Michigan Parents Outraged by Teachers’ ‘Equality Badges’ Sexualizing Students
Content Warning: Some of the information, links, and references used to support claims made in this article may not be appropriate for young readers.
Public school teachers in Fenton, Michigan, have been wearing “equality” badges with LGBTQ+ symbols meant to “indoctrinate” students, one teacher alleges.
Last year, the National Education Association‘s (NEA) “LGBTQ+ Caucus” created a website complete with “resources” and affiliate links for students and educators to access. Most of the content available is far beyond what parents consider appropriate for minors. In addition to the online “resources,” the NEA created “I’m Here” badges for teachers to wear while at school. These badges displayed the pride rainbow colors and a QR code linking to the new website.
Writer and Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute Christopher Rufo said that the NEA’s website “promotes a how-to-guide for ‘anal sex,’ ‘bondage,’ ‘rimming,’ ‘domination,’ ‘sadomasochism,’ ‘muffing,’ and ‘fisting.'” He continued, “The NEA is the largest teachers union in the country, representing more than 3 million public school teachers in all 14,000 local school districts.” Rufo rightfully called the website “disgraceful.”
Parents in the district are outraged at the notion that elementary, middle, and high school teachers would promote LGBTQ+ ideology to minors without parental knowledge or consent. “I entrust my children to come to school for academics, not for political activism, not for sexual education — beyond the traditional reproductive education,” one father said while addressing the district school board in a video shared to social media. While the father was speaking, the Fenton Area Public Schools (FAPS) Superintendent can be seen on video staring at her computer and refusing to acknowledge the parent addressing the room.
One community member reacted to the video, saying, “Why aren’t you [the Superintendent] giving this father your undivided attention? . . . That would annoy me if I was speaking, that’s for sure.”
Many social media users in the Fenton area cited public school teachers wearing the “I’m Here” badges containing the QR code; however, the district superintendent dismissed the claims and told the public last week that teachers wore a similar badge without a scannable code.
Heidie Ciesielski, the FAPS Superintendent, told concerned parents that wearing the “equality” badges falls under teachers’ First Amendment right and, consequently, cannot be banned in schools. Of course, her argument is fallible and disingenuous, given that the First Amendment is already heavily restricted in public schools across the U.S. — topics like religion and direct political issues are prohibited.
The new “equality” badges were reportedly made available by a local teachers’ union, the Fenton Education Association. The badges state “Equality; Stronger Together” and are characterized by LGBTQ+ and progressive activism symbols, including the “black power” fist resembling Black Lives Matter branding.
An educator within FAPS told Turning Point USA that very few teachers in the district are standing alongside parents on the issue and are more concerned with indoctrinating students in their classrooms. Public school teachers around the country have launched a takeover of the classroom and no longer respond to parental pressure regarding what is age-appropriate for children. In states with regulations restricting what can be discussed in schools, like Florida, some educators have threatened to break laws to bring this explicit content to students.
“Many in the community believe that these badges are only politicizing the classroom, and putting the teachers in a position to have conversations with students who should be having them at home with their parents, guardians, or a licensed professional . . . This is not about being gay or straight or equality, it’s about a parent’s right to choose, and about the safety of our youth.”
Fenton Community Member — FAPS district meeting, Fox News
Parents in the district have continued to speak out against the indoctrination of students in the classroom and demand action from their school board. Fenton residents and parents have created a Facebook group for concerned community members to share pertinent information regarding public schools in the district.
