BEAL CITY, Mich. — A Beal City author, who has been openly gay for decades, is surprised to find himself at the center of controversy.
He read his children's book to a pre-K class at a local private Catholic school, and a week later, it appears the pastor of the associated church issued a public apology to parents and parishioners — not over the content of the book, but rather, the person reading.
“I came into a classroom to share the joy and love that I have for what I created, and to share that with other people. Why my sexuality has anything to do with that? Anything? It makes me mad.”
Dominic Thrasher was brought to tears when sharing the events that have unfolded over the last week.
"For a second, he made me want to stop," Thrasher said. "I didn't want to do it anymore.”
Thrasher called Wednesday one of the worst days of his life. A week before, he was all smiles.
“It went amazing! Oh my gosh, it was so much fun," he said.
Thrasher, 44, grew up in Mt. Pleasant and made the transition from acting to writing during the pandemic.
“I’ve always wanted to, I just was scared to start," he said.
Thrasher has now written a series of books called The Adventures of Cece and the Sheriff.
“Sheriff is my dog and Cece is my sister’s dog," he explained. "They were playing in my room when I was trying to figure out what to write about and it went from there.”
Since March is National Reading Month, Thrasher was invited by his friend to read his first book to her pre-K class at St. Joseph the Worker School.
"The kids were so excited and I actually ended up staying for snack time too," he said.
A week later, on Wednesday, Thrasher said he saw a Facebook post that looked like it came from the St. Joseph the Worker - Beal City page — which would be the account of the church connected to the school. The post appeared to be written by Pastor Tom Held.
FOX 17 hasn't seen the original post because it, along with the page entirely, no longer come up when we search for them on Facebook.
Thrasher sent us a screenshot before both went away:
“It just angers me, what he said," Thrasher said. "The way he made me feel like I'm a predator or like a convict or something coming into the school.”
Thrasher said this isn't the first time his sexuality has been an issue for others.
“12 years ago, I was asked to give this commencement speech at my alma mater, a private Catholic school," he said. "Then, once they found out I was gay — I've been openly gay ever since I came out, and that was at 21, so it was no shock to anybody, everybody knew that, but once they found out — I was disinvited to give the commencement speech because, being gay, I don't know, I'm going to ruin people or something?”
Thrasher thought life had already thrown enough obstacles his way.
“I was diagnosed with ALS a year ago," he said. "I don't have a lot of time, so I just want to share my gifts and my love to the world.”
Just like the positive messages you'll find in his children's books, Thrasher wants this story to have a happy ending.
"I had a friend yesterday say, 'You know, Dominic, you were born to make waves.' And I go, 'You know, if I'm the person that has to represent so many people out there like myself, I will do — I will fight until the end.'”
Thrasher said he hopes Pastor Tom Held will be removed by the St. Joseph the Worker Church.
FOX 17 has tried connected with the church and school, both over email, telephone and in person, but no one has been willing to comment.
Also Thursday, FOX 17 reached out to the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw, which oversees the church. The Diocese provided FOX 17 with the following statement:
"St. Joseph the Worker School recently had a guest visit a classroom to read to children during March Reading Month. The guest was warmly welcomed and treated with respect. Several days after the visit, the pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish was contacted by school parents and parishioners who expressed concerns about the guest's civil union, which is contrary to the Catholic Church's teaching on human sexuality and marriage. The pastor appropriately responded to those concerns within the parish community in a way that recognized the guest's privacy.
"Our Catholic Faith respects the dignity of every person. The Church teaches we are all created in the image and likeness of God and called to love one another. With that love comes our obligation to uphold and live the teachings of the Catholic Faith, individually and within our institutions."
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