Cityscape

Past Valedictorian to Marian: 'Please Reconsider Your Divisive Position'

September 07, 2014, 8:38 AM

Katie O’Shaughnessey, the 1994 valedictorian at Marian High School, is among supporters rallying around recently discharged chemistry teacher Barbara Webb -- a mother-to-be in a same-sex marriage.


Katie O'Shaughnessey, shown in 2007, writes: "Marian chose to act as though my children did not exist because they did not approve of the way in which I brought them into the world."

O’Shaughnessey, 38, this weekend sent and publicly posted a letter to Sister Lenore Pochelski, president of Marian.

"I invite you to be a leader who stands by a beloved faculty member," writes the Catholic school alumna, who teaches high school math and computer science at the private Hopkins School in New Haven, Conn. "Marian’s students deserve . . . a model of love and respect and tolerance."

The former honors student from Troy is a 1998 Yale University graduate whose professional life began as a stage actress and producer for six years in Philadelphia before she became a Teach for America corps member who earned a master of education degree. She has been at Hopkins since May 2013 and lives in a nearby suburb with her partner, also named Katie, and their three children. 

Here's the letter, posted Friday night on her Facebook page and at a 3,200-member group called I Stand with Barb Ware:   

Dear Sr. Lenore,

I graduated from Marian in 1994. I spent four joyous years actively involved in every moment that Marian had to offer. I did all of the plays, participated in student government, joined numerous clubs, and sang at every mass. I loved my years at Marian and learned so much about how to be a tolerant, loving and strong woman there. I was taught the importance of social justice and speaking up for what I believe in.

I recently heard about your decision to terminate Barbara Webb, and as an alumnus of the school wanted to express my extreme disappointment in your decision.

I sent the Marian Monitor an announcement about my first child’s birth, and they chose not to print it. I quickly realized, with a sickening feeling, that my children would not be celebrated because I am a lesbian in a long-term committed relationship raising children. Marian chose to act as though my children did not exist because they did not approve of the way in which I brought them into the world.


The 1994 valedictorian urges Marian's president "to be a leader who speaks openly about tolerance and embracing difference."

Exactly what message does this strict and judgmental policy toward the LGBTQ population aim to send? I know of at least one other lesbian mother in my graduating class alone, which likely means that your current student body contains a handful of questioning LGBTQ youth. Those students are being taught that they are not welcome members of your community, and that if they embody their true selves, they will be ostracized. The message that you are sending leads to terrible outcomes for questioning youth, and as a high school teacher myself, I fear for those youngsters in your school who feel the wrath of this decision, as if it was made directly against them.

Instead, I invite you to be a leader who embraces the true meaning of Catholic love and forgiveness. I invite you to be a leader who stands by a beloved faculty member in the face of parents that question your decision. I invite you to be a leader who speaks openly about tolerance and embracing difference. In short, I invite you to be a Catholic leader that speaks as brazenly as Jesus did about the hypocrisy of being the first to throw stones.

Please reconsider your divisive position on LGBTQ people in your community. Marian’s students deserve more than that. They deserve a model of love and respect and tolerance and a school where they can feel certain that their entire self will be loved and respected.

Thank you for listening.

Very truly yours,
Katie O’Shaughnessey

Related coverage at Deadline:


Read more:  Facebook


Leave a Comment:

Photo Of The Day