School rejects top athlete due to parents’ same-sex marriage
Rising baseball talent Caleb Degala-Burnett, an eighth-grader from Union City, was actively recruited by Valley Christian School in Dublin, California, for its strong academics and baseball program. Recognized as a “college prospect,” Caleb and his father, Mike Degala, discussed financial aid for the $24,000 annual tuition, according to The San Francisco Standard.
However, the school’s interest abruptly ceased. Mike Degala reported that a school official stated their “same-sex marriage doesn’t align with our Christian values” and that the school “would lose supporters.”
Caleb, who had previously faced childhood taunts but not institutional discrimination, expressed his anger, emphasizing that “It really shouldn’t matter what your family is.” While federal law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin, it does not prevent private schools from rejecting students based on sexual orientation.
Jorge Reyes Salinas of Equality California called the situation “unacceptable regardless of the school’s private or religious status.” Caleb’s father, Master Burnett, raised by Southern Baptist missionaries, expressed disappointment, stating, “I don’t consider discrimination a Christian value.” The family is moving forward, with Caleb attending James Logan High School, his father concluding, “It’s their loss.”
