Gay Cheer Coach Sues Murrieta Valley USD: Sex Discrimination – Reverb MSN Music
© Toni McAllister/Patch Murrieta Valley High School
MURRIETA, CA — A former Murrieta Valley High School cheerleading coach who believes he was fired from his position at the campus due to his sexual orientation has filed a lawsuit alleging discrimination, harassment and negligence.
The Sept. 22 complaint names the Murrieta Valley Unified School District, MVHS parent Jaci Clawson, and other unnamed defendants.
Michael Henderson, 31, who is openly gay, was let go from his post as head coach of the Nighthawks cheer and stunt program in June after serving three years on the job. He alleges his firing came without any warning and that the MVUSD did not follow proper protocols in the events that led up to his termination.
Instead, on June 11, MVHS Athletic Director Darin Mott and Principal Ryan Tukua called Henderson and told him he was “on suspension” due to an “anonymous letter.”
The complaint claims that MVUSD Board Member Paul Diffley, along with Mott and Tukua, conducted an investigation into Henderson’s personal conduct and communication with a gay male athlete “who had been suicidal back in October 2019.” Conversations with the athlete took place during Henderson’s off-hours while he was teaching at a private gym called Cartwheels, according to the lawsuit.
As far back as April of this year, Clawson and other unnamed defendants “created and published” untrue statements about Henderson; the defendants shared the “false and malicious narrative” with MVUSD employees and families with “reckless disregard,” and their actions led to his firing, according to the complaint.
The defendants persuaded the district that Henderson’s sexual orientation was “a liability to and ultimately a burden” for the MVUSD, according to the complaint.
Without being allowed to provide any “meaningful response or statement,” Henderson was fired June 16, the complaint states.
The former Nighthawks coach said he never saw the anonymous letter, which he believes was penned by Clawson. The letter, Henderson said, was also forwarded to USA Cheer, the governing body for sport cheering. A search of the organization’s membership showed Henderson is an active stunt coach. He told Patch he is currently working as club director for Corona-based Prime Cheer and Stunt.
Patch tried unsuccessfully to reach Clawson for comment. The MVUSD has declined to comment on the matter. District spokesperson Monica Gutierrez said previously that “state employment and federal privacy laws prohibit the comment and/or discussion of specific personnel actions.”
Several MVHS student-athletes and their families have shown support for Henderson. In July, about two dozen student-athletes and family members wearing the Nighthawks’ red and black colors rallied in front of the high school. They carried signs that read, “Bring Back Coach Mike.”
The coach’s tenure at the high school put the campus in the national cheerleading spotlight.
Victories include fourth-place finalist in the 2021 National High School Cheerleading Championship and sixth-place finalist the year before, among other titles.
Senior Kendell Winters started on the cheer team her freshman year under a different coach; Henderson came in shortly thereafter. She described “Coach Mike” as a tough leader who “has our best interests at heart.”
“He always wants the best for you,” she said during the July rally. “I hope we’re able to get him back.”
Henderson described his reaction to the June 16 dismissal as simply “shock.” Just eight days earlier, he received a “glowing” end-of-season review from Mott and Tukua, he said.
“There was no hint that anything was wrong,” Henderson said.
On the day of his dismissal, district officials told Henderson he was being let go due to “personnel reasons” and that “the district had decided to take the [cheer] program in a different direction,” he said.
Henderson’s attorney Terry Davis has called the investigation by the MVUSD into the anonymous letter “improper.”
“The anonymous letter was sent to MVUSD by what is believed to be a couple of disgruntled cheer parents who were angry with their child’s position or participation level in the team,” Davis said.
The investigation into the letter “was spearheaded by devout Mormon MVUSD Board Member Paul Diffley, who made calls to several unnamed sources impeding due process of the investigation,” Davis said. “One question related to his sexual orientation raised red flags, leading many to believe that it was a substantial factor in the district’s decision to terminate Mr. Henderson’s employment.”
Diffley previously told Patch that the matter was a personnel issue in litigation and declined further comment.
Patch was unable to track down student-athletes and/or family members who may have been unhappy with Henderson’s performance.
Kim Altenhofel, a cheer parent and president of the school’s cheer booster club, told Patch in July that Tukua contacted her twice and Diffley spoke with her once as part of the investigation into Henderson.
In all of the conversations, the officials were seeking feedback about the cheer program and the coach, she said. The investigation seemed to center on allegations of verbal and mental abuse by Henderson, she said.
Altenhofel insisted she never witnessed any abusive behavior by the coach.
“The kids loved him. They are heartbroken,” she said.
Rick Winters, Kendell Winters’ father, told Patch in July that he was never contacted by anyone within the district. He said Henderson was wronged.
“My daughter excelled in his program,” Rick Winters said. Student-athletes were expected to maintain good grades and participate in team events under Henderson, he added.
“Coach Mike had high expectations, but I want that for my kids. That is real life,” Rick Winters said.