SANTA CLARA, Calif.—A nonprofit is donating LGBT books to California school libraries, with the goal of making such content more accessible to youth. But some teachers and parents are speaking out against it.
On May 17, nonprofit Gender Nation celebrated the donation program at the West Contra Costa Unified School District with supporters and educators.
“This is an incredible opportunity for our students to learn about others, to share the same experiences that they do, [and] to feel safe, protected from bullying,” said Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Thousands of LGBT books will be donated by Gender Nation to nine Bay Area school districts: Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Fairfield, Oakland, Piedmont, San Francisco, San Mateo, and West Contra Costa.
“Today we can proudly say that hundreds of thousands of kids have access to these books. That is hundreds of thousands of kids who now go to schools that are just a little bit more welcoming, a little bit more represented by someone in their lives,” said Morgan Walsh, co-founder of Gender Nation.
According to Gender Nation’s website, they provide access to stories that “represent people all across the sexuality and gender spectrum so that kids can feel more seen and heard and SUPPORTED early on in their development.”
But not everyone feels the same way. Lisa Disbrow, a former teacher from the West Contra Costa district, told NTD Television that the messaging creates contradictions.
“I think it’s almost like we’re trying to solve bullying while we’re creating bullying, because now we have these very favored groups, and if you’re not an ally of LGBT or you’re not affirming, then aren’t you, in their language, now a hater?” Disbrow said.
Stella Miranda, a grandmother of three in West Contra Costa County, told NTD Television that these are adult topics that should stay at home and not confuse children.
“Their minds are very, very impressionable, and from what I see, it’s not right to push this stuff on children,” Miranda said. “Children should remain innocent as long as possible. They don’t need these ideas pushed into their head.”
She said if this goes on, she plans to homeschool her grandchildren.
“I have plenty of gays, bi friends, and two trans friends. But they do not try to change my views or push their thoughts on me,” Miranda said.
Disbrow said: “Students are being indoctrinated during lunchtime with a specific plan to not alert parents. So how did parents become second-class citizens in the rearing and the training and nurturing and guidance of their own offspring? That’s what’s upsetting to so many.”
Both Disbrow and Miranda believe that school should be a place where kids focus on learning English, math, art, and science.
