A middle school in Massachusetts tried to force children into wearing rainbow colors for pride, but the students revolted and wore American flag colors instead.
QUICK FACTS:
- After teachers tried to force students into wearing rainbow flag colors for “Pride” events at Marshall Simonds Middle School, children refused and wore red, white and blue instead.
- Principal Cari Perchase claimed that a group of students had organized an independent counter celebration to the gay pride festivities, as the kids shouted “my pronouns are USA.”
- Many faculty members characterized the students’ refusal to partake in Pride activities as “intolerence.”
- “I recognize that discussions and celebrations of individual identity are complex and impacted by individual values, religions, and cultural norms, the result of which may include expressions of racism, anti-religious hate, ableism, and in this case homophobia” Superintendent Eric M. Conti wrote in a letter.
- “Our staff have and will continue to receive resources, materials,and training to help identify and respond to identity bigotry and discrimination,” Conti continued.
SUPERINTENDENT ERIC M. CONTI AFTER STUDENTS WORE AMERICAN FLAG COLORS INSTEAD OF RAINBOW FLAGS:
“We ask all staff, teachers, and members of the Burlington Public School community to join us in taking a stand against homophobia and identity-directed hateful actions. We also recognize that it is not enough to publicly denounce these incidents as they happen. As a school system we have a unique opportunity to educate our community on the nature of these events,” Conti said.
BACKGROUND:
- Earlier this month, elementary students ranging from preschool to fourth grade were forced to celebrate so-called “Pride Month” at Johnson Elementary School in Charlottesville, Virginia.
- Video footage was secretly recorded showing older students explaining to small children the meaning of “LGBTQ” and reading from an “ABC Pride” book.
- “[LGBTQ] stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer. Cool!” a fourth-grade girl said into the microphone. “Now, let’s have a book about Pride Month.”
- Teachers also moved through the crowd of children in the audience forcing students to listen to the presentations.
