The most controversial issue at Monday’s Williamson County School Board meeting wasn’t even on the agenda.
Nearly three dozen parents and students came to the meeting to express their opinions on whether pride flags should be allowed in district classrooms.
The issue has gained attention across the country in recent years and the Williamson Herald reported the local Moms for Liberty chapter encouraged parents come to Monday’s meeting and urge the school board to adopt a policy that only allow the state and American flags in public schools.
Those supporting pride flags argued they provide LGBTQ+ students a safe space to be themselves and that not having pride flags in the classroom would further isolate those students.
Franklin High School student Lucy Wingo emphasized how tired she and other LGBTQ+ students are for being antagonized because of their identity.
“Now, as children and students, we have to step up and become the adults that provide these children with a safe and accepting community where they don’t feel threatened or endangered. Because spouting this rhetoric and this appeal about the influence of our community has been done time and time again. These kids are already bullied. What on earth gives you the right to come here and take time out of our lives just to re-emphasize the fact that we are not welcome? We are not going anywhere,” said Wingo.
Others told school board members the opposition to pride flags goes against the very character of Williamson County. Parent Laura Seay said she feels the community she grew up in valued the diversity the flags represent.
“The most valuable thing I learned in our excellent school system was the diversity of identities, experiences, and ideas my classmates, teachers, and I brought to our classrooms. I learned alongside classmates whose families, religious beliefs, and backgrounds were quite different from my own,” said Seay. “I’m disturbed by recent trends in this county where a small group of mostly newcomers are trying to impose a vision on what they seem to think that William County Schools are exclusive, bigoted, and downright mean. With this ugliness, they seem to be determined to make a national embarrassment of Williamson County Schools, this time by wanting to ban small flags in teachers’ classroom.”
Parents also argued that assuming every colorful flag is tied to the LGBTQ+ community further proves the need to continuously showcase different viewpoints and mindsets.
The board also heard from multiple speakers who believe the flags have no place in the classroom.
Several parents emphasized they feel it’s unnecessary to have them in a school setting that’s supposed to be equal.
“Why in the world do we need to have a pride flag in a classroom to make kids feel like they’re safe? Doesn’t that mean that the teachers that don’t choose to put a pride flag up are unsafe? Why do we have unsafe teachers in Williamson County? Oh my! Political action committees, PACs. We don’t need to have any politics. Pride PAC, that says politics to me. Equality PAC, equity PAC, Ricky’s Pride, Human Rights Campaign, and the Black Lives Matter PAC. We do not need politics in the classroom,” said parent Lisa Church.
Other parents argued that discussing sex and sexuality with the pride flags is inappropriate and those conversations should occur in the home.
Marie Fellhauer compared this to the workplace, where talking about sex can be considered sexual harassment.
“I find it interesting that in my professional career, if colleagues were to talk about sex in the workplace, it was considered sexual harassment and could cause a hostile work environment until the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Laws meant to protect the work environment. Shouldn’t we extend that same protection to our children and their learning environment? Furthermore, flags displayed in school should be inclusive rather than exclusive,” said Fellhauer.
Board members did not vote on the pride flag issue and it’s uncertain if members will propose action to address it.
Superintendent Jason Golden told spectators in the crowd the issue of pride flags is a First Amendment issue and he’s encouraging board members to discuss any questions they might have with district attorneys.
“We’re gonna continue to seek that advice to make sure that we as a public entity operate within the parameters that are established for us under the Constitution,” said Golden.
