There have been a number of cases before the Supreme Court and the court have ruled that First Amendment protects students. But still schools system try to limit the rights of LGBTQ+ students, but this time it is even more egregious.
'Gay Is OK' Artwork Taken Down, Allegedly Likened to Nazi Flag
The incident happened at a school in Athens, Ga., and some parents say it's part of a pattern of discrimination.
The Advocate
By Trudy Ring
January 22, 2022
A pro-LGBTQ+ student artwork at a school in Athens, Ga., was taken down from a classroom last week and likened by an administrator to the Nazi flag.The picture, with rainbow colors and the words “Gay Is OK,” was being displayed by a teacher as part of an exhibit of student art at Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School, Atlanta TV station WXIA reports. But Friday, administrators asked that the “Gay Is OK” artwork be removed, saying a parent had complained about it. When challenged, one administrator said exhibiting the picture was comparable to hanging a Nazi flag, parents told the station.
Some parents said there has been a pattern of discrimination at the school. “There are ongoing complaints about this current administration has been discriminatory against women, being discriminatory against LGBTQ people, being discriminatory against English language learners or emerging bilinguals, emerging multilingual and Spanish speakers,” Jemelleh Coes, a parent and professor at the University of Georgia, which has its main campus in Athens, told WXIA. “So we have seen a pattern of inequity at our school and we have been asking for support at this point for years.”
There has been backlash from the community and staff of the school as well as legal action brought against the school system.
One teacher, who did not wish to be named, released this statement to the station: “On behalf of a majority of the staff at Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School, we are disheartened that these words and actions have happened in our school building during this time. This does not represent why we chose this profession, and it does not represent the feelings, beliefs, values, and attributes our amazing school family has within these four walls. We are disheartened that there has been no action taken by [the Clarke County School District] or our building administration to rectify the divide that has been caused. We will continue to seek resolution and promote a community of love, acceptance, and tolerance within our building and community.”
An article on WSB – TV 2 on February 10 said,
An Athens elementary school principal is under fire after a child was asked to remove her rainbow pride drawing that was hung on the wall, and he was later caught on camera popping rainbow-colored balloons.
The incident happened at Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School. According to lawyers representing the child’s family and her teachers, a fifth-grader was asked to remove a drawing that read “Gay is OK” from a classroom wall after a parent complained.
Attorney Jeffrey Jackson has posted transcripts of a conversation between the child’s teacher and OAES principal Bipul Singh, as well as a surveillance video captured days later that shows him popping rainbow balloons left at the school.
In a letter from the school district said,
‘Dear Clarke County School District Community,
I want to provide an update regarding an incident involving a student’s artwork and the subsequent reaction from our community. The following is a synopsis of the series of events:
A parent raised a concern regarding a student’s artwork displayed in a classroom. This concern was not based on a lack of support for the subject matter but rather on its potential to become a source of bullying of her child.
Recognizing the challenges of navigating age-appropriate conversations in an elementary classroom, district administrators advised the school to have the teacher relocate the artwork in the classroom.
While discussing the situation with the teacher and explaining the rationale for moving the artwork, a school staff member made a reference to Nazi symbolism.
‘We wholeheartedly condemn this reference and apologize for the harm these events have caused the student, the Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary community, CCSD, and the entire Athens community, specifically members and allies of our LGBTQIA+ community.
So time will tell how this all will end, I think at the very least the principal should be fired. He has shown that he is at the very least homophobic and the students now know that and if he is no fired then the students have just learned a new lesson… that it is okay to be homophobic.
Then down in Texas they are shouting “We're Not Gonna Take It,” legal action is being taken to block the governor’s proclamation to make treating trans children child abuse.
Travis County commissioners push back on state ‘abuse’ investigations into transgender health care
Kelsey Thompson
KXAN Austin
March 1, 2022
After Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services last week to investigate reported instances of children receiving gender-transitioning health services, the Travis County Commissioners Court issued a proclamation in solidarity with transgender youth and the LGBTQIA+ community Tuesday.The proclamation said, in part, that restricting transgender children’s access to gender-affirming health care and resources “will hinder medical care for transgender youth” and “may have harmful and dangerous physical and mental health consequences.”
[…]
Less than one week since Abbott’s directive, investigations by DFPS into parents of transgender children have begun. Parents of a 16-year-old transgender trial filed a lawsuit Tuesday after learning they were being investigated by DFPS last week.
Following issuance of Travis County’s proclamation, Commissioner Brigid Shea referred to Abbott’s and Paxton’s stances as “worse than appalling.”
“This is sort of the ultimate act of bullying by our governor to pick on children who are really struggling with a difficult choice in their lives for his own political gain,” she said, adding: “It’s hideous behavior.”
Also the ACLU has filed legal action against the state.
Texas investigates parents of transgender teen, prompting the ACLU to sue
The ACLU suit looks to block Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive that the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services investigate parents seeking gender-affirming care for their transgender children.
Texas Tribune
By Sneha Dey
March 1, 2022
[...]The investigation came to light on Tuesday — the day of the Texas primary elections — in a lawsuit the American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal filed in Austin on the family’s behalf to block investigations of families seeking such medical care for their children.
The suit names both Gov. Greg Abbott and the Department of Family and Protective Services as defendants.
“No family should have to fear being torn apart because they are supporting their trans child,” Adri Pérez, a policy and advocacy strategist at the ACLU of Texas, said in a statement. “A week before an election, Gov. Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a partisan political attack that isn’t rooted in the needs of families, the evidence from doctors and the expertise from child welfare professionals.”
The action is the first legal challenge in response to Abbott’s directive last week to child welfare officials to investigate parents of transgender children for child abuse. The order came within days after an opinion issued by Paxton, which classified certain types of gender-affirming care as child abuse.
I have a feeling that the proclamation will be overturned but in the meantime fear in the trans community runs rampant.
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