Teacher's aide leaves job as strife over Pasco's LGBTQ policies continues

[teach1st]

They left on the first day of school, prompted by the principal's concerns for their safety.

Teacher’s aide leaves job as strife over Pasco’s LGBTQ policies continues
Tampa Bay Times, 7/14/2022

Valeria Saldivar couldn’t wait to become a kindergarten teacher’s aide when the school year started last month at Trinity Elementary in Pasco County.

“I had heard so many great things about Trinity from people that work there and people in the community,” said Saldivar, 23, who wants a career helping children. “I was working with a really experienced teacher. It was really a good experience overall.”

...

As parents often do when they learn someone new will be interacting with their children, some of them looked up Saldivar on social media. They found public-facing pages showing Saldivar identified as non-binary queer, used “they” and “them” pronouns, and supported movements such as Black Lives Matter.

Disapproving chatter quickly spread in private message groups, fueled by Pasco members of the conservative group Moms for Liberty. Soon the comments were shared publicly, and word circulated that some people might show up at dismissal to raise a fuss.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2022/09/14/pasco-school-district-dogged-by-continuing-strife-over-lgbtq-policies/

No paywall: https://archive.ph/Jmtz1

[spooky3]

1. I wish journos would clearly indicate public vs private schools. In

This case, despite the “trinity” in the name, it’s a public school (per a quick Google search) and therefore cannot discriminate on the basis of sex, including LBGTQ status per a SCOTUS decision. That needs to be made clear to the school and parents.

[teach1st]

2. Good point

My daughter lived in the town of Trinity, which was named, according to Wikipedia, "after Trinity College of Florida, a Bible college."

And I think you're right that a public school can't refuse to hire (or fire) based on sexual orientation, although Florida education commissioner, Manny Diaz, did tell schools to ignore federal Title IX guidance aimed at preventing discrimination on things like gender identity. I would bet Mr. Diaz would back any public school that did discriminate against LGBTQ staff.

[spooky3]

4. I hope someone files a lawsuit. The SCOTUS decision

Could not be clearer, regardless of what Manny thinks of “guidelines.”

https://www.npr.org/2020/06/15/863498848/supreme-court-delivers-major-victory-to-lgbtq-employees

[Timeflyer]

3. Moms for Liberty is quickly becoming a terrorist group, when not cheerleading for the Proud Boys