Fired Over Love! Gay Teacher Fired After Husband’s Obituary Outed Him

For over two decades, Mark Richards dedicated his life to teaching music at St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in Metairie, La. The 63-year-old rarely shared personal details with colleagues or students. But after his husband passed away, an obituary identifying Richards as the surviving spouse exposed a truth he says ultimately cost him his job. The school, backed by the Archdiocese of New Orleans, let him go soon after.

Why Was the Teacher Fired?

Richards had spent 22 years at St. Francis Xavier, where he was known among students and faculty for his warmth, dedication, and talent. He quietly lived his life outside of work with his husband, whom he married years earlier. In 2023, his husband passed away from a heart attack. The obituary included Richards’ name and described him as the surviving spouse.

A parent at the school saw the obituary and contacted the administration. That report was then forwarded to the Archdiocese of New Orleans, which oversees the school.

Contracts from prior school years explicitly stated that staff could be terminated for “any personal conduct or lifestyle which would be at variance with, or contrary to the applicable policies of the Roman Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.”

According to People magazine, Richards was required to sign a yearly contract that included a morality clause. However, the former music teacher explained that he disclosed his sexuality to the previous school administrator before joining the staff.

“Just keep it out of the public and you’ll be okay,” Richards was told.

And his sexuality and marriage were never an issue until recently.

“I walked in and they all looked very glum,” he told People magazine. “They told me that a parent has taken it upon themselves to dig into my past and found this obituary that named me Mark Richards [as John’s surviving spouse] and immediately turned it over to the archdiocese and the school.”

He claims he was accused of lying on his contract. The Archdiocese of New Orleans released a brief statement confirming that Richards is no longer employed, but did not provide further details.

Public Outcry in Support

The news of Richard’s termination spread quickly across the local community and social media. Parents have launched an online petition, asking for Richards to be reinstated, and have already collected more than 5,600 signatures. Additionally, the ongoing petition requests that the school revisit its policy.  

“He’s there to teach music and that’s what he did,” Rick English, a parent of a St. Francis Xavier student, told the Times-Picayune.

“I’m really kind of speechless at times about it, but it’s nice to know that I have the support of these people,” Richards told People. “It’s very touching.”

Now, Richards is actively searching for employment. As his case continues to gain attention, Richards says he’s determined to speak up for himself and others. Because no one, he says, should face what he did.

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