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"We strongly feel that it creates a hostile and provocative learning environment for students not comfortable to openly supporting the LGBTQ+ community in a public school where students come from diverse political and religious backgrounds," a Change.org petition reads about the flag in Auburn.
More than 800 people have signed the petition demanding the flag on display just outside a classroom at Auburn High School be taken down.
The flag was hung last week during a school fair for the school's Educate club, which promotes diversity, according to NBC affiliate WSFA.
"We believe it is unprofessional and distracting for a teacher to be so openly displaying their political views in an unbiased and socially neutral public setting," the petition says, adding that "subjecting or explicitly exposing students from diverse political backgrounds to political views differing from theirs can make students uncomfortable and distract them."
The petition - started by Andrew Monk and directed at Principal Shannon Pignato - compares the pride symbol to the Confederate flag.
"[T]he signers of this petition would like for you to consider the uproar and chaos that would ensue were a teacher to hang for example a Confederate, Christian, or Heterosexual Flag in their classroom," the petition says.
"There would likely be protests, emails from teachers, and threatening of lawsuits from parents with differing viewpoints. As such, one does not see teachers hanging these flags in classrooms due to the same argument that it is unprofessional and can create a hostile and unideal learning environment."
A school spokesman told NBC News in a statement that no one has come forward to present the petition to the principal.
"[Principal Pignato] is aware of the situation and is working with staff and students to address the concerns. While we are aware of the online petition, there is not a controversy at our school," the statement said
A counter-petition against the original petition has sprung up on Change.org, garnering much more traction with more than 6,690 supporters.
"Auburn High School is a diverse and equitable school recognized for its achievements in education," the counter-petition reads.
"In the real world, to suggest individuals be isolated from differing political views is an absurdity. To be made uncomfortable by opinions differing to your own is to function as a modern human. Attempting to insulate a student from political discourse would be an insult to their intelligence," it continues.
The petition goes on to say: "Lastly, and most importantly, the pride flag and the AHS Educate club has served to provide a healthy environment for our LGBT+ peers to feel comfortable being who they truly are. The flag represents this safe space, and frankly, the sentiment for removing the pride flag is an affront to the work that has been done nationally to fight for recognition of the community."
Reader Comments
The progressive liberals want to control every aspect of your life to make sure you do not do anything to offend anyone too delicate. They also want to completely control development and industry to prevent a global warming/carbon dioxide catastrophe, and if you think anything opposite of them they do all they can to mute you and your opinion. If you say anything that goes against their dogmas or agenda you are labeled the trash of the world and ridiculed and you'll be lucky if you arent personally destroyed in your community.
They are the fascists they think they are saving the country from.
Tradition vs Transhumanism.
Conservative Southern Rebels vs Leftist Gender Studies.
Diverse Culture of Americana vs Diversity of American Multi-Cult shilling Exceptionalism.
Tranquility vs Triggering.
Parenting vs Spay-Care and Institutional Compulsory Neutering.
Distractionizer Initiate and Saturate!
Rainbows Got Weaponized!
Latter Loses and Owes Apologies.
Teaching LGBTQAgenda to Children is a form of Ponerology legislated Compulsory, no different than forcing Vaccinations in order to attend Public School or as a requirement for Employment, and Biological Psychiatry of Brain Chemical Imbalances that Chemical Lobotomy "Rebalances" with Suicidal & Homicidal Ideation from Psychiatric Drug Side Effects and Withdrawl.
Compulsory Education is Broken Beyond Repair and College Education is a Multi-Culture Clashing Mosh Pit with Ludicrously High Interest Rates for them loans hence the Fight or Suicide* instinct.
*Flight isn't Possible when one feels Trapped, Bound, Sinking, Falling, and Cornered Mentally, Emotionally, Spiritually, and Fiscally.
Hope begins in the Darkness.
Sparks of Light are still Beacons to pursue.
Never Stop nor feel Satiated.
Question Often.
Answers Bounce around till Caught with a firm grip.
Public School is a Toilet!
6690 supporters signed the second.
I just wonder who the supporters are, because its obviously not the student body.