The Waukesha school firestorm grows hotter [View all]

Students say ban on LGBTQ, Black Lives Matter signs fosters bullying


On Wednesday afternoon, about 30 parents, students, teachers and community members gathered outside the Waukesha school administration building to announce that they were delivering a letter to the superintendent objecting to his policy of removing pro-LGBTQ signs from schools.

One student stated, “We have suffered in more ways than I can count.” She outlined how bullying and belittling of students like herself has increased, and she is enduring slurs and gay jokes from fellow students. “With the rise in bullying, many of us don’t feel safe.” While the administration has stated that the schools need to get back to educating students, she said the abuse is getting in the way of her education.

Episcopal priest David Simmons, a prominent speaker at school meetings, first acknowledged his fellow religious leaders who had come together to support students and stand up to bullying. Simmons did not mince words: “Jesus said if anyone puts a stumbling block in front of the little one, it would be better if a huge weight were hung around that person’s neck and thrown into the sea… This district has put a stumbling block in front of our LGBTQIA children and other minority groups in our school system.” Others can speak to the legal issue, he said, “but I am here to speak to the moral issues.”

Still, the press conference ended on a litigious note. “We are going to continue with our community activism,” said Laura Pinsoneault, a parent of a student at North High School and a member of the Alliance for Education in Waukesha. She said she hoped that the administration and the board would rescind previous actions. But if that doesn’t work, because of “the constitutional First Amendment violations, we are considering litigation options.”

Read more: https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2021/10/28/the-waukesha-school-firestorm-grows-hotter/