Davenport, IA Catholic Bishop bars foundation from presenting scholarship to gay student

Keaton Fuller. Photo: Eychaner Foundation

Davenport, Iowa Bishop Martin Amos has barred Keaton Fuller, an 18-year-old senior at Prince of Peace Catholic High School student in Clinton, Iowa from receiving a $40,000 scholarship from the Des-Moines-based Eychaner Foundation during his graduation ceremony May 20th.
     School officials, who had encouraged Fuller to apply for the award, were blindsided by the action.

Bishop Amos, Diocese photo

     Fox News has reported that School Board President Edward O'Neill said he was disappointed by the bishop's decision. He said Fuller was a talented student who was accepted by his peers after coming out years ago. He said Fuller had taken his boyfriend to prom over the weekend and other school dances without controversy. (Three guesses as to what Bishop Amos will lower the boom on next.)
     The Eychaner Foundation was founded by Iowa businessman and gay rights activist Rich Eychaner, and chose Fuller as one of three recipients of its gold scholarship, worth up to $40,000 toward attendance at one of three public universities in Iowa. Fuller will attend the University of Iowa where he wants to study film. More than 130 Matthew Shepard scholarships to graduating high school seniors who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender have been awarded since 2000
     Foundation executive director Michael Bowser  said Fuller is believed to be the first gay student at a Catholic high school to attend multiple school dances with a partner of the same sex.
     The Catholic Diocese of Davenport said Monday a school staff member will present the scholarship at the assembly but its policy bars any organization which promotes a position contrary to church teachings from giving school presentations.
     “Everybody at the school has always been very accepting and extremely encouraging toward me. That’s why the latest turn of events has been such a surprise -- I feel invalidated and unaccepted,” Fuller told msnbc.com Monday evening..

"It is difficult to understand how, after I have spent 13 years at this school and worked hard during all of them, I would be made to feel that my accomplishments are less than everybody else’s,"

     The Diocese of Davenport has posted a response to the controversy on its web site but MSNBC said attempts to contact Amos or officials with the Diocese of Davenport were unsuccessful on Tuesday.
     Although Fuller appears to be the sole "out" gay student in his small high school, he said  teachers have always supported him, making sure he believed in himself.