Sacramento Catholic school student says administrators warned them for waving pride flag

When 16-year-old Emma Houle was nominated homecoming princess at their school’s rally in early October, their classmates cheered in the stands. Some said they cried.

Houle, who identifies as a gender fluid queer person and uses they/them pronouns, pulled out a large pride flag from their ivory pant suit and cloaked it over their shoulders. They were likely the first openly queer person to be nominated homecoming princess at St. Francis High School, an all-girls Catholic school in Sacramento.

But days later, Houle said they were warned by school administrators that any other public display of being gay would result in disciplinary action.

Katharine Smith, Houle’s mom, who was at that meeting, said she let Houle and administrators do most of the talking, but jumped in when the conversation became tense, and especially when she felt her child’s sexuality was questioned.

School administrators confirmed Houle waved the flag at the rally, but would not discuss warnings given to Houle because they “cannot comment specifically on student conduct,” said Tina Tedesco, the school’s communication director.

“They want to empower young women to change the world, but then they say, ‘Well they are minors, they don’t have the power to decide right now (if they are gay),’” said Smith. “That’s a poor display of leadership to say minors can’t make decisions on their own about their beliefs and sexuality.”

School administrators said the school has long accepted gay and lesbian students.

“I can tell you we have openly gay and lesbian students on campus, and we have a code of conduct that all parents agree to,” Tedesco said.

This wasn’t the first time Houle said they had experienced pushback from St. Francis school administrators on issues pertaining to students who identify as LGBTQ.

When Houle and several friends tried to create a Gay and Straight Alliance club, St. Francis administrators did not approve the idea, pointing to an already existing group that serves LGBTQ students on campus: Inclusion 360.

The problem, Houle said, is that Inclusion 360 is a ministry, not a school club. Inclusion 360 allows gay, lesbian, queer students and their allies to gather on campus. But students say it isn’t advertised as a school club.

“(Inclusion 360) are not involved in the school press, we aren’t on the school website or magazines, or anything else,” Houle said.

Smith said it makes the students, including Houle, feel hidden.

“Why do they have to be ministered to?” she asked. “It makes them feel subjugated and marginalized.”

Students push for LGBTQ rights

School officials say they understand that students and alumni want St. Francis to share a more visible stance on LGBTQ issues, but as a Catholic school, there are limitations.

“We hear that we need to do a better job of making every student feel valued, supported and loved at St. Francis High School,” read a statement from the school. “We strive continually to live up to the example of love and acceptance shown by Jesus and by our patron saints, St. Francis and St. Claire. At the same time, we are a Catholic school that must abide by and uphold the teachings of the Catholic Church. This sometimes puts our mission at odds with what many want from us on this important social issue. Simply put, there are limits to what we can support or endorse while remaining in accord with the teachings of our Church. At this time, we believe we cannot establish an LGBTQ+ club on campus for this reason.”

Smith said the school’s reasoning doesn’t make sense. There are religiously affiliated clubs for other faiths that don’t fall in line with Catholic teachings.

Houle said their goal is to be as respected as other students on campus.

“I am frustrated and I want to make sure the queer students on campus feel seen,” they said.

Alumni recently took to Instagram and Facebook, sharing how their time at St. Francis was difficult because they did not feel accepted. On Friday, dozens of St. Francis students held a rally in the school courtyard supporting Houle, carrying signs that read, “Love Wins” and “We will not be quiet.”

In a newsletter following the rally, St. Francis School Principal Elias Mendoza also said that as a Diocesan Catholic school, it is not able to “support or endorse any iconography or political stance that is contrary to Catholic church teachings.”

Mendoza encouraged parents to discuss the concept of legal separation of church and state with their daughters, and referred to the student-parent handbook and code of conduct that “clearly articulates the expectation” for all students and parents: “A necessary condition of continued enrollment at SFHS is that students behave in a manner, both on and off campus, which is consistent with the principles and Christian philosophy of SFHS.”

Other Catholic high schools in the region have clubs that support LGBTQ students. Christian Brothers High School has a Pride club. Jesuit High School has an All Love Alliance, stating that “The Catechism of the Catholic Church reaffirms the Church’s call to treat members of the LGBTQIA+ community with respect, compassion, and sensitivity, which the ALA aims to advocate for at Jesuit.”

Smith, Houle, and many current and former St. Francis students want to know why St. Francis won’t do the same.

That answer may lie in the way the Diocese operates.

St. Francis is under the Diocese. Its rules and code of conduct are led by the Diocese of Sacramento. The Parent and Student Handbook, which includes a dress code, discipline guidelines and COVID-19 protocol, is all under the guidance of the bishop.

And while the Diocese of Sacramento has relationships with Jesuit and Christian Brothers, Jesuit operates under the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits. Christian Brothers operates under the De La Salle Christian Brothers.

Jesuit Catholics and Lasallian Catholics generally lean more liberal both politically and socially, and tend to focus more on social and economic justice over doctrinal disputes.

But Houle and Smith said the Catholic Church has worked hard to include the LGBTQ community. Pope Francis has a welcoming acceptance towards the LGBTQ community. “We have to find a way to help that father or that mother to stand by their (LGBTQ) son or daughter,” he said in 2014 to a conservative newspaper in Argentina.

For Houle, a club doesn’t mean that any Catholic tenants or code of conduct are being broken.

“I have a lot of emotions about it,” Houle said. “Frustrations and confusions were up there. Catholic teaching isn’t necessarily to discriminate against the queer community. All we are asking for is equal treatment and love from St. Francis. We aren’t asking to get married at the church or St. Francis. We are just asking for equal opportunity.”

This story was originally published October 13, 2021 at 5:00 AM.