Pride:

FROM PAGE 6

Township, with rainbow bubbles as a backdrop.

She said she was worried that Rota might still view the alternate Pride sign as a special interest issue.

Fox said she had concerns when the school board adopted its flag policy, 6-2, on May 11. Voting against were Andrea Peck and Jason Garcia. However, the policy does not mention indoor flags, or signs, but only limits outside flags to be flown to the U.S. and state flags.

Fox said she hoped the superintendent would allow the alternate sign to be displayed at least through graduation on June 22.

Despite dozens of pleas from parents and students on May 11 to allow for the display of a Pride flag in June during Pride Month, the board did not approve it. Following the vote, Pontillo sent it back to the Policy Committee to determine whether any rewrites were necessary. It was not clear whether they would further consider a Pride flag display on an outside district flag pole.

Peck, who opposed the policy, said it banned celebratory flags from being flown around district buildings. She said then that, “acknowledging human rights from those who may have been oppressed, marginalized or bullied should be allowed.”

She suggested the Pride flag might be displayed in another outside location, or on another pole around the school building, but that was not included in the policy.

At a lively, packed regional board meeting on May 11, Fox said after the policy was approved, she had to excuse herself as she nearly had a panic attack.

“I donʼt feel listened to. I donʼt feel safe up on this stage, I had to leave after people disagreed with putting a flag in the school because thereʼs no effort in trying to make this better, in trying to make this a better place for the (LGBTQ) students that have been speaking these past meetings,” she told board members and residents at the meeting.

She said, “When I first started questioning my sexuality I was lucky to have a family that talks about other sexualities, other families. But other people donʼt have that privilege and that can be so unsafe and so dangerous for them. So learning about it in school gives them that validation, that their sexuality, however they feel, is valid and a real thing.”

She said, “When I did eventually come out to my family, one of the first things my mom did was buy me socks with rainbows on them, which Iʼm actually wearing right now.” At that, several dozen audience members rose and applauded.

She said her mother and others in her family have put up rainbow stickers and Pride flags around their home. “And that has just reminded me that Iʼm valid, that Iʼm safe in that house.” She said it “makes it that much better” to have Pride flags throughout her house.

She said when a teacher displays a rainbow sticker or Pride flag in a classroom, “it makes a difference, and I need you to listen to us and I need you to understand how difficult it is to be a queer kid in high school no matter what, itʼs hard.”

She noted, “Having that safety, it makes it this much easier, and that can make a difference, that can be lifesaving. So I just really need to urge you guys to continue listening to us, please.”

Pontillo thanked Fox for sharing her views, noting “I donʼt think anyone here disrespects your opinion. And I think whatʼs important to realize is that the policy passed tonight does not prohibit the display of flags inside schools. It doesnʼt change any of the past practices that have been in the district and thereʼs no one here trying to do that.”

He said no trustee would prevent Pride flags from display inside school buildings for Pride Month. “So I hope that some people find comfort in that,” he said, adding he did not feel any school trustee “was on a crusade against the LGBTQIA+ community.”

Trustee Jason Garcia said that he appreciated Foxʼs point of view, noting he was there to listen. He said he appreciated all the students expressing themselves at board meetings.