Students at Marshall Simonds Middle School in Burlington, Ma., tore down Pride celebration signs and chanted “U-S-A are my pronouns, wearing red, white and blue clothes and face paint instead of the “Spirit Day” rainbow colors. Now the kids are being labeled homophobic and intolerant. School Principal Cari Perchase condemned the anti-Pride Day demonstration, writing in a letter to parents, “I fully respect that our diverse community has diverse opinions and beliefs. I also respect individuals’ right to express their opinions through clothing choices and freedom of speech. When one individual or group of individuals’ beliefs and actions result in the demeaning of another individual or group, it is completely unacceptable.”
Perchase is saying free speech is OK so long as you don’t disagree with homosexuality. Yet, Perchase allowed the middle school’s “student-led LGBTQ+ and allies “Spectrum Club” to set up a “spirt day” where rainbow banners, and posters saying “Happy Pride Month” and “Why it’s not ok to say “That’s so gay’.” They also were handing out rainbow stickers. Students and faculty were asked to wear rainbow colors for the day. Why on earth would a middle school allow such a demonstration of advocacy for a sexual orientation? Talk about inappropriate. Talk about intolerant of those who used the “Spirt Day” to celebrate their pride in America. Talk about grooming minor children for sexual purposes. This is what is “completely unacceptable” to use the principal’s words.”
Perchase continued, “I am truly sorry that a day meant for you to celebrate your identity turned into a day of intolerance. Schools are supposed to be a safe place for ALL students and faculty. Some community members’ actions created an unsafe environment for many of our students, caregivers, and faculty.” Unsafe? How unsafe does Perchase think it makes normal kids feel with all this Pride bullying going on? WCVB Boston reported that a parent of one of the middle schoolers, Christine Steiner, said that her daughter felt coerced to participate in the Pride event. She said her daughter was offended by a poster in the school that said “What is straight? A line can be straight, or a street, but the human heart, oh, no, it’s curved like a road through the mountains.” Safe place? For who? Coercion? We must celebrate even if we disagree.
The Maine Wire reported Nancy Bonassera, co-chair of the Burlington Equity Coalition, issued a statement: “Students were invited to show their pride and wear rainbow clothing in celebration of Pride month. On that same day there was a counter-demonstration in response to what should have been a day to celebrate, where students wore red, white and blue clothing, chanted ‘my pronouns are U.S.A.,’ and destroyed rainbow decorations at the school. These displays of intolerance and homophobia are unacceptable and impact the whole community. We call upon the school administration to address and provide consequences for the students who participated in the counter-protest.”
In order to have a counter demonstration or a counter protest, there needs to first be a demonstration or a protest. By their own words, these Pride advocators are telling everyone what they were trying to force upon minor students. And this is what happens to people, young and old, who stand against these Pride Month sexual grooming sessions, called “celebrations.” Equality under the law does not mean forced acceptance. 2 Corinthians 6:14 asks, “what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and what partnership has light with darkness?” The ones who should face consequences are the adults who allowed such a “Pride” celebration to take place in the school. Nevertheless, surely they will have their reward.
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