Fall River teacher accused of making anti-gay remarks about student’s rainbow gingerbread house
By Kirsten Glavin
@kirstenglavin
FALL RIVER, MA – A Facebook post has gone viral, accusing a Fall River school teacher of making anti-gay remarks to a student who built a rainbow-colored gingerbread house at an annual holiday event.
The post garnered more than 300 comments and was shared nearly just as many times Tuesday night. Marissa Farias, writing the post, explained that her 16-year-old brother Joshua was the target of anti-gay comments made by culinary arts teacher, Chef Jeffrey Coulombe. Coulombe is a 30-year veteran at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School, according to the schools superintendent.
"He was working on a ginger bread house, he was using really cool colors. He was really proud of his work with his friend. And when the chef saw it, he said, “Don’t be surprised if this is in the trash tomorrow,’” Farias told ABC6 News over the phone.
Farias said Chef Coulombe also told her brother, "If you feel the need to express yourself and your diversity, we have clubs for that."
"It’s not just my brother. It’s been a lot of students that have been talked to this way, by this teacher,” said Farias.
The post drew attention from many others who said they’ve had similar experiences.
One Diman alum commented that Chef Coulombe once took away rainbow colored food coloring from her. Another person said he would make fun of her for her anxiety, asking if she would have “another meltdown today.”
"We did do the investigation and based on the investigation done by our administration, there was really no finding because there was nothing to be found,” Superintendent Thomas Aubin told ABC6 News.
According to Farias, her brother and a classmate went to the principal’s office to complain.
Superintendent Aubin explained that the administration investigated and found no evidence that any insensitive comments, were made. He told ABC6 it was a miscommunication.
"I think that when things are taken out of context, things can be misconstrued,” he said. He added that the school prides itself on a history of tolerance and inclusion.
Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School now has the gingerbread house on display in the school’s restaurant.
