INDIANAPOLIS -- Former Roncalli High School students say the controversy brewing after a guidance counselor says she was asked to resign over her same-sex marriage sheds light on a culture of intolerance at the Indianapolis school that has been going on for years.
In 2012 after two students took their own lives, classmates say they formed an after-school group called "Rebels 4 Acceptance." Some of them were dealing with bullying issues, some with mental health issues and others issues involving their LGBT status.
"It definitely would not have been safe for one of my classmates to come out, not entirely anyway," said Andria McHugh, class of 2013. "They may have been fearful if they did. Just of judgment."
The group's founding members say it was meant to be a safe place for all students to find acceptance. The group met every few weeks to talk about what they were going through and how they could make school more inclusive for everybody.
But after less than a year, the group says their club was shut down by school administrators.
"They had seen it as encouraging homosexual behavior,' said Kendall Wood, class of 2014.
Counselor Shelly Fitzgerald has been placed on administrative leave after she says someone sought out her marriage certificate showing she was married to another woman and gave it to the school.
In a statement released Monday, Roncalli has said the expectations and teachings of the Catholic Church are clearly defined in employee contracts and job descriptions.
Fitzgerald says she has been overwhelmed by the support she's seeing from the community and her students.
"I mean, it's a great message for my daughter more importantly than anything," said Fitzgerald. "It's a great message for our students and our community at Roncalli because it's what we've taught them all along. Be kind to each other, take care of each other, be welcoming to each other and do it with Jesus in your heart."
WRTV has reached out to Roncalli High School administrators and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis for comment about the students' claims and about Fitzgerald's status with the school. As of Tuesday evening, neither has responded to our requests.
You can watch Fitzgerald's full interview below.
