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They punished a devoted teacher & called her a lesbian witch. Now shes having the last laugh.
A San Diego school teacher has won a major settlement in a lawsuit that accused her superiors of labeling her a lesbian witch.Rose Tagnesi was head of her school districts Special Education Department for over a decade when she was suddenly demoted to a class teaching role at the direction of what she described as an anti-LGBTQ+ majority on the school board. Related Cherished teacher fired for calling student by preferred name. The community is rallying for her. Her demotion followed an unrelated sex-trafficking case at the school that Tagnesi wasnt named in, and a subsequent investigation targeting her.The hostile climate created by the earlier inquiry set the stage for a broader discriminatory campaign by the board majority, she alleged in her suit, which included her demotion, LGBTQ+ book bans, and cutting ties with an LGBTQ+ mental health care provider previously contracted by the district. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Ms. Tagnesi, a proud member of the LGBTQ community who served GUHSD [Grossmont Union High School District] for over 28 years in exemplary fashion, was one of the many victims of the anti-LGBTQ majority boards discriminatory campaign, her lawsuit said.Tagnesi also alleged that the investigations lead attorney wrote in reference to her, one down, one to go, in a text message.Ive never been told what I did. Ive never been told what I was accused of doing. Ive never been even asked a question, Tagnesi told ABC affiliateKGTV last year about the investigation and her lawsuit.Tagnesi alleged that her supervisor advised her to keep a low profile about her sexuality, citing hostility among board members for gay people.Tagnesi accused one board trustee of referring to her and another female staffer as witches who were part of an LGBTQ coven. The board member also claimed that the same second female staffer was only hired because Tagnesi thought, she is hot. The Grossmont Union High School District will pay Tagnesi $700,000 over the next 20 years under terms of the settlement, theSan Diego Union Tribunereported on Tuesday. Theyll also cover nearly $500,000 in attorneys fees as part of the deal. A spokesperson for the district made clear that Tagnesis employers didnt admit wrongdoing in relation to her claims. The district said it agreed to settle to allow all parties to move forward in the most productive way possible.In the future, Im hopeful the district will take decisive action toward creating the culture of inclusivity its students and teachers deserve, Tagnesi said in a statement following the settlement.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.
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