Temecula college board’s proposed flag coverage prompts concern over LGBTQ+ points
A proposal for a brand new flag coverage on the Temecula Valley Unified Faculty District is on the agenda on the board’s Tuesday evening assembly.
Faculty officers will focus on whether or not sure flags ought to be restricted for show, which some critics imagine shall be used to censor LGBTQ+ assist.
If authorized, the transfer would solely enable state and U.S. flags to be displayed at faculties. All different flags would require the superintendent’s approval.
Neighborhood members who needed to talk on the assembly have been seen lining up earlier within the day to safe tickets to the occasion.
The college board president positioned the flag coverage dialogue on the agenda. No textual content within the coverage particularly mentions Pleasure flags on college campuses, nevertheless, members of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood imagine the ban is being aimed toward stopping Pleasure flags from being flown.
If a flag is authorized to be displayed, it will solely be allowed for a restricted time and should be used for instructional functions solely, in response to the proposed coverage.
Some members who supported the coverage instructed KTLA they imagine the Pleasure flags, or every other varieties of flags, shouldn’t be flown on college campuses.
“We’re seeing loads of activism within the school rooms,” stated Milana Cubana, a supporter of the flag coverage. “We’re seeing BLM flags, Pleasure flags, trans flags and we’re not anti-LGBTQ, we’re not anti-anything however a classroom will not be a spot to your private political views.”
Opposers, nevertheless, are involved over problems with censorship and lack of inclusivism within the classroom curriculum.
“It’s formally Transgender Historical past Month in August,” stated Love Bailey, a critic of the proposed coverage. “How will you train that to the children except you show a trans flag? How, except we embrace range, are we going to present our children a superb training shifting ahead?”
The proposed coverage’s textual content says partially:
“No flag aside from the USA of America and state of California could also be displayed on college grounds, together with school rooms, except it’s a nation, state or United States army flag used solely for instructional functions inside the adopted curriculum. Every other flag should be authorized by the Superintendent or designee previous to displaying if, and provided that, it’s used for instructional functions and solely through the associated educational interval.”
Beforehand, the Temecula Valley Unified Faculty District had come below fireplace for beforehand rejecting a state-approved social research e-book and curriculum over the inclusion of homosexual rights chief Harvey Milk and protection of LGBTQ+ figures in historical past.
The transfer prompted backlash from native leaders together with Gov. Gavin Newsom who promised a $1.5 million high-quality because the failure to undertake the curriculum was a violation of state regulation. The college board later voted to approve the curriculum, avoiding the high-quality.
Based on the governor’s workplace, the board’s actions are nonetheless being investigated by the California Division of Training together with an inquiry into the district by the California Division of Justice associated to civil rights violations.
Tuesday evening’s assembly started at 6 p.m. the place a closing vote on whether or not to approve the coverage is anticipated. Chairs for attendees have been positioned outdoors the district constructing in anticipation of an inflow of attendees.