Three people were arrested after a brawl broke out between demonstrators and counter-protestors in opposition of the Glendale Unified School District’s recognition of Pride Month and policies on LGBT content in classrooms.
Several hundred people gathered for a demonstration on June 6 outside of Glendale Unified’s board meeting, where the board voted unanimously to proclaim June 2023 as “LGBT Pride Month.”
While most of the protest remained peaceful, a fight erupted between a small group of people on opposing sides.
At least three individuals were arrested for various charges—including the unlawful use of pepper spray and willfully obstructing officers in the course of their duties, according to the Glendale Police Department.
Determining the protest had exceeded the bounds of peaceful assembly, officers gave a dispersal order just after 6 p.m., while those inside the building were given a shelter-in-place order.
The protest comes after months of rising tension in the district over its policies on LGBT topics in classrooms.
Parents in opposition say they want the district to focus on teaching academics and allow parents to introduce such topics to children on their own terms.
“We do not [want] public schools and public-school educators to choose the ideology that they choose to push on to our children and indoctrinate our children,” said Ani, a district parent who preferred to give only her first name. “School is a place of learning. It’s for academics.”
Meanwhile, counter-protestors say they’re trying to support LGBT youth.
Hannah Maximova, a parent in the district, said she’s concerned that the protest could make LGBT students in the district feel shameful about their sexuality.
“Some of these kids feel such shame from families that feel like they’re losing their children when they come out as gay or transgender,” Maximova said. “I hear that, but I feel that they’re endangering children. The message they’re sending is that [being gay or transgender] is a shameful thing. I’m sorry that [parents] have been whipped up into this, but I’m glad so many of us have come to try and quell the flames of disrespect and cruelty.”
Both sides took to social media to call on their supporters to join them at the protest outside Glendale Unified’s headquarters.
However, some parents said they believed some on the opposing side were members of other groups outside the Glendale community—including Antifa, a left-wing anti-fascist group known for causing disruptions at public demonstrations.
“The other side that’s here say the parents are hateful—but they have no idea what’s going on,” said Elena, a parent who recently pulled her kids out of Glendale Unified. “They have no idea what curriculum is being taught and they have no idea what [Glendale Unified] has been spending money on. [Many are] agitators that were brought in from outside Glendale. There’s very little opposition [from] the parents that are from Glendale.”
Ani said the counter-protesters misinterpreted parents’ reason for protesting.
“These agitators come from various areas and they’re only coming to hijack our message,” said Ani. “They’re saying that these parents don’t want their kids to know that there’s two mommies and two daddies in various households. Now that’s absolutely not true. Our children are fully aware that there are different types of families. To us, it’s about parent choice.”
Parents on the counter-protestors’ side said they were disappointed to see those from outside the community “expressing intolerance” at the protest.
“It was very clear in a message that this [counter-protest] was going to be a showing of love, and that’s how we wanted to approach it,” said Julie, a Glendale Unified parent who preferred to give only her first name. “It also seems that a lot of the people that are coming here ... are not necessarily parents of Glendale Unified kids ... and are expressing intolerance or expressing hatred.”
Jordan Henry, a Glendale community member, said his group of parents protesting Pride Month condemned the violence at the demonstration.
“We are a peaceful group of parents,” Henry told The Epoch Times. “We condemn all violence on all sides. We are here to express our viewpoint and exercise or God-given rights of free speech to protect minors, to protect our children from a tyrannical state. [The board is] forcing compelled speech. They are discriminating against us.”
Another protest occurred June 2 at Saticoy Elementary School, part of the Los Angeles Unified School District, where parents protested outside the North Hollywood school regarding a Pride assembly at the school.
