“A lot of trust is given to teachers, and it made it seem like I wasn’t trusted because there’s something wrong with me for being gay,” he said. Nevertheless, the incident prompted Thollander to make this school year his last after 11 years of working in Florida as a teacher.

No action was taken against him by school leaders, who defended him several days later with a letter of their own, he said. Thollander denied having discussed his marriage since he and his husband tied the knot in March of last year, aside from acknowledging it when he was asked. Had Thollander just “said he will be out for a few days because he was getting married, no problem,” the letter continued, “but to discuss the details and create an uncomfortable situation for the students with no benefit to teaching his subject matter is inappropriate.” Sixth grade science teacher Robert Thollander.