Ohio Teachers Allowed Football Players To Abuse Gay Student – Now School and Catholic Diocese Face Lawsuit
Football players called the Ursuline freshman slurs and bullied him daily in class – teachers knew and failed to stop the abuse.
Featured image: via Getty Images (credit, Maskot)
Trigger warning: content contains descriptions of verbal abuse and assault
On Monday, Nov. 17, a lawsuit was filed by a student and his family against the Assistant Principal of Ursuline High School and the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, alleging that the school allowed football players to bully and abuse a gay student for at least a year. According to the lawsuit filed in the Northern District of Ohio, throughout the 2023-24 school year, several football players harassed, bullied, and ridiculed the Ursuline freshman daily, because he is openly gay. The abuse included calling him a “f*g” and “f*ggot” during classes and in his teachers’ presence. It also included a physical assault.
Using pseudonyms, the case is being brought by Grandmother Rudolph, individually and on behalf of her minor grandson, Grandson Rudolph. The filing states that teachers were aware of the misconduct, but didn’t protect the student. One religion teacher, Nannette Jacobs, is alleged to have actually participated in the bullying, saying, “He has on more makeup than me.”
The horrific behavior was “repeatedly” reported to school officials, and the head football coach was informed as well.
“The Ursuline Defendants’ failures weren’t just negligent. They were reckless and intentional, because they sought to protect their football players—at any cost,” reads the Complaint.
The filing addresses what is described as a culture that has historically ignored misconduct by its football players, in the interest of elevating the “glory” of the team above basic decency. It speaks to “the school’s negligent and reckless hiring, training, supervision, and retention of administrators, coaches, and teachers.”
Assistant Principal, Margaret Damore, is one of the defendants, along with Bishop David Bonnar, who is the final decisionmaker for the Diocese and entities within it, including the school. Other non-party individuals named include several football players, and two teachers.
Prior to moving to Youngstown, the student – described as small in stature and shy in public – had lived in Mercer County, Pennsylvania where his father had been murdered. His grandmother hoped he would escape violence and danger in the new setting. She wanted him to benefit from religious education, and to “be surrounded by good people.” In fact he suffered in silence for a time at Ursuline, not wanting his grandmother, who had sacrificed so much, to know.
From the hallways to the cafeteria (players hurled food at him) to the classroom where he openly cried on multiple occasions—the callous inaction of his teachers and those in charge led to this:
“The victim has endured permanent and lasting harm, degradation, humiliation, intimidation, and retaliation.”
The time has come, and the goal of this federal civil-rights action is clear: “Defendants must be held accountable.”
If you are an LGBTQ+ young person in need of support, phone a crisis counselor at The Trevor Project 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386
