Homophobic Mom Gets Schooled By Gay Drama Teacher Who Doesn't Need That Bullshit

It’s 2015, which means two things: People are still assholes about gay teachers (surprise!) and those same teachers can now bite back at the idiot parents who believe their kids will catch gay or something from being educated by a homosexual. Fortunately, gay drama teacher Michael Neri just schooled a bigoted mom on her blatant display of homophobia.

In a Facebook post that’s already gone viral, Michael Neri posted his exchange with an anonymous mom who not only wanted to pull her children out of Neri’s production of Rent (which is about gay people and AIDS, so…) but also demanded her money back for the fees she’d paid to have her kids in the production at Neri’s school in Kidderminster, England.

Here’s what the mom sent Neri when she found out that the teacher was gay:

Hi Michael. Following our chat this week I have decided that [name redacted] and [name redacted] will not be attending class on Monday. You have a strong reputation for performing arts which encouraged me to sign my children up for classes. I have recently learned of your lifestyle and as a Christian I cannot allow my children to be influence by unconventional idea. It is our belief that a man should marry a woman. I look forward to receiving my deposit which you may post to me via cheque. Regards [name redacted]

Quick question: Which part of the Bible forbids the use of commas?

Not only does this woman have a rude awakening coming if she wants her kids to continue participating in musical theater (especially when it’s a production of Rent), but the idea that somehow her own children would turn gay from being around “unconventional ideas” is preposterous and mind-boggling. You can’t catch gay like you can catch communism, mom! God!

Neri told The Metro that he had to read the text twice before he could process it. “I believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but it was still a hurtful thing to receive,” Neri said. But he had the courage to clap back without getting mean or hurtful himself.

Here’s what he wrote:

Hi [Redacted],

I would be lying if I said I was disappointed to hear this. I pride my students on the respect and love they have for others and their passion for equality. You would only be infringing on our family. As far as I’m aware, my sexuality doesn’t effect my ability to teach, just like it wouldn’t effect a doctor’s ability to treat one of your children should they become unwell.

I’m sure your children’s health would come first should they need emergency treatment, or would you need to check their doctors lifestyle prior to their life saving operation? I wish you luck in finding an appropriate stage school that meets your needs, however from experience I find that theatre without gays is like cooking without spices (just my opinion). I hear StageCoach are enrolling but there teachers have been known to wear mixed fabrics which I’m sure you are aware is forbidden in the bible (Leviticus 19:19).

Please feel free to come see our Musical ‘Happy Days,’ confetti will be used in the finale but please rest assure this is not an attempt to corrupt your Christian lifestyle. We just love glitter.

Unfortunately deposits are non refundable but don’t worry, your deposit has been donated to StoneWall, an LGBT charity. Regards Michael

Neri says that he’s happy to take the kids back at Home of Talking Props Theatre School (that name is actually more offensive than the whole gay thing), but that he needed to respond to the mom to stand up for himself. “I certainly don’t blame them for the way their mother thinks, he told Metro.

The entire exchange was posted on the theatre school’s Facebook page and you can read it in its original format below: