As government schools continue to show their commitment to promoting sex and gender ideology to children, Austin Independent School District is preparing to host its annual “Pride Week” pushing teachers and kids to “celebrate LGBTQIA+ students, staff and families.”
Austin ISD said the event, set for March 18-23, will “highlight the district’s commitment to creating a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment.”
According to the district’s website, each campus will receive a guide of suggested resources and activities staff can put on for students.
Staff are advised to reach out to coordinators of their campus Genders and Sexualities Alliances (formerly known as Gay-Straight Alliances) for questions regarding planning activities.
Each AISD campus will also have “pride swag” that students and staff will be able to pick up from their school’s front office.
Throughout the week, AISD will have themes for each day to celebrate LGBT ideology. The week culminates on Saturday when the district will host a “Pride Community Event” with food trucks, a special performance, a student dance, and a social. The event will be hosted at the district’s performing arts center.
A flyer for the Saturday event advertises a performance by the Austin Gay Men’s Chorus and a keynote speech by Key Jackson, who uses “they/them” pronouns. Jackson’s biography states that she is the Director of Programs and Power-building at GLSEN—an organization founded by a group of teachers to advocate for and “affirm” LGBT students in K-12 schools.
A mother of a student who attends an Austin ISD elementary school told Texas Scorecard that she will be keeping her daughter out of school during “Pride Week.”
“We are keeping her out because we want to protect her innocence, and her view on the world is simple. She can’t add or subtract fully. She can’t read a book. She doesn’t understand the fundamentals of life yet. How is someone at her age and functionality going to understand this?” she said.
“My children will stay home. This kind of education is not acceptable for this age. When she is old enough, we will communicate what this stands for as we will communicate where babies come from when it is appropriate,” she added.
Additionally, the mother also sent Texas Scorecard a photo from outside of a Pre-K classroom, where teachers had hung an LGBT flag but there were no American flags in sight.
“These are young kids who are curious about everything. What is the purpose of having a Pride Flag promoted inside and outside the classroom? How come there is nothing else being promoted?” she told Texas Scorecard.
While Austin ISD’s LGBT week is in March, the district also takes part in the “Austin Pride Parade” which is hosted in August.
Last August, Texas Scorecard reported on how Austin ISD spent more than $8,000 for its students to participate in the LGBT parade.
Brady Gray, president of Texas Family Project, told Texas Scorecard Austin ISD “continues to represent the very worst in public education.”
“I cannot think of a single reason a school should promote, much less celebrate sexual deviancy. Especially considering more than 60% of AISD students are not proficient in reading and more than 70% are failing proficiency in math,” said Gray. “Unless parents are willing to step up and demand more of a district, whose superintendent makes $335,000 per year, this evil will continue and our children’s education and future will be left behind.”
Texas Scorecard reached out to Austin ISD about the upcoming events but did not receive a response by publication.
