By having their wedge-based plan exposed for all to see, and in such stark terms, NOM has stirred a sense of commonality among the very minority groups they sought to divide. Being demonized for crass political expediency, it turns out, is something that many groups can relate to.

Principal Starnes told Sheahan-Stahl's mother that due to the fact that he was gay and "had a picture and a status on Facebook that says so" (referring to engagement pictures and announcements), he was no longer welcome to speak.

Principal Denny Starnes confirmed that the school and diocese were standing by their decision to bar Sheahan-Stahl from giving the keynote at his younger brother's graduation. During the emotional announcement, Starnes expressed personal conflict over the decision.