A teenage boy in Houston said he was pressured out of his Christian high school by the administration because he’s gay, television station KHOU reported on Friday.
Austin, who came out as gay six months ago and asked KHOU not to use his last name, said he was given an ultimatum by the administration at the Lutheran Education Association of Houston. He said he was told to either take down his YouTube channel, which school officials claimed showed a lifestyle contrary to the school’s values, or be expelled.
Austin chose to leave the school and, while he said he regretted having to leave in the middle of his junior year, he said he didn’t want to attend a school that could kick him out for “being gay and open about it.”
A few weeks ago the school’s administration found out about his YouTube videos in which he discussed his boyfriend and being gay and called Austin and his mother to meet with the principal.
According to Austin, the principal gave him an ultimatum.
“He said that in the Bible it declares that being a homosexual is a sin and we cannot have you promoting a sinful lifestyle on air to the public and that you would either have to take down your videos or leave the school,” Austin said.
Austin’s mother, Cheryl, said the school “had a right to offer this ultimatum” and warned other parents to look closely at information issued by schools.
KHOU tried to contact the Lutheran Education Association of Houston but received no response.
