Father Praises Utah School for Firing Teacher Who Went on 10 Minute Rant Telling His Son ‘Homosexuality Is Wrong’

by | Dec 6, 2019 | QUEER RVA

Former Dancing With The Stars choreographer Louis van Amstel explained that the teacher’s rant was triggered when his son mentioned his two dads during a Thanksgiving lesson on gratitude.

A Utah father is praising his son’s school after the boy and his classmates were forced to endure a 10-minute anti-gay rant from a substitute teacher claiming “homosexuality is wrong.”

Louis van Amstel, a professional choreographer who has appeared on Dancing With the Stars, explained in a Facebook video that the teacher “asked all the kids what they’re thankful for” before the Thanksgiving holiday for a lesson on gratitude.

Van Amstel says his son said “he’s thankful that he’s finally being adopted by his two dads.” He says the substitute teacher gave her “very clear opinion that ‘two men is wrong, homosexuality is wrong.’”

ABC News reports “three students went to notify the school’s principal, according to van Amstel. The three students had asked her to stop multiple times, but she refused, he said.”

The school, Deerfield Elementary School in Cedar Hills, Utah, notified van Amstel immediately after the incident, and said they’d removed the teacher from the classroom.

“I am so proud of Daniel’s school,” van Amstel says. “Not only did they let go of the teacher, but they said this woman is never going to teach in this school ever again.”

Alpine School District confirmed to ABC News that the teacher had been fired.

Written by David Badash, The New Civil Rights Movement. Image via NCRM.

New Civil Rights Movement

New Civil Rights Movement



more in gayrva

REVIEW | Ducking Awesome! WitchDuck Is Smart, Sharp, and Ruthless

I am rarely speechless, especially about theatre. Since I don’t get paid if I remain silent, I will make myself criticize a play I don’t feel I have any right to judge. Gotta pay the rent, and all that. I came into this performance of WitchDuck by Cadence and...

Opinion | My Family Deserves to Exist

by Alexis Jackson I am a Black queer woman, a wife, a mother, a licensed therapist, and a doula in Virginia. And before anything else, let me be clear: my family is not outside of the norm. Love, intention, and care are not radical ideas. They are the foundation of...

Find Your Dark Art at ‘Market of the Beast’ Richmond

Market of the Beast is a dark market for all the weirdos and occult lovers who have a bit of a funny bone in them and it’s coming to Richmond Feb 7th, 2026. This handmade market specializes in all things macabre from taxidermy and bone jewelry to home decor, occult...

Richmond New Year’s Eve 2025-2026! The Ultimate Rundown

Richmond has its own way of ringing in the New Year. A little backward glance, a little chaos, and just enough polish to feel intentional. You can lean into loud live shows, dress up for something splashy, or keep it simple with a solid drink and good company. However...

The Best of RVA Magazine 2025

As we close out the year, here’s a look at some of the most impactful stories we published in 2025. Over the past year, we covered Richmond as a living system under pressure, focusing on the people, culture, and policies that shape daily life and determine who gets...