Christian private school fired teacher for attending drag show

Christie Maris (bottom left) at a drag show at Hamburger Mary's in Houston, Texas. Photo: Facebook

A teacher was fired from a private Christian school in Texas after she ruled she violated the requirement to be “godly” by attending a drag show.

Kristi Maris, who taught physical education at First Baptist Academy in Baytown for 19 years, said she was “heartbroken” and unable to say goodbye to her students.

A colleague who joined her at the popular drag bar and bar Hamburger Mary's in downtown Houston was also fired.

According to local news channel ABC13, the school ruled that they violated employment conditions in order to “act godly and morally at work, on Facebook, and in my community.”

First Baptist Academy in Baytown, Texas . Photo: ABC. social media. In a Facebook post, she said the event was “explosive”.

She said, “They are artists. I wouldn't have thought in a million years that this could happen. Never. We were in disbelief – we are still in it.

“We were heartbroken. We had relationships with parents and children, and I didn't even say goodbye to many children.”

Ms. Maris, a devout Christian, said she taught her students that God loves them. everything is the same, but “they expect us not to”, which seemed like a blow to her former employer.

Christy Maris, a devout Christian, said she taught her students that God loves them all equally, but the school is “waiting for us.” don't do it' Photo: ABC.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott effectively banned drag shows in front of minors last month when he signed a law banning “sexually oriented performances” in front of children.

Businesses that break the law could be fined up to $10,000 (£7,800) and performers can be sentenced to a year in prison and a maximum fine of $4,000 (£3,100). was introduced in the State Senate in March, but was later toned down.

Hamburger Mary's stated that Maris and another woman would benefit to “raise money… for their families, but to also help raise awareness that transvestites and LGBTQIA+ not bad people.”

First Baptist Academy was contacted for comment.