The Fired Lesbian Teacher Fighting Back Against the Catholic Church

PHILADELPHIA (PA)
The Daily Beast

Lizzie Crocker

Margie Winters was fired from her Catholic elementary school after it emerged she had married her female partner. Now she’s taking on the church hierarchy, with the support of many parents.

Until recently, Margie Winters was a devoted teacher at the Waldron Mercy Academy, a Roman Catholic elementary school in Philadelphia where she had served as director of Religious Education for eight years.

Winters was hired at Waldron Mercy in August 2007, three months after she married her longtime partner, Andrea Vettori.

Same-sex marriage is forbidden under the official teachings of the Church, so Winters was transparent with Waldron Principal Nell Stetser about her marriage during the hiring process.

Winters says Stetser encouraged her to be open with the faculty and staff, but warned her to be careful before disclosing her relationship to parents, some of whom were more conservative than others.

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