In a move reflecting conservative backlash against the LGBTQ+ community, two school districts in California have recently prohibited the display of LGBTQ+ pride flags. This decision has sparked controversy and raises concerns about the visibility and civil rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Temecula Valley Unified School District in Southern California passed a resolution on Tuesday that bans all flags except for the U.S. and state flags. The meeting where this resolution was discussed drew a significant turnout of parents, teachers, and students, resulting in heated tensions, as reported by KTLA.
Meanwhile, chaos erupted in the Sunol Glen Unified School District in the San Francisco Bay Area, as they specifically approved a ban on LGBTQ+ pride flags. According to The Mercury News, the entire audience was forced out of the meeting before the board took a vote, ultimately passing the resolution 2-1.
Following these bans, discussions about recalling the conservative board members in the Sunol district have emerged, as concerned parents like Matthew Sylvester have expressed their intent to take action, as stated in an interview with The Mercury News.
The resolution in the Temecula district was passed with a narrow 3-2 vote. The three board members voting in favor — Jen Wiersma, Joseph Komrosky, and Danny Gonzalez — received support from the Inland Empire Family, a conservative Christian political action committee. These board members have already caused turmoil in the district by organizing a meeting to discuss hiring an anti-“critical race theory” consultant and implementing a ban on discussing Harvey Milk, an icon of California’s civil rights movement.
These bans on pride flags are indicative of a broader conservative effort to focus on local school districts, particularly in California, where Democrats hold considerable power. This trend has gained momentum as conservative activists seek to address their political objectives, as highlighted in The New Yorker.
It’s worth noting that the Chino Valley Unified School District in the Los Angeles area faced controversy earlier this year for requiring teachers to disclose transgender students’ identities to their parents. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has taken legal action against the district, although similar policies have been implemented by other districts like Temecula and the nearby Murrieta Valley Unified School District.