Union County Parents and Students Fight Back Against Extremism Through Pride Rally

Source: NC Newsline

Union County parents and students are pushing back against recent extremist policies made by the conservative majority Union County Board of Education.

Earlier this month, the board changed a section of the school system’s policy, restricting classroom displays to “materials which represent the United States, the State of North Carolina, the school name and mascot and/or tie directly to the curriculum”.  

According to NC Newsline, Union County students and families say the policy change aims to eliminate pride flags, Black Lives Matter posters and other displays of support for marginalized students and student groups.

“If they want to prepare us for the real world, they have to include everything that is in the real world, and not just pick and choose,” Madison Dufresne, a senior at UCHS, told Queen City News.

Parents have also alleged that the proposed change is a front to ban books with LGBTQ characters.

“There are currently books being taken off the shelves in Union County libraries that do not seem to have any other reason why they were taken out, except for the fact that they have an LGBTQ character. We are trying to establish why they’re doing this, and they’re not answering our questions,” Regan Shaw, a mom from Union County, told Spectrum News.

“It’s not political to want books in the library that reflect your child’s experience in the world. Why would we want to silence LGBTQ stories? The year is 2023, we should not allow that type of hatred of others,” Shaw added.

Following the board’s proposal, local families and students took steps in pushing back against the discriminatory revision through a youth-led LGBTQ pride rally in Waxhaw. The event, which kicked off June’s Pride Month, comes as Republicans across the country, and in North Carolina, continue to target LGBTQ youth through discriminatory laws and measures.

“Our schools should protect all students and respect all families—including queer and trans students and families—so they can learn and thrive in a safe environment,” Equality NC, an LGBTQ advocacy group,  said in a statement. “LGBTQ+ youth already face discrimination in their daily lives and often turn to affirming teachers and school staff to support them in the classroom and beyond.”

Read more from NC Newsline

Share:

More Posts

Money talks: chemical giant, Chemours donates thousands to NC GOP lawmakers

Now the company is looking to lawmakers to avoid having to face more consequences for their pollution of North Carolina waters.  This legislative session, lawmakers are considering bills to hold polluters accountable, including House Bill 569, entitled “PFAS Pollution and Polluter Liability” and Senate Bill 666, the “2025 Water Safety Act”.

NC GOP Unveils Senate Budget Proposal as Gov. Stein Pushes Competing Vision

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein recently rolled out his first full budget proposal — a $67.9 billion plan that puts education, family tax relief, and student well-being at the center. State Senate Republicans have now responded with their own proposal, a $65.9 billion budget highlighting conservative tax breaks, investments in law enforcement, and a surge in infrastructure spending. 

NC Autism Community Alarmed Over Potential Medicaid Cuts

Families and advocates across North Carolina, particularly in Eastern Carolina, are sounding the alarm as looming federal budget decisions threaten to slash critical Medicaid funding — a move they say would devastate individuals with autism and their families, according to WITN.