Students Planning Protest Against Gay Teacher's Firing at Glendora Catholic School

Current and former students are planning a protest Thursday in front of St. Lucy's Priory, an all-girls Catholic high school in Glendora, demanding that the school reinstate a gay teacher after the school fired him after photos of his same-sex wedding ceremony were published in a newspaper. 

Former English teacher Ken Bencomo, 45, married his longtime partner Christopher Persky, 32, in a civil ceremony in July at the San Bernardino County Hall of Records. As one of the first same-sex marriage couples to line up to wed following a Supreme Court ruling that paved the way for same-sex marriages in California, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin published photos of the couple's wedding ceremony. 

Bencomo, a 17-year teacher at St. Lucy's, was fired from his job shortly after, according to his attorney Patrick McGarrigle.

School officials at St. Lucy's Priory have declined to comment, instead issuing a statement:  “As a Benedictine school, St. Lucy's is a community for those who wish to express Christian values in education and develop person and academic excellence.”

An online petition to reinstate Bencomo has swelled to more than 13,000 supporters by Friday morning. The controversy has sparked heated debate over gay rights and private schools' rights to adhere religious standards. 

Former St. Lucy's student Brittany Littleton, 23, who initiated the petition, is organizing the protest. She said Bencomo's sexual orientation was known among students and staff at St. Lucy's Priory for years, but the teacher never discussed his lifestyle with his students. 

Littleton said Bencomo's "passion for teaching, as well as his witty personality, have made him a favorite teacher among many students.”