school.”
Corey DeAngelis recommending the Federal Gov require the Classic Learning Test as a sane alternative to the SAT and ACT duopoly pic.twitter.com/ZMstdAr2WX
Nicodemo said the current climate feels more hostile than when he first came out. If he were still closeted today, he’s not sure he would even take that step.
“I would be worried of the blowback in some of the communities by the one or two parents that would create madness,” he said.
DeAngelis posted Nicodemo’s superintendent’s contact information online. The superintendent received vicious voicemails from people who had never met Nicodemo and had no connection to his school. What drives someone to call and complain about a teacher they’ve never encountered at a school they don’t attend?
“I don’t know if there’s anything that would prompt me to do that,” Nicodemo said.
Staying visible despite the danger.
After the harassment wave passed, Nicodemo made his accounts public again. He’s not going silent.
“I know how to handle it,” he told LGBTQ Nation. “I don’t get rattled.”
But his concern extends beyond himself. He worries about other teachers and community members who lack the support system he has. Not everyone works in a district with administrators who have their backs. Not everyone can withstand coordinated attacks from influential right-wing accounts with millions of followers.
“I can take the hits, I’m okay,” he said. “But I’m saddened, and I’m fearful for my people in our community who can’t, who don’t have the support of an administration or don’t have the ability to handle these kinds of attacks.”
That’s exactly what these coordinated harassment campaigns aim to achieve. They want queer educators to go silent. They want us to disappear.
Nicodemo’s classroom sign references how fascists throughout history have attacked educators first. He also displays the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence in his room. His point stands on historical fact. Stalin, Hitler and Mussolini all targeted teachers and intellectuals when consolidating power.
At DNA, we’ve watched this pattern repeat across the country. Right-wing influencers target educators who support LGBTQIA+ students or discuss inclusive topics. They share personal information. Their followers flood phone lines and email inboxes. The goal is intimidation.
The irony of DeAngelis leading these attacks while hiding his own past speaks volumes about the movement’s authenticity. How can someone who participated in gay adult films credibly attack teachers for creating inclusive classrooms?
Nicodemo isn’t backing down. He’s continuing his advocacy work as a contributor to Outsports and posting videos about Pride and inclusion. His refusal to disappear matters.
When influential figures with massive platforms target individual teachers, the consequences extend far beyond one person. Other educators watch. Some decide it’s not worth the risk. The chilling effect is real.
But teachers like Nicodemo prove that visibility still matters. His classroom sign wasn’t political propaganda. It was a historical fact. Fascists do fear teachers. They fear critical thinking. They fear education that encourages students to question authority and think independently.
That’s why the attacks keep coming. And that’s why teachers who refuse to be silenced deserve our support.
