Eastside Catholic students stage sit-in, walk-out over gay principal's departure

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Hundreds of students at Eastside Catholic High School in Sammamish staged a sit-in and walk out after a vice principal resigned over what they say was school opposition to his gay marriage. (Photos from a student at Eastside Catholic)

BY Josh Kerns on December 19, 2013 @ 1:28 pm (Updated: 3:51 pm - 12/19/13 )

Hundreds of students at Eastside Catholic High School in Sammamish staged a sit-in and walk out Thursday after a vice principal resigned over what they say was school opposition to his gay marriage.

Mark Zmuda was married last year, and students and parents say the popular administrator was forced out after being told his marriage violated school and church policy. He recently announced his resignation and Thursday was his last day.

"You know I don't think what the school did was right," says parent James Wasnick, who learned of the protest from his daughter at the school. "We're very tolerant of everyone and I would hope the school would teach that, and in this case the school isn't teaching that."

School officials recently learned of the marriage and met with Zmuda Tuesday. Despite what the parents and students say, an attorney for the school insists Zmuda resigned voluntarily and wasn't forced out.



Students at Seattle's Holy Names Academy staged their own sit-in in solidarity for an Eastside Catholic vice principal who resigned Thursday. (Photo by Holy Names student)

http://mynorthwest.com/11/2418567/Eastside-Catholic-students-stage-sitin-walkout-over-gay-principals-departure

[RKP5637]

1. I think people are really getting fed up with the persecution of gays for no F'en reason than

delusional hatred, hate for hates sake. Where's the love in religion, often the bigots and homophobes seem to be the stars of religion, not always, but often. Good for these students for standing up against the hatefulness of their regressive administration.