{"id":820207,"date":"2026-02-20T16:33:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T21:33:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cafemom.com\/?p=820207"},"modified":"2026-02-20T16:33:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T21:33:17","slug":"teacher-refused-to-read-book-about-lgbtq-family-threatened-with-termination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cafemom.com\/parenting\/teacher-refused-to-read-book-about-lgbtq-family-threatened-with-termination","title":{"rendered":"First-Grade Teacher Refused To Read Book About LGBTQ Family & Says School Threatened To Terminate Him"},"content":{"rendered":"

A first-grade teacher in Tennessee<\/a> recently came under fire for a dispute about curriculum. Eric Rivera alleged the administration at Kipp Antioch College Preparatory School in Nashville threatened his job after he refused a January lesson. Rivera claims the school wanted him to read a book to his class about a child with two fathers<\/a>. The teacher believed the subject matter went against his Christian beliefs<\/a>, so a co-teacher read the book. But Rivera now fears he could lose his job and has obtained legal representation.<\/p>

Rivera told WZTV he asked the school for a religious accommodation. He said the book Stella Brings the Family<\/em> by Miriam B. Schiffer conflicted with his Christian beliefs<\/a>. The school reportedly allowed a co-teacher to read the book to students at first, but Rivera claims trouble soon began.<\/p>

“I refused to read a book that had two fathers on the cover and one daughter,” he told the outlet. “I believe that that is not what God designed a marriage to be in a family to be.”<\/p>