UPDATE
Fontana Unified School District School Board Members refused a motion to discuss the "U.S. Flag Only" Policy (0-5), stopping this anti-LGBTQ proposal indefinetly.
From Cameron Bartosiewicz, President at YPA, "The boards decisive action to strike down this blatent attack on LGBTQ students sends a clear message that FUSD will protect all 33,910 students in their district. We look forward to countiuning the dialouge to ensure FUSD continues to provide a world class education for all students."
Updated Feburary 5th, 2025 at 9:57pm PST
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2025
Contact: Cameron Bartosiewicz; outreach@ypapride.org
Open Letter to the Fontana Unified School District Board of Education:
Dear Fontana Unified School District Board of Education,
The Youth Pride Association (YPA), a national nonprofit organization working to promote and foster the acceptance of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) students in educational institutions, is in staunch opposition to the anti-LGBTQ proposal on your school board meeting agenda on February 5th, 2025.
Any proposal made to restrict the use of flags to “U.S. Flag Only” would undoubtedly be used to target LGBTQ students. In states and districts with similar bans, often with more than four words, such policies disproportionately target educators who simply want to ensure their classroom is a welcoming space for all students. LGBTQ student success in the classroom has been strongly correlated to the perception of LGBTQ acceptance at that school (Source). Such a vague, restrictive policy would doubly create a more hostile environment for LGBTQ students and subsequently do undue harm to these students.
As the policy is currently written, even the California state flag, which is flying outside your schools and district buildings, would also be banned. It could even be interpreted to ban all flags from your civics, history, and geography text books. “U.S. Flag Only” after all.
If this proposal is adopted, it would be in direct violation of Title IX and Bostock v. Clayton County, prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation in any education program or activity offered by a recipient of federal assistance, of which your district is a recipient. It would also likely violate administrators, faculty, and students first amendment rights under Tinker v. Des Moines. Incidentally, these are all supreme court cases your AP government classes study. It would also be in violation of the California Safe Place to Learn Act, as well as several other sections of the state education code.
We urge you not to proceed with any actions that will harm LGBTQ students. We welcome an open dialogue with you on how we can better support and protect LGBTQ students in your classrooms.
Respectfully,
Cameron Bartosiewicz
President
Youth Pride Association
About Youth Pride Association
The Youth Pride Association (YPA) is a national nonprofit organization working to promote and foster the acceptance of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) people in educational institutions. YPA works to address the adversities LGBTQ youth face in schools through education, support, and advocacy.
Youth Pride Association's President, Cameron Bartosiewicz, is available for interviews.
(949) 755-7694
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