An employment dispute involving John Berenato, an openly gay school superintendent who formerly worked in Ocean County, N.J., will be mediated pursuant to a court order.
The mediation order was issued Oct. 11 in New Jersey Superior Court. Berenato served as school superintendent for the Manchester Township School District in Ocean County, N.J. from February 2022 to November 2023 — when he claims he was fired due to antigay bias.
The district serves 2,900 students from pre-K to grade 12. If Berenato’s lawsuit can’t be settled, there will be a jury trial.
Berenato’s lawsuit claims antigay bias was rampant within the school district. But defense papers say Berenato was fired because he lied on his job application about never being convicted of a crime.
About 14 years ago, Berenato was convicted of driving under the influence, but DUI is a traffic offense and not a crime, according to Berenato’s 24-page lawsuit.
The school board claimed Berenato was dishonest and summarily fired him on Nov. 7, 2023, in a closed-door meeting. Berenato was on medical leave at the time. His lawsuit accuses the board of “trampling” on his due-process rights.
From the start, Berenato said he encountered many problems within the school district. At his installation ceremony, he was was called a “faggot” by someone in the audience, according to his lawsuit.
Additionally, colleagues accused Berenato of pushing a “gay agenda” and opposed his trans-friendly policies. Berenato said he was only trying to follow the law, but colleagues would impose their religious beliefs on him, according to the lawsuit.
One colleague teased Berenato about liking “quiche” and asked if he played with Barbie dolls as a child. In another incident, the colleague’s uncle referred to Berenato as “Mary,” when they met at a funeral.
A school-board member allegedly asked Berenato why he chose to be gay, since it’s a challenging lifestyle.
Another school-board member complained about gay men “hitting” on him all the time due to his muscular physique.
“They always want to take my shirt off,” the board member allegedly said.
One board member “screamed” at Berenato for supporting gender-neutral graduation gowns. But students chose the gowns themselves and most parents approved of them, according to the lawsuit.
Board members wouldn’t let Berenato place “gender-neutral” signs on single-occupancy restrooms. One board member allegedly equated identifying as trans with identifying as a cat. The board member also suggested that gay students shouldn’t be permitted in locker rooms and should have their own place to change their clothes.
Berenato’s lawsuit also alleges that a school principal opposed the use of a transgender substitute teacher due to anti-trans bias and hassled Berenato for purchasing a shirt from the Gay Students’ Association.
Moreover, the local teachers’ union was hostile to Berenato and the union’s leader called Berenato a “faggot” and “freakshow,” according to the lawsuit.
The school board’s announcement of Berenato’s firing was live streamed on YouTube for the community to view. Popcorn was available for attendees to watch the “freakshow,” and many applauded when his firing was announced, according to the lawsuit.
In defense papers, school officials argue that Berenato was fired for valid reasons, not because he’s gay. School officials acknowledge they were concerned about trans-friendly policies within the district but note that many other school districts across New Jersey have similar concerns.
“[Berenato] created a hostile and divisive atmosphere according to the staff and many staff were unhappy with [Berenato], such dissatisfaction relating to his management style and not to his sexuality,” defense papers state.
Defense papers also deny that Berenato was victimized by religious bias against the LGBTQ+ community.
Berenato is seeking an unspecified amount in compensatory and punitive damages, along with payment of his attorneys’ fees and costs. He filed the lawsuit last year in Ocean County Superior Court, based in Toms River, N.J.
Neither side had a comment for this story.