Despite pushback, LGBTQ+ Club will remain at MVJHS

By Lois Mittino Gray

The decision has been made after three meetings of public discussion.

Speaking to a packed house of over 50 people at their October 20, regular meeting, members of the Mount Vernon School Board took a stance on the controversy of keeping a LGBTQ+ and Friends Group at the Mount Vernon Junior High School. The group is student-led after school with a supervisor who lets them use her classroom to meet, but there is not a paid stipend as a sponsor.

After listening to ten speakers, both pro and con on the issue, School Board President Kendra Bisesi read the following statement aloud to the assembled crowd:

“I want to begin by thanking everyone for your comments and continued engagement regarding the LGBTQ+ and Friends Group. As a board, we’ve continued to consult with our legal counsel, and our position remains the same. We will continue to allow student-led groups to utilize our facilities.

If we were to remove all noncurricular groups, that would include organizations such as Boys of Faith, Girls of Grace, club soccer, swim, and PAWS Wrestling, just to name a few. There are hundreds of students who benefit from these groups, finding connection, leadership opportunities, and support through them.

Our responsibility as a board is to ensure that all students are treated fairly and equally, and that our district follows both state and federal law. We cannot----and will not---discriminate against any group based on belief, background, or their message.

Our goal remains simple to keep our schools a place where every student feels welcome, safe, and supported.”

The first speaker under public comments was Karen Edwards, who introduced herself as a mother of an LGBTQ child and an author of a book on the subject. “As a mom, I support this club and wish there was something like this when my daughter was in school here. She came into herself in her early 20’s. You can’t imagine the bullying and discrimination these kids face with lack of acceptance from family and peers. We need to support these clubs so our kids don’t find it online. You don’t know who is on the other side of the keyboard. If you get rid of all clubs at the school, it will be worse. I am not for bigotry, disguised as religion.”

Karen Green spoke next in opposition to allowing the club. “I read that 41 percent of LGBTQ students contemplate committing suicide. This could mean maybe four out of ten of the students in this club potentially contemplate it. They need tosee a professional guidance counselor and you have a very qualified one here. I have a ten year old son and all he talks about is soccer, Fortnite, and whether I’ll let him drink Mountain Dew. Keep the innocence!”

Local Pastor Matthew Watson said he spoke as a “person of compassion, not bigotry.” He indicated that he feels the students involved are too young to deal with the sexual issues and should make that decision in college. “This is not the time or place, we need to let common sense prevail,” he stated. Watson also asked school board members what they really think about this. “I would love to hear from each of you,” he challenged.

Andrew Sargent said he has attended all three meetings to ask for the club to be removed. “Without parents to guide them, this opens doors to confusion for children. Love and accountability need to be balanced. You need to consider the parents. Let’s protect a child’s innocence and not their sexual identity.”

Andy Hoehn urged school board members to change the after school club policy to only sports or things having to do with curriculum only. He feels board members need to deal with major issues, such as unstable enrollment, transfers to other schools, homeschool increase, AI increase, and vouchers that follow students.

Emilia Gonzalez said she supports the club and her daughter attends the meetings. “Support is so important. My daughter says she has had suicidal thoughts. You don’t know what this means to me that she has someone now.”

Lee Keitel maintains that “every cell is a testament to who we are as a gender reality. No one can change that. To allow a student to be what they want is not the truth.” He said it took four years for this club to come to light. “What else is out there? Is the school being transparent? What is going on in schools? I would support all clubs being banned if they have to, but let’s keep the curricular one and ones centered on truth, not lies.”

Anthony Conrad spoke and identified himself as a father of an LGBQT student. “They get pressure, bullying and ridicule. This wonderful teacher opened up her classroom to them. They can play cards and games and not get bullied. I would not trade my children for the world. Religious ideologues conflict with this, but it is plain bigotry. There is no concern for what is actually causing these suicides.”

Chevon May asked the question, “Why is this all of a sudden an issue?” The club has been around for four years. “Not all schools would allow a club like this. North Posey wouldn’t. It is not hurting anybody. However, if it comes out that you are discriminatory, no one will come to your district.” she warned.

Sally Julian stated she was appalled at how these children are being treated with this controversy going on around them. “How do they feel hearing all this—being villainized by the community? They want to jump in a hole and not come out.”

“My God would not condone this rhetoric. He’d be in the classroom with them because he loves them all. This community is not welcoming to them. This is a non-issue. It’s an after school peer-led group that mostly plays cards, hearing an announcement about the meeting is not going to turn your child gay,” Julian emphasized. A big complaint among parents is that the meeting is included in daily announcements over the PA.