The It Gets Better Foundation’s $10,000 grant was turned down by the Lynchburg, Virginia school board. A citizen of the ruby-red city described the donation as a Trojan horse used to entice students into a “wicked lifestyle.”
Grooming Our Children Into an Evil and Wicked Lifestyle
One grandmother and guardian of a district youngster remarked, “Let me be very clear.” “The LBGTQ agenda in schools is about indoctrination and grooming our children into an evil and wicked lifestyle, all while circumventing the rights and responsibilities of parents.”
Grant Rejected in a 7-2 Vote
By a vote of 7 to 2, the board members rejected the funding. Evangelical Liberty University, established by well-known right-wing homophobe Jerry Falwell, is located in Lynchburg.
Grant to Create a “Quiet Room” at the School
Students at a Lynchburg area high school Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) club received the money from the It Gets Better Foundation, which was co-founded by sex-advice writer Dan Savage, to establish a “quiet room” at the school.
Quiet Rooms Promote Student Self-Regulation
Daniel Rule, the principal of E.C. Glass, informed the board during its meeting on October 24 that several of the district’s schools “already have such rooms, and they have been shown to promote student self-regulation and are correlated to better student outcomes.”
The Possibility of a Safe Space
White noise machines, engaging sensory equipment, adjustable seating, and non-intrusive lighting would all be present in the safe area. All pupils would be able to participate.
Many Students Struggle With Mental Health
“Many students, including myself, struggle with mental health,” Lindley Crosby, a junior, said to the board. “School can be overwhelming just by itself, but a lot has happened in the last three or four years, what with the uncertainty of COVID along with the many lockdowns and how those have affected students.”
Board Members Repelled by Potential Association With LGBTQ+ Organization
“We want to provide this safe room so they have somewhere to go and breathe for a second.” However, the majority of board members found it repulsive that the group would be connected to the LGBTQ+ community.
A Group I Don’t Think Should Be Associated With LCS
Christian DePaul, a member, rejected the award citing his own study on It Gets Better. Referring to Lynchburg City Schools, DePaul stated, “My point is, and there are other people on the board who have this opinion, I believe, that this is a group I don’t think should be associated with LCS. I cannot support that project with all the things that I’ve seen on their website. I cannot do it.”
More Board Members Decide to Reject the Grant
While board member Randall Trost objected to the “strings attached” to the award, which included signs identifying the LGBTQ+ organization, another member, Farid Jalil, expressed worries about Savage, who began the initiative in 2010 to prevent suicide among LGBTQ+ children.
“50 States 50 Grants 5,000 Voices” Program Grant
“Communicate to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth around the world that it gets better, and to create and inspire the changes needed to make it better for them,” is the declared aim of It Gets Better. The money was given out as a component of the organization’s “50 States 50 Grants 5,000 Voices” initiative.
The Kids Need It. Let’s Get It Done and Move On
In the end, the board decided that installing a “quiet room” was a good idea and decided to find money in its budget to match the donation without the organization’s involvement. “The kids need it. Let’s get it done and move on,” Atul Gupta, the board chair, stated.
15-Year-Old Speaks Out Against Roanoke’s Anti-trans Policies
Earlier this week, Keely Meadows, a 15-year-old high school student in Virginia, organized protests and spoke out against the anti-trans policies of Roanoke County at school board meetings for more than six months, despite the board’s conservative majority ignoring her.
So Tired of All the Lies About the LGBTQ Community
People across the internet have been divided since the news broke out. “I’m so tired of all the lies about the LGBTQ community. There is no agenda, no grooming or indoctrination. Stop listening to the lies that right-wing conservative “news” outlets poop out, and follow the science. A lot has changed since the Spanish Inquisition,” said one person.
Can’t Handle Your Bad Choices?
Others were quick to laud the school and the board for the decision. “Better to be on the side of God and Good than what this world has become,” said one person. “Can’t handle your bad choices? YOUR Problem, not everyone else’s. Go build your OWN ‘safe space’……” said another.
Coward Resident Didn’t Bother to Attach Their Name
People also pointed out how the Virginian resident has stepped away from the limelight by staying anonymous. “Notice the coward resident didn’t bother to attach their name to their comments. Funny, I don’t hear about that resident donating $10K to help the schools. I don’t see churches donating $10K to help the schools. Just hypocritical people using Sky Daddy as an excuse to be bigots” remarked the user.
What’s the Biggie? If Someone Doesn’t Like You Move On
Many remarked how this wasn’t that huge of a deal. “Seems like people have different opinions and don’t like being forced to have certain things around them. What’s the biggie? If someone doesn’t like you move on.”
