After backlash on LGBTQ sign ban, Grain Valley school district seeks more feedback
Facing backlash for prohibiting teachers from posting LGBTQ signs in classrooms, the Grain Valley school district announced Tuesday that it will hold public comment sessions to gather feedback on how to move forward.
The eastern Jackson County district on Monday emailed families that high school teachers would no longer be allowed to display “safe space” cards or stickers that signal to students that they are LGBTQ allies. The school board made the decision after receiving a complaint, according to the email.
District officials had said that, “Our goal is for every classroom to be a safe place for all students, not just in classrooms where teachers choose to display a particular sign.”
The move was met with widespread criticism across the region, with many parents, students and advocates arguing that such signs are crucial in ensuring LGBTQ students feel safe and know whom they can turn to with concerns at school.
On Tuesday, district officials said in an email that they appreciate the comments they have received on the decision and that, “the feedback will help us be better.”
“An inclusive environment is essential, including for our LGBTQ community. We understand that there is important work ahead of us to ensure an inclusive school environment,” officials wrote in the email.
In the coming weeks, officials said, the district will hold listening sessions so the community can address school board members and administrators and provide input on the issue.
“We will use this input to drive the action that will follow so that together we become the school district our community expects,” officials said.
The district did not provide any other details. Deputy Superintendent Brad Welle told The Star that the district will soon share the dates for listening sessions.
Many are calling on the school board to reverse its decision to ban the “safe place” signs.
“I think those signs would be really beneficial And to see that the school board has decided to lock down on that has really showed me they don’t really have the students’ best interests at heart. And they are more or less buckling under pressure from a select few parents who have expressed concerns about it,” said Travis Holt, a Grain Valley graduate who is gay.
Justice Horn, who is running for the Jackson County Legislature and serves on Kansas City’s LGBTQ Commission, tweeted that, “In 2011, I tried taking my own life because I was bullied for being gay while attending Grain Valley South Middle School. My parents moved me out of the district.”
“This may seem small to some but to queer students who may feel like they don’t have a place, this means the world. This may save a kid from making a similar decision like I did because we didn’t have these.”
In its Monday email, district officials wrote, “We remain committed to providing professional development to help our staff create a safe, collaborative, and inclusive environment, consistent with our core beliefs, where each student feels a sense of belonging. The use of these cards, however, is determined to not be an appropriate step at this time.”
Southwest of Kansas City last week, the Osawatomie school board, in Miami County voted 5-2 to determine that rainbow LGBTQ pride flags were “political” and violated board policy, so are not allowed.
The decisions come as legislation across the country, and in Missouri and Kansas, targets the rights of LGBTQ youth, including proposals to ban transgender girls from participating in girls sports.
This story was originally published April 26, 2022 at 4:49 PM.
