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Jilly_in_VA

(10,911 posts)
Wed Sep 8, 2021, 08:46 AM Sep 2021

An Iowa teacher was placed on leave after sharing he is bisexual. His students staged a walkout.

Cora Smith walked out of Winterset's High School Tuesday with a bisexual pride flag draped over her shoulders.

The 10th grader was among more than 100 students who walked out a in protest over the school district placing seventh-grade literacy teacher Lucas Kaufmann on leave.

Kaufmann was placed on leave last week following a presentation about himself to his class featured the LGBT Pride flag, according to a www.change.org petition. When asked by students, Kaufmann said he was bisexual.

Nearly 1,500 people have signed the online petition. "We're hoping that this will help Mr. Kaufmann," Smith said.

Winterset Community School District Superintendent Justin Gross confirmed Kaufmann was placed on leave after concerns were raised following his presentation, but declined further comment. State law prohibits employers from firing employees based on sexual orientation and gender identification, which Gross acknowledged.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/09/07/iowa-students-lucas-kaufmann-administrative-leave/576377500

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An Iowa teacher was placed on leave after sharing he is bisexual. His students staged a walkout. (Original Post) Jilly_in_VA Sep 2021 OP
In this case, the fine line between personal revelation and general human rights could be considered lambchopp59 Sep 2021 #1

lambchopp59

(2,809 posts)
1. In this case, the fine line between personal revelation and general human rights could be considered
Wed Sep 8, 2021, 01:15 PM
Sep 2021

having been crossed. At least until considerably more equality awareness takes hold.
Similar adjacent post in this group, I put up argument with someone who disagrees with even display of the rainbow flag. It's taken quite some time to get some past the support for equality the flag represents rather than necessarily being a personal "advertisement".
There certainly are far more controversial symbols that tend to have a pro-oppressive connotation. "Blue lives matter" as opposed to those associated with BLM. That can be considered offensive, and by the behavior of many of those flying it... wow.
On the same token, should I object to a teacher wearing a Christian cross, since it can be considered symbolic of oppression? There's that fine line again-- all depending on context, usage possibly making it a matter of separation of church and state.


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