The LAUSD Board of Education passed a resolution on Tuesday, June 6, urging schools to incorporate more lessons on the LGBTQ community after someone burned a transgender teacher’s Pride flag at Saticoy Elementary School and parents protested against the school’s assembly at which a book reading explained same-sex parents.
The board resolution passed unanimously and called for a renewed focus on protecting and uplifting LGBTQ students, staff and parents in the Los Angeles Unified School District. It encourages schools to celebrate Pride Month in June, LGBT History Month in October and the Out for Safe Schools campaign in October, which promotes acceptance of LGBTQ community members.
“I’m proud to bring this resolution at an important time in our country, in our city and our district to stand up for LGBTQ+ rights,” said Board Member Nick Melvoin. “From legislatures across the country passing anti-LGBTQ+ bills to a cruel act of vandalism in our own backyard just a few days ago, these kinds of incidents shake us out of our complacency and reiterate our commitment to inclusivity and creating safe spaces for our students and staff.”
The burned Pride flag was discovered by Saticoy Elementary School staff on May 22 and is being investigated by the LAPD as a possible vandalism hate crime. The transgender teacher who placed the flag outside of his classroom remains in good standing with the district but is no longer assigned to Saticoy Elementary due to safety concerns, LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has said.
The protest at Saticoy Elementary on June 2 was organized by a predominantly Armenian parent group, whose members are opposed to the schools teaching elementary school children about LGBTQ identities.
The group objected to the planned reading of “The Great Big Book of Families,” which discusses all types of families, including those with same-sex parents. The assembly and book reading at the grade school drew a heated crowd outside including…
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