Posted: Sept. 10, 2021
When administrators at Valor Christian High School in Colorado learned that their beloved girls volleyball coach Inoke Tonga was gay, they gave him a horrible ultimatum: Denounce the queer identity God gave him, or lose his job.
Tonga refused to cave, so Valor's administration forced him to resign -- but he does not have to face this fight alone. Nearly 50 students walked out of class to support their coach last month, carrying signs saying: "Love Thy Neighbor," "Jesus Loves Inoke," and "We Want Our Coach Back."
Tonga's story has inspired dozens of other survivors of discrimination at the Highlands Ranch, CO, school to come forward. More than 40 students and alumni have shared stories of anti-LGBTQ discrimination, including a lesbian lacrosse coach who was also forced from her job last year.
"We will not forget your bigotry," one 16-year-old student told the Denver Post. "We will no longer stay silent."
As Christians, we can't allow the loving, inclusive message of Jesus Christ to be twisted into hatred and discrimination. Let's show Tonga and the brave student protesters at Valor High School that Christians across their country have their backs.
Sign the petition:
Love thy neighbor.