The Waukesha school firestorm grows hotter

[TexasTowelie]

Students say ban on LGBTQ, Black Lives Matter signs fosters bullying


On Wednesday afternoon, about 30 parents, students, teachers and community members gathered outside the Waukesha school administration building to announce that they were delivering a letter to the superintendent objecting to his policy of removing pro-LGBTQ signs from schools.

One student stated, “We have suffered in more ways than I can count.” She outlined how bullying and belittling of students like herself has increased, and she is enduring slurs and gay jokes from fellow students. “With the rise in bullying, many of us don’t feel safe.” While the administration has stated that the schools need to get back to educating students, she said the abuse is getting in the way of her education.

Episcopal priest David Simmons, a prominent speaker at school meetings, first acknowledged his fellow religious leaders who had come together to support students and stand up to bullying. Simmons did not mince words: “Jesus said if anyone puts a stumbling block in front of the little one, it would be better if a huge weight were hung around that person’s neck and thrown into the sea… This district has put a stumbling block in front of our LGBTQIA children and other minority groups in our school system.” Others can speak to the legal issue, he said, “but I am here to speak to the moral issues.”

Still, the press conference ended on a litigious note. “We are going to continue with our community activism,” said Laura Pinsoneault, a parent of a student at North High School and a member of the Alliance for Education in Waukesha. She said she hoped that the administration and the board would rescind previous actions. But if that doesn’t work, because of “the constitutional First Amendment violations, we are considering litigation options.”

Read more: https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2021/10/28/the-waukesha-school-firestorm-grows-hotter/

[ronatchig]

1. Excuse my ignorance but

I can't keep up with the acronyms , what does the IA signify in LGBTQIA?

[RVN VET71]

3. Iowa?

[TexasTowelie]

4. Here is a good source since things keep changing:

https://outrightinternational.org/content/acronyms-explained#:~:text=LGBTQIA%20%E2%80%93%20Lesbian%2C%20Gay%2C%20Bisexual,not%20straight%20and%20not%20cisgender.

[Layzeebeaver]

7. I support diversity in all ways

But lumping a wide set individuals into a 7 letter acronym is not always helpful.

We need to allow people to express themselves as they see fit according to their circumstance.

When we stick a 7 letter acronym onto someone it gives everyone else a license to select the letter they which to apply to that person.

Individuals do not need acronyms to communicate their station in life. Words work very well - and they can help avoid misunderstanding.

If I refer to someone as LGBTQIA, what am I saying? It's a large group. And subsets of that group have very important differences.

I truly hope that someday, generic labels like these will become relics.

LGBTQIA is unfortunately a tag that some people (and by some people I mean idiots) use to to indicate 'non-hetero', 'not like me', 'not normal', 'not mainstream', 'not as my god intended'.

On the other hand, lumping all these people together does give them more political and cultural power as a group - and that is definitely important! I just wish that the 7 letters can also be used with clear language so that individuals are not ignored and that our diverse subgroups of humanity can live and thrive.

[elias7]

14. Nicely laid out

You raise good points. Lumping all the abnormals together create an us and them dynamic that is not necessarily desirable. However, as you state, there is power in a coalition of minority groups.

[Layzeebeaver]

15. I would refrain from using the word "Abnormal"

Humanity is diverse.

[Irish_Dem]

11. Thanks, Texas, this is really helpful.

It is hard to keep up to date...

[Irish_Dem]

10. Intersex. Asexual or ally

From the citation sourced down thread:


Intersex – This term refers to people who naturally have biological traits, such as hormonal levels or genitalia, that do not match what is typically identified as male or female. There are many different intersex variations. Being intersex is a naturally occurring trait in humans; it is not pathological. Being intersex is not linked to sexual orientation or gender identity; intersex people can have different sexual orientations and gender identities and expressions.

Asexual – Often referred to as “Ace”, this is an umbrella term used for individuals who do not experience, or experience a low level, of sexual desire. This identity can include those who are interested in having romantic relationships, and those who are not. People of different sexual orientations and gender identities can be asexual.

Ally – People who identify as cisgender and straight, and believe in social and legal equality for LGBTIQ+ people are allies.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. They have mental obsessions. If they'd just STFU the "problem" would go away. /nt

[Scrivener7]

5. We need to stop using the phrase "don't feel safe." The fact is, as we have seen over and over,

that they ARE NOT SAFE. It isn't a feeling. It's a documented fact.

[Layzeebeaver]

8. Spot on!

[johnthewoodworker]

6. I use to live in Waukesha County, for about 20 years. That place is chock full of Republican

and Nazis.

[Layzeebeaver]

9. RINOS

Republican, Insurrectionist, Nazi Or Sympathizer.

Look at me and my acronym usage - lol. Pot meet kettle.

[sybylla]

16. Nice acronym.

I'm not a fan of name-calling, but the description sure seems to fit most of my neighbors.

[usaf-vet]

12. Waukesha is the very seat of the RW incursion into Wisconsin. The Scott Walker seat of power.

It is Waukesha that drove the wedge of disruptive politics into Wisconsin during the Walker years. IMO without Waukesha, Wisconsin would not be considered a tossup state.

The damage that Waukesha help to unleash on Wisconsin is still happening today. Walker, Voss, Duffy, Grotham, R. Johnson, and Tiffany are examples of extreme right-wing GOP accolades.

I'm very sorry for the kids and the families of those kids in the Waukesha School district.

But in the simplest of terms, You reap what you sow.. IMO your community has been the center of RW politics. in Wisconsin.

During the rise of Walker and his right-wing agenda, I do not remember any significant pushback coming from Democratic citizens in Waukesha.

Good luck reacquiring controls over your local schools. You handed them to the nut jobs by electing them to office.

[Joinfortmill]

13. We should protect all children.

[keroro gunsou]

17. Sigh...

I you want your kids to bully the LGTBQIA and get away with it, send them to private/religious schools. I can guarantee they will get away with it, hell, the teachers will probably help. Once again waukesha has proven it’s nickname is well earned: DUMBFUCKISTAN.