Author Nicholas Sparks Accused of Banning LGBT Club at His School (Report)

Author Nicholas Sparks is being accused of banning an LGBT club at the school he co-founded.

Back in 2006, the famed author – whose books like “The Notebook,” “A Walk to Remember,” and “Dear John” have been turned into successful movies – co-founded the Epiphany School of Global Studies in New Bern, North Carolina.

Saul Benjamin was appointed CEO of the school and wanted to implement ways to be more inclusive. Those attempts backfired, and Saul is now in a legal battle with Sparks and Epiphany School’s Board of Trustees.

“Sparks and members of the Board unapologetically marginalized, bullied, and harassed members of the School community whose religious views and/or identities did not conform to their religiously driven, bigoted preconceptions,” Saul‘s lawyers wrote in a letter (obtained by the Daily Beast).

In one message, Sparks allegedly wrote, that Saul had “what some perceive as an agenda that strives to make homosexuality open and accepted.”

In another leaked letter, Sparks allegedly wrote Saul had “misplaced priorities at the school level (GLBT, diversity, the beauty of other religions, as opposed to academic/curricular/global issues, Christian traditions, etc.).”

About the LGBT club, Sparks allegedly wrote, “Not allowing them admittance is discrimination. Not allowing them to have a club is NOT discrimination,” he wrote in November 2013. “Also, remember, we’ve had gay students before, many of them. [A former headmaster] handled it quietly and wonderfully, and the students considered themselves fortunate. I expect you to do the same.”

In that same note, Sparks spoke about Saul’s decision to include sexual orientation into the school’s non-discrimination policy.

“About the non-discrimination policy you keep bringing up: please remember that sexual orientation was NOT in there originally, and that the only reason it was added was that YOU insisted it specifically be added…,” Sparks added. “Frankly, no one but you wanted it in there, preferring to simply phrase it as ‘we don’t discriminate against… and other legally protected categories.’ Please stop implying it was something the BOT wanted to do; it’s the law.”

About diversity, another letter alleges that Sparks wrote, “Regarding diversity, I’ve now told you half a dozen times that our lack of diversity has NOTHING to do with the school, or anyone at the school. It’s not because of what we as a school, has or hasn’t done. It has nothing to do with racism, or vestiges of Jim Crow. It comes down to 1) Money and 2) Culture.”

Click inside to see Nicholas Sparks’ response…