ROSS COUNTY, Ohio — Parents in one Ross County school district are upset over the recognition of LGBTQ “Pride Week.”
Parents in Zane Trace Local School District took to social media about the schedule sent home with students. According to reports, the “Pride Week” celebration was sponsored by the school’s GSA (Gay/Straight Alliance). GSA clubs, or GSAs for short, are student-run organizations that unite LGBTQ and allied youth to build community and organize around issues impacting them.
Among the week-long event, boys would wear skirts and girls would wear plaid.
“The week-long celebration was open to anyone who wanted to join”, said student organizers. Among the controversy and outrage from parents, the GSA has since canceled the event.
“At the core of any school system should be to teach. The job of a school is not to indoctrinate students into any personal belief,” said Shawn Hanks. Another parent commented and said, “Seriously, Zane Trace, you should be ashamed of yourselves! I am beyond sick!”
Others in the community support the schedule and “Pride Week” altogether. Some say those opposed are prejudiced and their comments are hate speech.
“We are not forcing anything on your children by having a pride week. You are punishing children for your bigoted beliefs,” said one community member.
In a statement released by the local Ross County pride coalitiion, First Capital Pride, a group representative said they will be attending this week’s school board meeting.
“It has come to our attention that the GSA student club at Zane Trace High School recently submitted a proposal to have a pride week at their school,” said group president Daniel Mathuews. “Activities would include a different theme each day for dressing up, such as ‘Wear Purple Day,’ ‘Opposite Day’ where boys can we skirts and girls can wear flannels, ‘Equality Day,’ where students can wear an equal sign, and more. This is similar to the spirit week that many area high schools, including Zane Trace, have for their sports teams. pride week would only be for students who choose to participate. Like spirit week, students are not required to dress up or participate in any way.”
Mathuews went on to say that pride week is supported by Zane Trace’s principal.
“FCPC has obtained many social media screenshots showing this was prompted by individuals posting that LGBTQ+ students are not wanted nor are they safe to be who they are at ZT.”
Members of the coalition are planning to attend the November 17 school board meeting. The organization stated that they would not be participating but would attend to stand in solidarity with the GSA club. The student-led club will be presenting its proposal to the school board for official approval.
“We are there to let these kids know they are OK, they are valued, and they are changing the world.”
The school board meeting will be held Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Zane Trace High School Media Center.
Another Ross County School District has a history of controversy when it comes to the LGBTQ community. In 2011, the American Civil Liberties Union threatened suit against the Unioto School District after a student was bullied and beaten for being transgender. The district settled the case with the victim’s family for $35,000, promising to review its anti-bullying policies. The school board, at the time, said, “They did not feel they had fostered any kind of bully-facilitating atmosphere.”