The pride flag features the traditional LGBTQ+ colors of the rainbow, along with an arrow pointing forward in transgender pride colors and black and brown stripes representing people of color. The modified pride flag is designed to better represent marginalized members of the LGBTQ+ community and advocate for progress.
A fight has erupted in a Long Island school district over whether LGBTQ+ symbols have a place in schools.
Connetquot Central School District is accused of compulsion teacher took down a particular pride flag she had hung in her classroom but allowed her to keep the traditional rainbow pride flag, News12 The Bronx reported.
The county ordered her to remove the Progress Pride flag, a redesign of the traditional flag that includes colors representing transgender people, people of color and community members who have lost HIV/AIDS and those now living with AIDS. The redesign celebrates the diversity of the LGBTQ community and represents the identities championed by the modern Pride movement.
The district addressed the controversy in a statement at the start of the Tuesday, Oct. 11 board of education meeting.
“Earlier this year, students reported feeling uncomfortable with a flag that was posted on a wall in a particular classroom, directly next to an American flag. This flag, which was at least twice the size of the American flag on display, was the Pride Flag of Progress,” the statement said. “As our school district is committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for all, this matter was immediately addressed.”
According to the statement, the district brought student concerns to the teacher’s attention and discussed “several ways to maintain the sense that the classroom is a welcoming space for all while being sensitive to the concerns expressed by students.”
The district asked the teacher to remove the Progress Pride flag during class, but allowed the teacher to display it during after-school meetings of the school’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance Club, according to the statement.
“It must be emphasized that this option was focused only on the pride flag of progress. The traditional pride flag, which was also hung in the auditorium, but was not part of the students’ concerns, was asked to be left during the school day,” the report said.
The teacher declined that offer, as well as the district’s offer to put up a sign in the classroom that read, “This is a safe space to be who you are,” according to the statement.
That’s when — “after exhausting all those alternatives and being left with no further recourse” — the district banned all flags except the American flag, the New York state flag and flags based on the curriculum, the statement said.
“Please be assured that the district never intended to create the impression that our schools are not safe and welcoming places for all,” the statement said. “Every one of our children deserves a school where they are safe, comfortable and respected, regardless of their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or political affiliation.”
A New York non-profit organization called the LGBT Network is filing a lawsuit against the school board and claims the flag is not political and the district’s policy discriminates against the LGBTQ+ community, News12 reports.
Hundreds of people appeared at the Connetquot School Board meeting on Tuesday, October 11 to protest the decision, Pix11 reports.
A group of two dozen or so also gathered in support of the school district’s actions, the paper reported.
“Let’s not bring politics into the school district,” said mother Jennifer Lacascio.
Many former and current students spoke out against the school board’s actions, noting that for students who do not live in a supportive home environment, school is one of the few safe places.
“If you take down the Pride flag, you’re sending a message that homophobia is going to be around here and I’m going to have to hide,” said eighth grader Eliza Ervin.
Many also noted that forcing the teacher to abandon the flag of progress, but not the traditional pride flag, struck them as racist and transphobic.
“I would like to thank the school board for saying the quiet thing out loud that the LGBT flag is fine, but once you add trans people, black people, people with AIDS, it’s a political issue.” the man who introduced himself as James said. “I’d like to talk a little bit about that. … This is the life of people. These are the people who died. That’s why this flag should be hung.”
Superintendent Linda G. Adams wrote a letter to parents last week, News12 reported. It said the district is “aware of the mixed perspectives associated with flying the flag of Progress” in the classroom.
“Schools must remain neutral and safe learning spaces for all students and staff, and while we respect individual personal beliefs, the classroom is not an appropriate place to express those views, especially if they create a disruption to the educational environment,” the letter said. “Any material or conversation that violates this mission is prohibited in our schools.”