CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A Charlotte Catholic school teacher says he was fired because he's gay.
Parents and students say Lonnie Billard was a popular teacher at Charlotte Catholic for more than 15 years.
"The kids. Sorry, it gives me goose bumps, you know the kids are so amazing," Billard says.
He taught English, and ran the theatre department – was even named teacher of the year -- until deciding to scale back and work as a long term substitute at the school a few years ago.
"I got a call telling me I would not be allowed to teach anymore," he says.
Lonnie is gay. He and his partner Rich have been together for 13 years.
"As it was explained to me that because I had posted on Facebook to my friends that my longtime partner Rich -- Rich and I were going to get married this spring. Apparently there were a couple of teachers that were unhappy with that."
David Hains, the spokesman for The Charlotte Roman Catholic Church Diocese, the organization that oversees Charlotte Catholic, says Billard was fired because he went against the teachings of the Catholic Church.
"Well the Catholic Church opposes same-sex unions. Marriage can only be between one man and one woman. He's not being picked on because he's gay. He lost his job as a substitute teacher because he broke a promise because he chose to oppose church teaching, something he promised he would not do," Hains says.
The 68 year old says most people at the school knew he and Rich were a gay couple. Rich often came to school events.
"The fact that I am in a long term, committed relationship with a wonderful man is apparently abhorrent but if I were in the closet, that would be okay. That's my understanding of the church's position."
Hains says, "The doctrine of the Catholic Church that's in question here has to do with same-sex marriage." And he insists Billard wasn't technically fired, pointing out as a substitute teacher, he is not a full-time employee.
"It is a ridiculous thing that a person that loves someone different from the norm, if you will, should lose the opportunity to give the gifts that I have and to lose their livelihood because they dared to love," Billard says.
