In a disheartening turn of events, a protest regarding a planned Pride month assembly at an elementary school in Los Angeles escalated into violent clashes. Authorities were compelled to intervene and separate groups of protesters and counter-protesters who vehemently disagreed on the school’s inclusion of LGBTQ+ issues in its curriculum.
Tensions had been mounting at Saticoy Elementary School, a part of the Los Angeles Unified School District, ever since the announcement of the planned Pride assembly slated for Friday. The event was intended to feature a reading of “The Great Big Book of Families,” which encompasses diverse family structures, including LGBTQ+ parents, single parents, grandparents, and foster parents. Kelly Gonez, a member of the Los Angeles Unified School District board, confirmed the details.
Protesters gathered outside the school on the designated day, wearing T-shirts with the words “Leave our kids alone” and holding signs with slogans such as “Parental Choice Matters” and “No Pride in Grooming.” According to Los Angeles Times journalists, the scene quickly devolved into violence as anti-gay slurs were chanted by those opposing the assembly, while LGBTQ+ advocates attempted to obstruct their progress. The situation further deteriorated when physical altercations broke out, although the identities of those involved remained unclear. In response, law enforcement officials swiftly intervened to quell the unrest.
An online platform, whose origin remains unknown, had encouraged parents to keep their children home on the day of the assembly. The page included contact information for district and school officials, urging parents to express their opposition to the event through calls and emails.
The protesters against the assembly outnumbered those in support. While some identified themselves as parents of students within the district, they opted to withhold their full names during interviews, citing safety concerns and their collective agreement. Generally, their viewpoint was that elementary school was too early an age to broach LGBTQ+ issues.
Arielle Aldana, whose six-year-old son attends Saticoy, expressed her frustration at only discovering the assembly upon dropping him off at school that morning. She joined the protest against the event, explaining her belief that the topic was not age-appropriate for elementary school but could be introduced in middle school, considering her son’s developmental stage.
Ray Jones, a North Hollywood drag queen who does not have children attending the school, felt it was crucial to support queer visibility and consequently attended the protest. Jones maintained that LGBTQ+ topics were suitable for teaching at the elementary school level. They expressed concern that demonstrators with opposing views were sending a detrimental message to students with queer parents.
The Instagram page named “Saticoy Elementary Parents” referred to Pride as “an inappropriate topic for our kids.” In one of its posts, the page claimed that Christian families and those upholding conservative values viewed the material as unsuitable for children, emphasizing parents’ rights to make choices regarding their education.
In a separate incident in May, a small Pride flag belonging to a transgender teacher was discovered burned outside the school, prompting an investigation into a potential hate crime. The school promptly notified parents about the incident.
Earlier this week, the teachers’ union of the school district issued a statement condemning the bigoted behavior displayed by the protesters, which had also led to the outing of a teacher’s gender identity. The union expressed solidarity and stressed that no educator should have to fear for their safety while fulfilling their duties.
Alberto M Carvalho, the superintendent of the district, was present during the protest outside the school. He expressed his dismay at the threats and insults directed towards individuals associated with the school, citing the burning of a flag that symbolized many members of the community as unacceptable. Carvalho underscored that the book in question did not contain any explicit sex education material. He stressed the importance of acknowledging the diversity within the community and avoiding the demonization or dehumanization of any group.
Gonez, the school board member, affirmed the board’s willingness to engage in difficult conversations with parents who held reservations about the assembly. She also emphasized the importance of providing factual information about the content shared during the event, assuring that it was age-appropriate and aimed at creating inclusive and welcoming environments for all students and families.