John Byrne: I would make the kids line up before they came into class, and then they would stand by their desks and I would say, "You may sit down when I sit down." They said, "Good morning, Mr. Byrne." I was very strict because I was afraid kids would discover I was gay.

I'm an English teacher. You know, you're teaching literature, and some gay scene or character would come up, and I would start to blush. I was always frightened… until one year I decided to march in the St Patrick's day parade. Because they refused to let the gays march and I thought, "I've got to take a stand." So I went and marched with them.
And the next day I went to school, and the kids said to me, "Where you were you yesterday? It was St. Patrick's day, you were drunk!" I said, "I was not! I was marching in the parade." And they said, "Well, who were you marching with?" and I said, "The Irish Gay and Lesbian Or...
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