Connecticut Christian School Kicks 12th Grader Out For Being A Lesbian

A private Christian school has kicked out a 12th grader for being a lesbian. The Master’s School in West Simsbury, Connecticut interrogated Rachel Aviles about her sexual orientation, then, when she acknowledged she was a lesbian, they forced her out. The school’s website says its motto is, “Veritas Vos Liberabit which translates to ‘the truth shall set you free’ from John 8:32.”

“Aviles said she was encouraged to withdraw, rather than be expelled,” writes Susan Campbell at CT NOW. “It was a not thinly veiled threat,” said Beth Miller, who met Aviles when the student applied to Hartford Youth Scholars Foundation in ’07.


Legally, private schools — secular and otherwise —- have more leeway as to whom to accept within their ranks. The school’s meadmaster, Jon Holley, said he wouldn’t discuss Aviles because of privacy concerns, but Aviles’ former coach, Heather Lodovico, said when she withdrew, Aviles sent her coach a text message.

“She texted me and said something like ‘They kicked me out,’ and I made a joke, ‘What, are you pregnant?’ and she said, ‘No, worse. I’m gay,’” said Lodovico.

The coach said she immediately got on the phone to see if the decision could be reversed, but no.

“She’s a fantastic kid,” said Lodovico. “My reaction was: ‘Wow. Your God’s really small.’ Whether it’s a sin or not, take that out of the picture, and this is still wrong. I think God’s up there shaking His head going, ‘Really? Really?’