Pride Month is off to what some might call a heated start in school districts across the country as advocates call for greater LGBTQ+ protections and other policy changes in their schools. In one case, protests ended in a peaceful resolution. In another, “horrific” violence.
Last Friday, a fight broke out in Los Angeles outside one North Hollywood elementary school among more than 100 parents during a Pride Day assembly, the Los Angeles Times reports. Parents said they were protesting against LGBTQ+ instruction in schools while holding signs that read, “No pride in grooming,” “Parental choice matters” and “Leave our kids alone,” among others. But just across the street, advocates of LGBTQ+ rights and education were counterprotesting.
Violence broke out just before noon, according to the L.A. Times, despite law enforcement’s efforts to keep the two groups separated.
“Whatever disagreements may arise among members of our community, violence, hate speech and acts of vandalism directed against any group can have no place in our city,” said Los Angeles City Council President Paul Krekorian.
The parental rights group that organized the protests, Saticoy Elementary Parents, wrote in an Instagram post ahead of the event that they weren’t attacking LGBTQ+ people.
“We want to reiterate that our protest is in no way an attack on the LGBTQ community,” they wrote. “We recognize the importance of promoting equality and acceptance for all individuals.”
Just days after the protests, however, the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution encouraging schools in implements lessons on the LGBTQ+ community,” NBC Los Angeles reports. The resolution highlighted research that suggests one-fourth of high school-age students in the nation identify as LGBTQ+, and “tragically, youth identifying as LGBTQ+ are at a higher risk for experiencing homeless, being victims of bullying, and attempting or dying by suicide, and national research indicates that mental health struggles and rates of suicidal thoughts have trended upward among LGBTQ+ youth in recent years.”
Similarly, advocates from New York schools are pushing for an official LGBTQ+ curriculum as the NY State Democratic Committee voted unanimously to recommend the legislature to mandate it before the 2023 session ends, CBS 6 Albany reports.
“We don’t want anyone to be discriminated against,” State Senator Robert Jackson (D-31st Senate District) told CBS 6. “Race, age, sex or what, treat each individual as a person how you would like to be treated with respect and dignity and understanding where they’re coming from.”
Now, Democratic politicians across California are speaking out against the violence that broke out during a school board meeting on Tuesday in suburban Los Angeles. The purpose of the meeting was to hear public comments on whether to officially designate June as LGBTQ+ Pride month, The Guardian reports.
However, some didn’t like the idea.
Footage from local news stations shows people shoving, kicking and punching one another outside a school district building in Glendale, California.
Democratic Congressman who represents Glendale Adam Schiff condemned the dispute in a tweet, saying,” We will not go back. We will not apologize for celebrating the strength and the diversity of our LGBTQ community.”
These continued acts of violence and hate towards our LGBTQ community – especially towards students, parents, and teachers – are horrific.
All of our children deserve to both feel safe and be safe regardless of who they love or how they identify.
We will not go back. We will… https://t.co/spnxY8uDwp
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) June 7, 2023
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Amidst the continued disputes and conflict surrounding LGBTQ+ rights and protections, federal lawmakers are devoting time and effort to ensuring equality is revered in America’s school districts.
President Biden is scheduled to announce on Thursday new efforts to address discrimination against LGBTQ+ Americans, including the appointment of an official at the Education Department who will tackle book bans in K12 schools, NPR reports.
“In too many parts of our country, LGBTQ Americans are being targeted for who they are, and that, simply put, is discrimination,” said Neera Tanden, Biden’s domestic policy adviser, on a call with reporters.
Biden will also reveal new federal initiatives, including:
- The Department of Homeland Security’s new community safety program designed to work with LGBTQ+ community centers, clinics and small businesses to provide training for bomb threats, active shooters and cyber threats.
- An advisory from Health and Human Services to provide evidence-based care for transgender youth.
- Regulations to protect LGBTQ+ kids in foster care.
