The Miami-Dade County Public Schools Board turned down a request to designate March as LGBTQ History Month for the third time in a row.
A five-vote majority decided it during a school board meeting on Wednesday night; one board member was not present. At the school board meeting’s public comments period, Miami-Dade County residents discussed the contentious resolution.
One person in attendance stated, “Public education should focus only on core academic subjects and on skills that prepare students for their future.”
“It does not mean that your kids will be gay,” another stated.
Following several hours of public comment, the board ultimately decided not to recognize the holiday, with many in favor and many against.
An attendee stated, “Dedicating an entire month to teaching the LGBTQ agenda in public schools will neglect the basic teachings of academics; math, writing, and reading, etc.”
Resolution item H-10 was presented by board member Lucia Baez-Geller and aims to authorize M-DCPS to observe October as LGBTQ History Month. According to Baez-Geller, the resolution would have promoted a setting where families could lead genuine lives.
“It tells them that they are valued, that they are seen, and that their stories are an essential part of Miami-Dade’s diverse tapestry,” Baez-Geller stated.
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A other board member, however, thought it violated parents’ rights.
“Opposing this item as I do, supports the rights of our parents and prevents the sexualization of our children. Opposing this item, does not discriminate just because other people call that it does and to say so is divisive rhetoric,” Danny Espino stated.
After the ballots were counted, a choice was chosen. For the third year in a row, the same one.
Mary Rojas, a member of the school board representing District 6, displayed letters from supporters and opponents of the motion. She stated that 200 persons supported the resolution and 500 opposed it when the letters were delivered to her office.
Had this been approved on Wednesday night, it would have only been a show of support and not altered the curriculum of the school. The Broward County Public Schools gave its approval on Tuesday to recognize October as LGBTQ History Month.
