California Catholic school accepts transgender teacher and nuns let him keep his job


Gabriel Bodenheimer is a teacher and chair of the English department at Mercy High School for girls in San Francisco
He came out as a transgender man and has been allowed to keep his job
Sister Laura Reicks, president of the 16-state region of the Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community announced the support for Bodenheimer
He said: 'It was very important to speak, and name myself, and not be silent. The response I got was tremendously positive'

Gabriel Bodenheimer (pictured), a teacher and the English Department chair, came out as a transgender man at Mercy High School for girls in San Francisco. He has been allowed to keep his job by the order of the nuns that runs the school

The San Francisco Chronicle reports an order of the Sisters of Mercy announced its support for Bodenheimer (pictured) on Wednesday

Sister Laura Reicks, president of the 16-state region of the Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community, said: 'This is significant for us; we did not take this lightly. Above Bodenheimer is pictured teaching English

Bodenheimer (pictured) had been teaching English at Mercy High School, a college preparatory school for girls, for four years before he came out as transgender

The school's board chairwoman says there have been no complaints from the school community so far. Pictured above is Mercy High School